MEMPHIS – The Rhodes Lynx scored 12 points in the final 3:21, including
the winning touchdown on a 25-yard run by Charles Hoggard with 55 seconds left
to lift the Lynx to a 26-22 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, homecoming
victory over the visiting Austin College Kangaroos on Saturday.
Austin College trailed early in the game, fumbling on their first
possession to give Rhodes a short field, and the Lynx quickly capitalized on a 2 play 27 yard drive
to lead 7-0 less than a minute into the game.
The Kangaroos came back on the next posession to score, on a 10 play 68 yard drive
as Ryan Cowley went the final six yards. However, Jonathan Hersch's extra point kick hit the right upright
and fell back into the end zone with the 'Roos trailing 7-6
AC took the lead later in the first period on another long drive with quarterback Kent
Bell scoring from 11 yards out, but a Ross Hasten run for two was unsuccessful, and the 'Roos led 12-7.
Late in the half, Lynx running back Charles Hoggard fumbled, and 'Roo linebacker
Nick Zitaglio picked it up on the 15 and ran down the left side to give AC a 19-7 halftime lead.
The two teams traded scores in the third quarter, with the Lynx scoring on
a Ty Lake 10 yard run, and AC got a 41-yard field goal from Jonathan Hersch to lead 22-14 going
into the fourth quarter.
But AC's defense, which had worn down offenses all year, succommed to the
Lynx offensive line, gave up the two late touchdowns. The 'Roo offense, which had also had a
good game, was unable to pick up a first down late in the game to keep the ball away from Rhodes,
which picked up the homecoming victory.
AC drops to 4-4 on the year and 2-3 in the SCAC, and will play in Greencastle, Indiana against
Depauw next Saturday, at 1:00 EST.