SHERMAN, Texas – The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor football team cruised to a 49-14 win over Austin College University Saturday afternoon in Sherman. The win improved the Cru to 4-3 on the season and 3-0 in American Southwest Conference action while the Roos fell to 1-6 overall and 0-3 in league play.
 
Austin College recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff and returned the takeaway into the end zone for a 7-0 lead just 10 seconds into the contest. UMHB responded with a 75-yard drive to even the game at 7-7 in the next series. Isaac Phe completed seven passes in the stretch, including a 12-yard touchdown throw to Christopher Gacayan for the equalizer.
 
UMHB's defense forced a three-and-out on the next series, giving UMHB the ball back on the Austin College 27-yard line. The Cru used just three plays to score with Phe finding Gacayan again for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
 
The Crusader defense forced another three-and-out but a fumble on the ensuing offensive possession gave the Roos the football on the UMHB 35-yard line. UMHB's defense held on the Roos' next two possessions to keep the one-score margin.
 
Trashawn Adams opened the second quarter with a 50-yard interception return for another Crusader touchdown to put the Cru up by two possessions. UMHB held that lead until the 6:10 mark in the second quarter when Ozias Wright caught a short pass from Phe and ran it 29 yards into the end zone for a 28-7 Cru margin.
 
Gacayan caught his third touchdown of the first half with 25 seconds left in the second quarter, giving UMHB a 35-7 lead after the first two frames.
                                                                                                                                                                  
Dorian Williams intercepted a third-down pass at the open of the third quarter to put UMHB's offense in Roo territory. Kenneth Cormier, Jr. rushed for six yards on the next play before breaking free for 56 yards on the next carry for a 42-7 UMHB lead.
 
UMHB added one more touchdown with 4:17 left in the third quarter when Jackson Tingler found Romello Cook for a 24-yard touchdown pass. Austin College scored one more touchdown at the 9:00 mark in the fourth quarter to add seven on the board for the Roos. UMHB drove 56 yards on 14 plays on the next drive, ending the game at 49-14.
 
Phe threw for 219 yards on 20 passes with four touchdowns while Tingler added five passes for 72 yards and one score. Kenneth Cormier, Jr. ran for 94 yards on seven attempts while Guy Powell added 36 yards on nine attempts. Romello Cook led the Cru's receiving efforts with five catches for 79 yards and a score while Christopher Gacayan had five catches for 56 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Durand Hill led UMHB's defense with nine tackles while Dorian Pittman added five tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. Trashawn Adams and Dorian Williams both recorded interceptions while Nate Western forced one fumble.
 
UMHB returns to action on Saturday, October 28^th in a 1 p.m. contest at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.