SHERMAN, TX - Lyon College Fighting Scots football team rallied in the fourth quarter to earn a 38-31 victory over the Austin College Roos after a tough back and fourth game. Lyon scored twice in the final 8:22 to complete the comeback and improve to 2-4 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Austin College struck first with a 30-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 11:24 remaining in the opening quarter. The Scots answered with an eight-play, 55-yard drive that ended with Jesus Romero-Castillo connecting on a 37-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The Roos extended their advantage to 14-3 on a 50-yard touchdown pass with three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Lyon responded with a scoring drive of its own, as Grayson Johnson connected with Donovan Rogers for a 46-yard touchdown with six seconds left in the quarter. Romero-Castillo added the extra point to bring the Scots within 14-10.
Austin College added another touchdown early in the second quarter on a 45-yard pass to take a 21-10 lead. Lyon answered immediately when Javarion Williams returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Romero-Castillo's extra point brought the Scots within 21-17.
Both defenses kept the scoreboard quiet for the remainder of the first half, sending Lyon into the break trailing by four points.
Austin College added a 30-yard field goal with 8:45 remaining in the third quarter to extend its lead to 24-17. The Scots responded with a 10-play, 60-yard drive, capped by Hayden Barton's three-yard touchdown run with 2:25 left in the quarter. Romero-Castillo's extra point tied the game at 24-24.
The Roos regained the lead early in the fourth quarter with a 25-yard touchdown pass, moving ahead 31-24 with 13:16 remaining. Lyon answered with a lengthy 14-play, 81-yard drive that consumed 4:54. Johnson found Williams for an eight-yard touchdown with 8:22 left, and Romero-Castillo's extra point evened the score at 31-31.
After the Scots' defense forced an Austin College punt, Lyon took over at its own 37-yard line with 6:50 remaining. Barton broke loose for a 32-yard run to move the Scots into Roos territory, then added a 19-yard carry to set up the decisive score. Johnson connected with Jace Birkes for a 13-yard touchdown with 4:49 remaining, giving Lyon its first lead of the game at 38-31.
The Scots' defense came through again on Austin College's next possession. Tramane Turner intercepted a pass and returned it 11 yards, giving Lyon possession with 1:51 remaining. The Scots converted a key fourth-down opportunity on a three-yard run by Barton before running out the clock to secure the seven-point victory.
Johnson finished 17-of-33 passing for 219 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Williams led the receiving corps with nine catches for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Birkes added four receptions for 69 yards and a score. Rogers finished with one reception for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Barton powered the ground game with 180 net rushing yards on 27 carries, including a touchdown. His 32-yard run late in the fourth quarter helped set up the go-ahead score.
Williams also made a major impact on special teams, returning two kickoffs for 114 yards, including his 92-yard touchdown return. Turner recorded the decisive interception as the Scots held Austin College to 31 points despite allowing 514 total yards.
Defensively, Bradley Williams led Lyon with 14 total tackles, while Noah Benton recorded 11. Kartez Simon added eight tackles, and Jaden Foster and Connor Shields each finished with seven. Turner's interception helped seal the win.
Lyon finished with 392 yards of total offense, including 219 passing yards and 173 rushing yards. The Scots converted eight of 14 third-down attempts and scored on all four of their red-zone opportunities.
