The Trinity football team celebrated a win over Austin College this past Saturday after they defeated the team with a 26-3 victory. The game counted toward SCAC standings, with Trinity improving to 3-1 and Austin College remaining winless with 0-4.

Sophomore quarterback Stephen Smith teamed up with sophomore tight end Sam Horford for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 11:50 remaining in the first quarter. Senior defensive back Von’Darrick Jones set up the opening score with his second interception in the past two weeks, and the Tiger drive started just 26 yards from the end zone.

However, officials halted the game soon after the first touchdown due to lightning in the area.  The delay lasted for more than an hour, but did not discourage the Tigers from achieving their three-game home stand.

Early in the second period, sophomore defensive back Travis Williams gave the Tigers a 13-0 lead with a 12-yard run, which held all the way into halftime.

Austin College’s only score of the game came with a 35-yard field goal in the third quarter, but Smith threw a pair of touchdown passes to put the Tigers comfortably in front.  Both of those touchdowns went to sophomore wide receiver Cody Sandman.

Smith completed 12 of 20 passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns in just his second career start.  Sandman snagged five passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Matthew Kennemer had three receptions for 14 yards, and became the 24th player in Trinity history to reach the 1,000-yard milestone in receiving.

Williams rushed 11 times for 62 yards and scored one touchdown to help secure the Trinity victory, while senior running back Desmond King had 12 attempts for 50 yards. King, who also registered two receptions for 43 yards, led the Tigers in all-purpose yards, with 93 for the game.

“The reason the Trinity Tigers won is because every time we head into a game we are proving something. I was and am still proud of my defensive brothers who were able to keep Austin’s offense at bay,” King said.

Defensively, junior defensive back J.P. Sanchez and junior linebacker Morgan Hix each chalked up 11 tackles, while junior linebacker Connor Yorloff had 10. Sanchez, Jones and senior defensive lineman Bradley Drenon each recorded sacks in the game.

“Our offensive line the last two weeks has done a tremendous job in allowing us to have some explosive plays, and our veteran receiving core has been dominant,” said assistant football coach Kevin O’Keefe.

In addition to the win over Austin College, Tiger football swept SCAC Player of Week honors, with each category represented by a Trinity student.

Smith was named SCAC Offensive Player of the Week. Junior defensive lineman Tomy Boboy was elected SCAC Defensive Player of the Week. Kennemer was selected as SCAC Special Teams Player of the Week.

“I really don’t look at it as an individual award considering how many guys on our squad stepped up and excelled in the last two games. I’m just blessed to be surrounded by all kinds of talent,” Smith said.

Trinity travels to Belton, Texas, next Saturday, to take on third-ranked Mary Hardin-Baylor at 6 p.m. The Tigers return home to host Millsaps College at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, during the university’s Alumni Weekend. The Trinity University Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2013 will be inducted at halftime.