Austin James Beatty, age 21, of Alto, Texas passed away on December 30th 2024 surrounded by his family after a brave 4 ½  year battle against Osteosarcoma.

Austin was born on April 25th 2003 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He graduated High School from Springs Studio for Academic Excellence in 2021 and played football at Falcon High School in Colorado. He played positions at corner, safety, and kicker wearing his #19. He loved football and the Denver Broncos was his favorite team. He also loved driving his Corvette and racing autocross.

He moved to Alto, Texas with his family in 2023. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, driving his side by side, and swinging on the porch with his dogs Bubba and Blu. Austin loved his family and we loved him. He enjoyed each day to its fullest with his family. He enjoyed a sweet friendship with his sister KiKi and enjoyed his adventures with her.

Austin had a way of making people smile and he knew how to live in the moment. He always believed “Tough times don’t last but tough people do” and he was one of the toughest people we have ever met. The greatest gift and legacy he leaves us with is to love with all of your heart and live every minute to the fullest.

Austin is survived by his father Eric Beatty, his mother Christine Beatty, and his younger sister Kimberly (KiKi) Beatty; his paternal grandparents James and Chyrle Beatty; his maternal grandparents John and Carol Bartelson; his uncle Jim Bartelson, his uncle John and aunt Delinda Beatty; and cousins Curtis and Christopher Beatty; and many extended family and dear friends who love him.

Laird Funeral Home in Nacogdoches, Texas will be handling the funeral arrangements for Austin on Saturday January 4th 2025 with a private visitation at 1:00 p.m. for his family and friends, followed by a 3:00 p.m. service at the Old Palestine Church Cemetery in Alto, Texas.

If you wish to make a donation on behalf of Austin please consider donating to the following charities who supported Austin throughout his journey.

The Giving to Little Hands Foundation where Austin is the Ambassador.

Home

The Austin Worbington Scholarship Fund.

https://scicolorado.org/scholarship-fund/

Make A Wish Colorado

https://wish.org/colorado

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to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Austin James Beatty, please visit our floral store.

ATLANTA — After opening the new year in Atlanta, the Texas football team is moving onto Arlington.

Texas survived a fourth-quarter meltdown and Andrew Mukuba’s game-ending interception sealed a double-overtime win Wednesday over Arizona State at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. That effort in a 39-31 victory made Texas a winner in its first-ever appearance in the Peach Bowl, which was serving this season as a quarterfinal game in the College Football Playoff.

Next up for Texas (13-2) is the Cotton Bowl and the CFP semifinals. The fifth-seeded Longhorns will face either No. 1 Oregon or No. 8 Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on Jan. 10.

BUY TICKETS TO SEE TEXAS PLAY IN COTTON BOWL

After the Sun Devils rallied from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force a 24-24 tie with 5:00 left, Texas kicker Bert Auburn missed two field goals in the final two minutes. After a 38-yard attempt by the fourth-year kicker hit the left upright as time expried, the game was sent into overtime.

In the first overtime session, Arizona State and Texas traded a Cam Skattebo touchdown run for Matthew Golden’s 28-yard score on a fourth-and-13 play. Texas then opened the second overtime session with Quinn Ewers’ 25-yard touchdown pass to Gunnar Helm and Golden’s two-point conversion.

On Arizona State’s ensuing possession, Mukuba intercepted a Sam Leavitt pass to end the game.

GOLDEN: How did Texas football fare in our Ceddys, the best and worst of the 2024 season?

Over the first 15 minutes of the Peach Bowl, Arizona State ran 26 plays and held onto the football for 12 minutes and 55 seconds. The Texas offense was on the field for five plays and a total of 125 seconds.

But by the time that the first quarter ended, Texas had been out-gained by just four yards and held a 14-3 lead. The Longhorns had Matthew Golden haul in a 54-yard pass on their first offensive play, and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers followed up that completion with a 23-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. Texas then expanded its lead to 11 points on a 75-yard punt return by Silas Bolden with 7:08 left in the quarter.

In the second quarter, Arizona State (11-3) fell further behind as Texas edge rusher Ethan Burke blocked a 36-yard field goal and the Sun Devils were twice stopped on fourth-down attempts inside of Texas territory. Arizona State opened the second quarter with a fourth-and-2 at the Texas 25, but Cam Skattebo was stuffed at the line of scrimmage. Sam Leavitt was later sacked by Trey Moore on a fourth-down try inside of the UT 35.

The stops of Skattebo and Leavitt were specifically notable. In the lead-up to Wednesday, Skattebo had expressed his belief that the Texas defense could not stop him. Leavitt, meanwhile, insisted that he would prove in the Peach Bowl that he was a better quarterback than Ewers.

Leading 17-3 at halftime, Texas stuffed Skattebo again on a fourth-and goal attempt at the 2-yard line in the third quarter. Arizona State managed to turn that fourth-down failure into points as the Texas offense was immediately dropped for a safety, and the Sun Devils then kicked a 36-yard field goal on their ensuing possession.

Texas took a 17-8 lead into the final frame and added to that advantage on Ewers’ 5-yard touchdown run. But Arizona State was not done, and the Sun Devils scored two touchdowns and two two-point conversions within a 91-second span to tie the game with 5:00 remaining.

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AUSTIN – The Texas Longhorns defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils in a nail-biter on Wednesday afternoon to move to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

Arizona State came from behind to tie the game in overtime and had Texas against the ropes in the first overtime. 

A 4th-and-13 touchdown from Quinn Ewers to Matthew Golden gave the Longhorns new life and a quick strike in the second overtime led to a Texas victory.

The winner of Texas-Arizona State advances to play the winner of the game between No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State.

That game will be played on January 10 in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium.

Live Updates

2nd Overtime

Texas scored on the first play of the 2nd overtime on a Quinn Ewers pass to tight end Gunnar Helm. Texas then converted a two-point conversion to put huge pressure on the Sun Devils.

The Texas defense stood strong in the second overtime, picking off Leavitt to end the game.

Overtime

In the first possession of overtime, a long scramble from quarterback Sam Leavitt set up a short touchdown run for Cam Skattebo to power his way into the endzone.

The Longhorn offense sputtered in OT at first, but Quinn Ewers threw a 28-yard touchdown to Matthew Golden to extend the game. 

Fourth Quarter

The Texas offense found the endzone for the first time since the opening quarter on a Quinn Ewers scramble. The Longhorns lead 24-8.

Arizona State’s offense struck with a bit of trickery. Running back Cam Skattebo threw a 42-yard touchdown and added a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 8.

A deep shot from Ewers was picked off with 5:37 left in fourth giving the Sun Devils life.

Skattebo hauled in a long catch and then pounded in a short touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game at 24.

Kicker Bert Auburn missed a 48-yard attempt with 1:39 left in the fourth, but Texas got the ball back.

A 28-yard pass from Ewers to Ryan Wingo put the Longhorns into field goal range.

Auburn hit the left upright on a potential game-winning kick from 38 yards out as time expired in regulation. 

Third Quarter

The Sun Devils offense moved the ball well to start the second half, but another 4th down stop near the goal line kept Arizona State off the board.

One the next play, Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner fumbled in the end zone, leading to a safety.

The Sun Devils drive the ball down the field for a field goal to cut the lead to 17-8 late in the third.

Second Quarter

The second quarter started with a big fourth down stand for the Texas defense. Bruising running back Cam Skattebo was stuffed deep in Texas territory to give the Longhorns the ball back.

Texas marched down the field and kicked a short field goal to take a 17-3 lead.

Arizona State’s fake punt extended a drive at the end of the half that ended in a blocked field goal.

First Quarter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 01: Silas Bolden #11 of the Texas Longhorns returns a punt for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Atlanta,

Arizona State was on the board first after an early field goal, but Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns offense struck back quickly.

Ewers threw a 23-yeard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. to cap off a two-play, 77-yard drive and put the Longhorns up 7-3.

After a stop on defense, Texas return man Silas Bolden took a punt 75 yards for a touchdown.

Overall, the Longhorns defense looked very stout and the offense looked explosive in the first.

Pregame

Some bad news for the Longhorns ahead of kickoff.

Texas RT Cameron Williams is unlikely to play today due to a knee sprain, according to sources.

Redshirt freshman Trevor Goosby is expected to start in his place.

Texas vs Arizona State: How to watch, stream

ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 01: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns walks onto the field with teammates prior to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo

• No. 5 Texas vs No. 4 Arizona State
• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
• Date: Wednesday, January 1
• Time: 12 PM (CT)
• TV: ESPN

Key Matchup

Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo vs. Texas’ defensive front. Skattebo put together a dynamic season, finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting while becoming one of the rare players in FBS history to total 2,000 yards from scrimmage. He has rushed for 1,568 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry while scoring 19 touchdowns on the ground. But the Longhorns figure to present a much tougher challenge than Skattebo faced in the Big 12. Texas ranks 11th nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 104.5 yards per game.

Players to Watch

Texas: CB Jahdae Barron. The Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back, the senior leads the Longhorns with five interceptions and 11 passes broken up. If Barron and the rest of Texas’ stellar secondary can shut down Arizona State’s passing game, the Sun Devils would be hard-pressed to move the ball effectively even with Skattebo leading the way.

Arizona State: QB Sam Leavitt boasted that he’s the better quarterback in his matchup with Texas counterpart Quinn Ewers. Now, Leavitt has to back up his bravado. After transferring from Michigan State, the redshirt freshman played a key role in the Sun Devils’ remarkable turnaround this season. He has completed 63.2% of his passes for 2,663 yards, with 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Leavitt is also a threat to run the ball, totaling 383 yards and five TDs.