SEWANEE, Tenn. –
Cam Beasley passed for three touchdowns,
Dyer Barnes caught two TDs and
Jacorin Thomas posted 173 yards of total offense, but Southwestern University scored 13 consecutive points in the second half and held off Sewanee, 39-31, in a back-and-forth football game Saturday in Georgetown, Texas.
Beasley tossed touchdown passes of 66, 12 and 78 yards and the Tigers (2-3, 0-2 SAA) registered 405 yards of total offense, including a season-high 264 through the air. Barnes collected seven receptions for 103 yards and two scores while
Barton Mixon added 12 rushes for 52 yards and one TD for Sewanee.
Southwestern quarterback Jaxon Sims completed 21-of-34 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns while Devin Baylor and Tycen Williams combined for 143 rushing yards and scored one TD apiece for the Pirates (3-2, 1-1).
Sewanee trailed 21-19 at the half, missing an extra point and a two-point conversion try, but the Tigers took the lead on the opening drive of the third quarter on a two-yard run by Mixon, but he was stopped on the two-point try.
Southwestern then netted the next 13 points, including a 37-yard TD pass from Sims to Reece Cutrer and 30 and 35-yard field goals by Austin Hill, giving the Pirates 33-25 advantage with 7:03 remaining in the game.
The Tigers answered the second field goal with a 78-yard TD pass to Barnes, but Beasley's pass on the two-point attempt was no good, leaving Sewanee with a 33-31 deficit.
Southwestern moved 75 yards on eight plays for the final score of the game, including a 34-yard completion to Christian Murray. The Pirates then rushed five consecutive plays, with Baylor scoring from a yard out for a 39-31 lead with 2:28 to play.
The Tigers had one final shot and picked up one first down, but Beasley was sacked and then tossed an interception to Cam Roberson near midfield.
Southwestern missed a 40-yard field goal on the opening drive of the game and the Tigers scored just five plays later, with Beasley tossing a 66-yard touchdown pass to
Sean Johnson midway through the first period.
The Pirates answered with a nine-play, 70-yard drive, converting a fourth down in Sewanee territory. Murray caught a 26-yard scoring pass from Sims to even the game at seven.
Balint Rendessy's interception and return to the Southwestern 12-yard line set-up the Tigers at the end of the first period. Barnes caught a TD pass from Beasley on the first play, but the PAT was missed and the Tigers held a 13-7 advantage.
The Pirates put together an eight-play, 83-yard possession early in the second quarter, with Jacob Smith rushing for 24 yards before Sims found Graydon Thompson for a 24-yard touchdown.
The Tigers were stopped on 4
th-and-3 at the Southwestern 43-yard line with 5:27 left in the period on the ensuing drive. The Pirates took advantage, scoring eight plays later on a 13-yard run by Williams, taking a 21-13 advantage with 1:55 remaining in the half.
Sewanee executed the two-minute drill to perfection, with Mixon rushing twice for 16 yards on two plays and McLemore catching a 49-yard pass. Thomas then found McLemore for an eight-yard touchdown but the two-point conversion pass was incomplete and the Tigers trailed, 21-19, at the break.
Beasley and Thomas were both 4-for-4 passing for a combined 146 yards and three touchdowns in the half while Sims completed 12-of-21 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. Mixon rushed seven times for 43 yards for the Tigers in the first 30 minutes.
Sewanee hosts Berry College next Saturday at 1 p.m. at McGee Field-Harris Stadium.
