SHERMAN, Texas - Sul Ross Football held host Austin College to a touchdown and three field goals but couldn't overcome a 10-0 first quarter deficit in a 16-7 road loss.

"The players played hard and with effort," said head coach John Pearce. "I'm not happy with 13 penalties and 131 yards. We are a very inexperienced football team and we can't play like that and expect to overcome it. We are still not fully recovered from injuries from training camp. Hopefully we can get a few of those players back to give us a chance. As coaches, we need to put players in a position to be successful. It's a very long season and we have a lot to learn from the first two games."

The Lobos received the ball first and were forced to punt 2:28 into the first quarter.

Austin College started their first drive at the Lobos 34-yard line but were forced a kick a field goal. John Aldridge connected from 31 yards out for a 3-0 lead with 10:17 left in the first quarter.

The Lobos were again forced to punt on their second drive and Jaden Brown pinned the 'Roos back to their own 21-yard line on a 44-yard punt at 7:25 of the first.

A nine-play, 79-yard drive commenced for Austin College that was capped by a 26-yard touchdown pass from Tyler James to Aaron Rideaux for a 10-0 lead with 4:19 left in the opening quarter.

Sul Ross' third drive of the game got into enemy territory with four straight rushes from Matthew DeLeon. He picked up 25 yards on the carries to take it to the AC 37-yard line. The Lobos got the ball down to the 33-yard line but were forced to punt again. Brown's punt was downed at the 18-yard line of the 'Roos as the first quarter expired.

Both sides traded punts on the next two drives with Austin College setting up shop on their own 20-yard line with 8:26 left in the half. The 'Roos got to their own 46-yard line before Jade Rios forced a fumble that was recovered by Hunter Bunch at the Austin College 43-yard line with 4:32 left in the first half.

The Lobos used the good field position to embark on a seven-play, 43-yard drive. DeLeon converted a 4th and 1 on the AC 34-yard line to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Tyler DeShields connected with Dre'Chan Moody through the air for 27 yards to set the Lobos up at the three-yard line. DeLeon punched it in on the ground on the next play and Brown hit the extra point to trail 10-7 with 1:34 left in the second and that score went to halftime.

Punts ended the opening drives of the third quarter for both teams.

Austin College took over on their own 44-yard line and drove it down deep into the Sul Ross territory. The Lobos stopped the 'Roos on back-to-back 4th and 1 plays from the two-yard line to cause a turnover on downs with 6:20 left in the third.

The Lobos were forced to punt deep in their own territory on the next drive that setup Austin College on their own 43-yard line. The 'Roos again drove deep into Lobo territory, but the Lobos closed the door on the goal line to force another field goal. Aldridge connected from 19 yards out for a 13-7 score with 1:22 left in the third quarter.

Sul Ross' defense continued to be a thorn in the 'Roos side on the goal line with the Lobos again forcing a field goal inside the 10-yard line. Aldridge hit from 22 yards out with 7:49 left for a 16-7 score.

The Lobos had two more drives in the final quarter but were forced to punt and turned it over on downs for the eventual 16-7 win for Austin College.

DeLeon rushed for a game-high 71 yards on 16 attempts to go with his touchdown. He also had 11 yards receiving on two receptions.

Moody caught two passes for 43 yards and a had a long of 27 yards.

Rios tied Jalen Howard for a game-high nine total tackles. Rios also had two tackles for loss that totaled six yards.

The Lobos totaled three tackles for loss in the game.

Sul Ross is 0-2 on the season and in ASC play. The 'Roos are 1-1 and 1-0.

The Lobos return to action on Saturday, September 25 against Texas Lutheran at Jackson Field.