Austin Lifts Team Stars & Stripes At Tazon de Estrellas

Tequesta, Fla. native shines with TD in Mexico City, Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (December 21, 2009) - Senior running back Steve Austin (Tequesta, Fla./Stony Brook) represented Fitchburg State College this past weekend at the Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars), collecting a 5-yard touchdown pass in a 24-12 setback to the Tec Monterrey All-Stars.

STEVE AUSTIN

Trailing 17-0 in the final quarter and starting with the ball at their own 29-yard line, Team Stars & Stripes went to the air and moved the chains steadily as quarterback Mike Isgro (Delaware Valley College) hit Orlando Webb (North Carolina Wesleyan College) (10yd TD) and Austin (5yd TD) on a pair of touchdown passes over a three minute span.

The Tec Monterrey All-Stars added another score with 1.22 remaining to go ahead, 24-12 and sealed their victory as Rodrigo Esbobar intercepted quarterback Aaron Fanthorpe's (North Central) pass with the Americans only inches from pay dirt. The Stars and Stripes moved the ball on their final drive as Fanthorpe found Austin and Patrick O'Connor (Dickinson College) on a pair of 15-yard gains. Austin then drove the ball down to the one-yard mark with a 17 yard grab, before Fanthorpe closed the contest with the turnover.

The first quarter ended scoreless as Team Stars & Stripes were forced to punt on its first two possessions. Defensively, and on special teams, the visitors impressed early on, producing a blocked field goal and interception to shut out the more productive home team offense. The Mexicans' first drive ended with a 29-yard Adolfo Medellin field goal attempt blocked by Kendall Wade (Univ. Wisconsin-South) before the American posted a turnover on the goal-line.

Tec broke the scoring silence on its fourth possession of the contest as Medellin converted a 40 yard field goal with 6:54 remaining in the first half. The Americans put together their most productive drive of the first half leading into the break, as quarterback Kyle Paulson (Univ. Wisconsin-Au Claire) hit receiver Riley Curry (Trinity University) for a 23-yard gain down to the Tec six-yard line. But, after a pair of penalties and Javier Gonzalez sack, the visitors found themselves 31 yards from the end zone and shutout at the break. 

In the second half, Tec increased its lead quickly (17-0) as the Mexicans rifled off 14 unanswered points on a pair of Jose Raul Reyes touchdowns. Reyes notched the game's first TD from the wildcat, taking a direct snap 31 yards the score before punching in a 5 yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Team Stars and Stripes responded late as Isgro connected with Webb on a ten yard TD pass at the 8:36 mark. Defensive back Corry Stewart (Hanover College) continued the US revival, lifting the Americans with a fumble recovery at the Tec 20, before Fanthorpe hit Austin on a five yard swing to bring the US within five (17-12).