I was in attendance last Saturday in Sherman, and what a game! Here's my review of the Roos' near upset...
Andy Braly, QB Austin College
Coach Gage and Austin College nearly hung on for the upset win against the defending SCAC champs despite having QB Andy Braly playing with a hurt shoulder and four of their starting lineman sit out due to injury; ironically days after the AC offensive line graced the front page of d3football.com for their Team of the Week honors.
The front seven of MC was the difference in stopping the AC rushing attack of Hasten and Braly. Hawkins and Sager of Millsaps were impressive with 9 and 8 tkls, repsectively. And Sager added an int to seal the win. But the rush defense of MC was not the only crucial part of the Major's win.
Despite muffing two AC kickoffs, Galatas averaged 40 yds per KO return including a 92 yd score. Bowser added KO returns of 66 and 51 to give the Majors an avg starting field position at their own 42 yd line.
Chris Graves, QB Millsaps College
However, AC had their own chances to win the game as Andy Braly took advantage of the Majors crowding the line of scrimmage and went over the top for 180 yds on 8 of 14 passing.
Ross Hasten nearly hit the century mark grinding out 94 yds on the ground including a 40 yd scamper in the 1st qtr in which Hasten was stopped just short of the goal line. Hasten lead all rushers in yardage despite the Majors crowding the line of scrimmage and putting eight and sometimes nine men in the box to try and stop him.
Ross Hasten, RB Austin College
Defensively for the Roos, Millsaps QB Chris Graves was held to just 218 yds on 19 of 40 passing. Junior safety Evan coachmen led the charge getting his 3rd and 4th ints of the season, one of which he took back 74 yds for the td.
Defensive tackle Todd Murray and linebacker Tanner Martin added a sack and int, respectively. And senior cornerback Matt Finke had a solid performance adding 10 tkl.
Three plays down the stretch proved to be crucial for Austin College, perhaps costing them the game:
1. The first was a missed PAT with 5:10 left in the 4th qtr following Coachmen's 74 yd int return. Instead of a ten point lead, the Roos led just 30-21.
2. Leading by just two points with 3:30 left in the game, a costly Funderburg fumble gave the Majors the ball on the AC 26, needing just a FG to win.
3. Four plays later with 2:13 left on the clock, Graves throws an errant pass that was dropped by AC backup AJ Graham, who was temporarily in for an injured Matt Finke.
If Austin College had either made their final PAT and played OT, not fumbled on their end of the field with 3 minutes left, or had made the apparent int with 2 minutes left then perhaps they might have slipped by the #1 team in the SCAC with one of the biggest wins in recent AC history.
However, despite those crucial game changing plays for Austin College, Millsaps earned the win with consistent run defense and special teams play.
The 2009 season is already living up to the hype as one of the closest races in recent SCAC history. Millsaps hosts undefeated Trinity this week in a battle of the SCAC titans while Austin College travels to Centre College a week after Centre's upset of #20 DePauw.
The SCAC is still wide open.
Andy Braly, QB Austin College
Coach Gage and Austin College nearly hung on for the upset win against the defending SCAC champs despite having QB Andy Braly playing with a hurt shoulder and four of their starting lineman sit out due to injury; ironically days after the AC offensive line graced the front page of d3football.com for their Team of the Week honors.
The front seven of MC was the difference in stopping the AC rushing attack of Hasten and Braly. Hawkins and Sager of Millsaps were impressive with 9 and 8 tkls, repsectively. And Sager added an int to seal the win. But the rush defense of MC was not the only crucial part of the Major's win.
Despite muffing two AC kickoffs, Galatas averaged 40 yds per KO return including a 92 yd score. Bowser added KO returns of 66 and 51 to give the Majors an avg starting field position at their own 42 yd line.
Chris Graves, QB Millsaps College
However, AC had their own chances to win the game as Andy Braly took advantage of the Majors crowding the line of scrimmage and went over the top for 180 yds on 8 of 14 passing.
Ross Hasten nearly hit the century mark grinding out 94 yds on the ground including a 40 yd scamper in the 1st qtr in which Hasten was stopped just short of the goal line. Hasten lead all rushers in yardage despite the Majors crowding the line of scrimmage and putting eight and sometimes nine men in the box to try and stop him.
Ross Hasten, RB Austin College
Defensively for the Roos, Millsaps QB Chris Graves was held to just 218 yds on 19 of 40 passing. Junior safety Evan coachmen led the charge getting his 3rd and 4th ints of the season, one of which he took back 74 yds for the td.
Defensive tackle Todd Murray and linebacker Tanner Martin added a sack and int, respectively. And senior cornerback Matt Finke had a solid performance adding 10 tkl.
Three plays down the stretch proved to be crucial for Austin College, perhaps costing them the game:
1. The first was a missed PAT with 5:10 left in the 4th qtr following Coachmen's 74 yd int return. Instead of a ten point lead, the Roos led just 30-21.
2. Leading by just two points with 3:30 left in the game, a costly Funderburg fumble gave the Majors the ball on the AC 26, needing just a FG to win.
3. Four plays later with 2:13 left on the clock, Graves throws an errant pass that was dropped by AC backup AJ Graham, who was temporarily in for an injured Matt Finke.
If Austin College had either made their final PAT and played OT, not fumbled on their end of the field with 3 minutes left, or had made the apparent int with 2 minutes left then perhaps they might have slipped by the #1 team in the SCAC with one of the biggest wins in recent AC history.
However, despite those crucial game changing plays for Austin College, Millsaps earned the win with consistent run defense and special teams play.
The 2009 season is already living up to the hype as one of the closest races in recent SCAC history. Millsaps hosts undefeated Trinity this week in a battle of the SCAC titans while Austin College travels to Centre College a week after Centre's upset of #20 DePauw.
The SCAC is still wide open.
