Saturday, November 21, 2009

Lessons Learned: ACU vs. NWMo

  • For the second straight year, ACU's season has a win over and a loss to the Bearcats as bookends.
  • Northwest Missouri State is just plain good, especially good in the playoffs, where Mel Tjeerdsma's team has more postseason wins than any other NCAA Division II coach. They have made the playoffs 11 times in the past 13 years, with a 25-9 postseason record during that run, have never lost in the second round, and have played in the last four national championship games. 
  • It's hard to beat a team twice in the same season, as Midwestern State learned last week, and ACU was reminded of again today.
  • A 19-14 loss to ACU, in Abilene, is the only blemish on NWMo's 11-1 record in 2009. The Wildcats have lost just five games the past two years, with the Bearcats responsible for a pair of those defeats, both season-enders in the playoffs.
  • ACU is the only team in the last 30 games to beat the Bearcats on their home field. 
  • If I was NWMo fan, I'd be looking into motel reservations in Florence, Ala., the weekend of Dec. 12 for what should be a fifth straight appearance in the national title game.
  • For all those fans who want to see a series of playoffs end the annual speculation over which team is the best in the nation, be careful what you wish for and remember that in Playoff Land, only one team in the country goes home a winner at the end of the year. How many sports talk radio stations would that put out of business? Enjoy all those upcoming bowl games for teams with five or less losses while you still can.

Fourth Quarter Review: ACU vs. NWMo

Morgan Lineberry missed his second FG of the game, a 48-yarder early in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats responded with a 9-play drive, capped by a 23-yard TD pass from Bolles to LaRon Council. ACU QB Zach Stewart led the Wildcats on a 6-play scoring drive, with RB Daryl Richardson running for a 1-yard TD with 02:01 left. NWMo ran out the clock for a 35-10 win and a spot in the national quarterfinals against either Central Washington or Tarleton State.

Third Quarter Review: ACU vs. NWMo

RB Reggie Brown fumbled on the first play of the second half, with the Bearcats recovering on the ACU 17.  LaRon Council's 1-yard TD run gave NWMo a 21-3 lead with just under 14 minutes left in the third quarter. The Bearcats committed their third turnover of the game when Bolles fumbled, and ACU's Bryson Lewis recovered at the Wildcat 33. ACU gave it right back when Mitchell Gale fumbled at the Bearcat 46. NWMo took only four plays to score again, on another 1-yard run by Council. ACU DB Tony Harp came up with another turnover, intercepting Bolles on the Bearcat 48. 

The third quarter ended with ACU down, 28-3. The Wildcats prevailed in first downs, 17 to 12, but trailed in total offense, 321 yards to 252. NWMo has only allowed opponents to score twice in the third quarter all season. They have sacked ACU QB Gale four times.

Halftime Thoughts: NWMo 14, ACU 3

Each team has 9 first downs. The Bearcats lead in total yards, 215 to 157, with Bolles' TD run accounting for half of their offense. NWMo has committed two turnovers, but ACU hasn't been able to capitalize on them with a big play. Bolles' 71-yard TD run makes him the game's leading rusher, followed by teammate LaRon Council with 48 and ACU's Reggie Brown with 30. Bolles is 10 of 13 for 109 yards passing; Gale is 13 of 19 for 100 yards. Edmund Gates has four catches for 33 yards to lead ACU, while Jake Soy 4 has catches for 59 yards.

ACU is just a couple of big plays short of evening the score. Gale showed off his strong arm twice, barely overthrowing Raymond Radway and Terrell Woodall on two deep pass plays that may give the Bearcats a reason to not overplay the running game. 

Overall, it's been an evenly played game. The Wildcats are not out of it, and have held the Bearcats in check, other than Bolles' long TD run. NWMo averages 44.8 points a game, second-best in the nation. Bolles is ranked second in the nation in passing efficiency, behind Midwestern State's Zack Eskridge. The Wildcat defense is doing its job again against the powerful offense of a nationally ranked opponent, and has two sacks already (by Casey Carr and Courtney Lane).

ACU gets the ball to start the second half.

Second Quarter Review: ACU vs. NWMo

The second quarter started with ACU trailing 7-3.  The Wildcats drove the length of the field on an impressive drive, but turned it over when QB Mitchell Gale fumbled on the Bearcat 1-yard line while attempting a sneak/dive over the middle of the line. With just over 5 minutes left, NWMo QB Blake Bolles scored on a 71-yard run, his play-action fake at the completely fooling the ACU defense, which had only allowed 28 yards on the ground through the first half. ACU LB Fred Thompson intercepted Bolles on the ACU 49, and Morgan Lineberry barely missed a 40-yard field goal attempt with just under a minute left. The second quarter ended with ACU trailing 14-3. 

First Quarter Review: ACU-NWMo

Northwest Missouri State took the opening kickoff and drove 77 yards in eight plays, scoring on an 8-yard run by LaRon Council. ACU answered with an 11-play drive of its own, concluded by a 29-yard field goal by freshman Morgan Lineberry. The Bearcats were on a strong drive of their own before being backed up by a series of penalties, then were stopped on an interception by senior Wildcat DB Josh Wise. The first quarter ended with the Wildcats driving deep into Bearcat territory. ACU redshirt freshman QB Mitchell Gale hit 7 of 8 passes for 56 yards and looked comfortable in the pocket, even in the face of a fierce NWMo rush. If the Wildcats are intimidated by the trip into NWMo's backyard, it doesn't show. Keep in mind that ACU is the only team to beat the Bearcats this year, and the only one to defeat them in their last 29 home games. So they know how to do it. If you want to watch this game on your computer, click here and download the free copy of Microsoft Silverlight software, if you don't already have it. CBS College Sports is showing the game with a slight (about one play) delay from the live action. 

Friday, November 20, 2009

Nick of Time

After 20 years, Perry Hogsten just held his son for the first time.

About half past eight this morning, in the parking lot outside the Ramada Inn in St. Joseph, Mo., ACU defensive end Nick Jones extended his right hand to welcome the father he'd only heard about. Hogsten wanted no part of it.

Instead, the father wrapped both arms around his son, clutching his hands together on the other side, and held on for dear life.

"Good to finally see you," Nick said. His father, head buried in his son's massive left shoulder, pulled back, sized up his boy for the first time and smiled.

Good indeed.

Read more about this story in the Dallas Morning News. Lance Fleming is preparing a piece for ACU Today.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Nice Day for the "Young Fella"

Bernard Scott's 96-yard kickoff return Sunday was the difference in the Bengals' 18-12 victory over the Steelers that not only moves the winners a game ahead in the AFC North at 7-2 and really makes it a two-game lead because Cincinnati has now swept the season series and, thus, has the tiebreaker.

After Scott's amazing runback, which began just a few yards in bounds on the right side of the field at his own 4 and ended in the left side of the opposite end zone, all three ACU players in the NFL have now returned kickoffs for touchdowns since last December. Danieal Manning took one back against the Saints 11 months ago, and rookie Johnny Knox did it against Detroit earlier this season.

In the postgame press conference, Bengals QB Carson Palmer threw some love toward Bernard, who also had 13 carries for 33 yards and a 21-yard catch filling in when starter RB Cedric Benson went out with a hip injury. Read that and Bernard's quotes here.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

High Noon

ACU will play Northwest Missouri State at noon Saturday in Maryville, Mo. Forecast currently calling for chilly temps all week but warming to 60 degrees on game day with a chance of showers.

My early thought on this game is that it looks on paper to be a bit of a role reversal from last year's playoff matchup between these two teams. In 2008, ACU had the record-breaking offensive juggernaut and Northwest the stingy defense. This year, the Bearcats are No. 2 in the nation in scoring at 44.5 points per game while the Wildcats lead the nation in rushing defense and are among the leaders in Division II in total defense.

ACU fans hope the final score is a role reversal, too.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Lessons Learned: ACU vs. MSU (Playoffs)



  • Left for dead in the second half, ACU resurrected its offense late in this game – something it couldn't do last week – to prevail over Midwestern State, 24-21.
  • Redshirt freshman QB Mitchell Gale's confidence has to be soaring after throwing two late TD passes when the Wildcats' season looked to be nearing an end. The ACU offense was going nowhere until he hit Edmund Gates in the left corner of the end zone for a 16-yard TD pass and the lead with 1:47 left in Q3, and then found Kendrick Johnson on a pretty 41-yard catch and run TD pass play with 13:42 left in the final quarter.
  • Freshman placekicker Morgan Lineberry had a flawless afternoon, with 3 PATs and a 25-yard field goal with just under 10 minutes left that ended up providing the point differential in the win for ACU.
  • Can't blame MSU QB and national passing efficiency leader Zack Eskridge if he doesn't want to see ACU's defense again any time soon. The Wildcats sacked him eight more times today, bringing their 2-game total to 13. Eskridge hurt ACU with his savvy downfield running, but he couldn't escape the ferocious pass rush of ACU's linemen and linebackers. Kevin Washington had a monster game: 13 tackles (8 solo) and 2 sacks. DL Marvin Jones was dominant with 2 sacks and 6 tackles, as well.
  • There was a fine turnout of a couple thousand purple-shirted ACU fans. And a big thanks is due the Big Purple Band, which didn't march but provided a great lift to the Wildcats from their perch high in the Memorial Stadium stands.
  • Up next: a rematch in the Show-Me State with perennial national power Northwest Missouri State in a second-round playoff game next Saturday (tentatively at noon) in Maryville, Mo. NWMo has not lost a home game since the Wildcats rallied to beat them 44-27 in the 2008 season opener. This will be the second time this season ACU has played the Bearcats, having beat them in the season opener in Shotwell Stadium, 19-14.

Final Stats: ACU 24, MSU 21

    Score: ACU 24, MSU 21
    First downs: ACU 12, MSU 22
    Rushes: ACU, 31 for 111 yards; MSU 36 for 96 yards
    Passes: ACU, 14 of 20 for 141 yards and 2 TDs; MSU, 23 of 34 for 298 yards, 1 INT and 1 TD
    Total yards: ACU 252, MSU 394
    Penalties: ACU 11 for 94, MSU 7 for 65
    Third-down conversions: ACU 2 of 11, MSU 3 of 10
    Red-zone conversions: ACU 2 of 2, MSU 2 of 2
    Possession time: ACU 28:15, MSU 31:45
    Sacks by: ACU 8 for 57 yards, MSU 2 for 15 yards
    Leading rushers: ACU, Reggie Brown, 21 for 111 yards; MSU, BeeJay Mathis, 11 for 62 yards, Zack Eskridge, 11 for 15 yards and 2 TDs
    Leading passers: ACU, Mitchell Gale, 14 of 20 for 141 yards and 2 TDs; Zack Eskridge, 23 of 34 for 298 yards, 1 INT and 1 TD
    Leading receivers: ACU, Kendrick Johnson, 5 for 77 yards and 1 TD, Edmund Gates, 3 for 24 yards and 1 TD; MSU, Andy Tanner, 9 for 92 yards and 1 TD, Sheldon Galloway, 4 for 84 yards
    Etc.: ACU P Mark Sprague punted 7 times for a 48.7-yard average, including a 69-yarder; ACU LB Kevin Washington credited with 13 tackles (8 solo) and 2 sacks

SCORING SUMMARY
    Q1, 14:45 – ACU 7, MSU 0 – Dennis Campbell 97-yard kickoff return (Morgan Lineberry kick)
    Q2, 05:30 – ACU 7, MSU 7 – Zack Eskridge 25-yard run (Jose Martinez kick)
    Q2, 00:57 – ACU 14, MSU 7 – Eskridge 9-yard run (Martinez kick)
    Q3, 01:47 – ACU 14, MSU 14 – Edmund Gates 16-yard pass from Mitchell Gale (Lineberry kick)
    Q4, 13:42 – ACU 21, MSU 14 – Kendrick Johnson 41-yard pass from Gale (Lineberry kick)
    Q4, 09:57 – ACU 24, MSU 14 – Lineberry 25-yard field goal
    Q4, 1:06 – ACU 24, MSU 21 – Andy Tanner 7-yard pass from Eskridge (Martinez kick)

ACU Drive No. 13

With 66 seconds left, MSU's onside kick is recovered by ACU at the Wildcat 44 by LB Arthur Johnson with 1:03 left. MSU is called for an illegal substitution, which moves the ball to the ACU 49. MSU calls a time out with 00:58 left. Gales takes a knee and the clock winds down to 00:40. Gales takes one last knee and the game ends with a celebration at midfield and in the stands as ACU qualifies for the second round and a rematch with Northwest Missouri next Saturday. Final score: ACU 24, MSU 21.

MSU Drive No. 12

Eskridge's pass is caught by Mathis for a first down at the 18. Eskridge passes complete to Mathis for a gain of 1. Eskridge passes complete for a first down at the 35. Another pass falls incomplete, intended to Andy Tanner. On 2nd and 10, Tanner catches Eskridge's pass at the ACU 49 for a first down. Eskridge passes complete down the middle to WR David Little for a first down at the 26. Eskridge fakes the handoff and runs to the 20. Eskridge overthrows WR Sheldon Galloway in the end zone with 1:20 left. Eskridge passes complete at the left sideline for a first down at the ACU 7. Eskridge runs to the left and is knocked out of bounds at the 7. Eskridge hits Tanner in the left end zone for a TD with 1:06 left in Q4. Jose Martinez' PAT kick is good, and ACU is flagged for roughing the kicker. ACU's lead is cut to 24-21.

ACU Drive No. 12

RB Reggie Brown bulls up the middle to the ACU 18, a gain of 8. Brown runs behind Tony Washington for a first down at the Wildcat 22. Brown runs behind Washington again, gaining 4 to the 26. ACU calls a timeout with 5:00 left in Q4. On 2nd and 7, Brown is stopped for no gain. ACU calls a time out with 4:12 left in Q4. On 3rd and 7, Brown runs up the middle to the 30. On 4th and 7, Mark Sprague's punt is fielded by BeeJay Mathis, but he slips and falls at the MSU 2. That's a 68-yard punt, folks, with just over 3 minutes left in Q4.

MSU Drive No. 11

ACU's kickoff is fielded by Mathis at the 7 and returned to the MSU 26. Eskridge passes complete to TE J.J. Ford to the 39 and a first down. Eskridge passes over the head of WR Sheldon Galloway on the right sideline. On 2nd and 10, Mathis runs around left end to the MSU 45. On 3rd and 3, Eskridge passes incomplete down the middle, but ACU jumps offsides, moving the ball to the Wildcat 48, and gaining a first down. Eskridge fakes the option handoff up the middle and runs around left end for a first down at the ACU 36. Eskridge is sacked (for the eighth time today) at the 47 by LB Casey Carr and DL Marvin Jones. On 2nd and 20, Eskridge passes over the head of his receiver at the left sideline. On 3rd and 20, Eskridge's pass is knocked down by CB Josh Wise, and MSU is flagged for holding, a penalty ACU declines. On 4th and 20, Jose Martinez' is downed at the ACU 10 with 7:04 left in Q4.

ACU Drive No. 11

RB Reggie Brown runs up the middle, gaining 7 to the 11. Brown runs up the middle again, bulling his way to the MSU 3. On 1st and goal at the 2, Brown is stopped for no gain. Gale rolls right and out of bounds at the 2, but ACU is flagged for holding, moving the ball back to the MSU 13. On 2nd and 13, Gale passes to Gates in the left end zone, but the ball is knocked down by the Mustangs. On 3rd and 13, Gale passes complete to Johnson, who is tackled at the 9. On 4th and 8, Morgan Lineberry's 25-yard field goal attempt is good from the left hashmark, and ACU stretches its lead to 24-14 with 9:57 left in Q4.

MSU Drive No. 10

ACU kickoff downed in the end zone for a touchback. Mathis runs for first-down yardage but MSU is flagged for holding, moving the ball back to the MSU 19. On 1st and 12, Eskridge is sacked, fumbles and LB Eric Edwards recovers the ball at the Mustang 18 with 13:06 left in Q4.

ACU Drive No. 10


On 1st and 10 at the ACU 43, Gale passes down the right sideline incomplete to WR Edmund Gates, who is called for offensive pass interference. The ball moves back to the ACU 28. On 1st and 25, Reggie Brown bangs up the middle for a first down at the MSU 44, a gain of 28. Kendrick Johnson runs around left end for 3 to the 41. Gale passes complete to Johnson over the middle and he runs into the end zone for a 41-yard TD pass and run. Morgan Lineberry's PAT kick is good and ACU takes the lead, 21-14, with 13:42. 

MSU Drive No. 9

ACU kickoff is fielded at the 12 by Brandon Williams and returned to the MSU 18. Eskridge passes complete to BeeJay Mathis in the left flat for a gain of only 1 at the 19. Brandon Kelsey runs a QB keeper for no gain up the middle. Eskridge passes complete to Mathis in the right flat, who is dragged down at the MSU 20 on a fine play by LB Kevin Washington. On 4th and 8, Jose Martinez' punt rolls out of bounds at the ACU 43 as Q3 ends in a 14-14 tie.

ACU Drive No. 9


WR Edmund Gates runs a reverse for first-down yardage, but ACU is flagged for holding, moving the ball back to the ACU 10. ACU is flagged for a false start, moving the ball back to the 5. RB Reggie Brown runs around the right end for 5 yard to the 10. Brown runs up the middle, cuts to the right, and is tackled at the 18. On 3rd and 11, Mitchell Gale passes complete to WR Terrell Woodall over the middle at the ACU 39 for a huge first down. Brown runs up the middle for 3 to the 42. Gale passes complete to B Justin Andrew to the 42. MSU calls a time out. On 3rd and 1, Brown takes the handoff, pitches back to Gale, who passes over the middle to TE Trey Simone. The ball is intercepted, but MSU is flagged for holding, giving ACU a first down at the MSU 48. Gale passes complete to Kendrick Johnson at the MSU 39. On 2nd and 1, Gale passes over the reach of Gates in the end zone. On 3rd and 1, Brown runs behind left tackle for a first down at the MSU 37. Gale passes complete over the middle to Johnson at the MSU 24 and another first down. On an end-around to the left, Johnson runs to the 16 of the Mustangs. On 2nd and 2, Gale passes complete to Gates in the left corner of the end zone for a 16-yard TD. Morgan Lineberry's PAT kick is good and we have a tie, 14-14 with 1:47 left in Q3.

MSU Drive No. 8

QB Zack Eskridge passes complete over the middle to the ACU 46. Eskridge keeps the ball and runs around the right side to the ACU 38. On 3rd and 1, Eskridge passes complete to WR Andy Tanner in the left flat, and he runs for a first down at the 35. Eskridge is sacked by LB Courtney Lane at the ACU 41, the Wildcats' 5th sack of the day, and a loss of 7. Eskridge's looping pass over the middle is intercepted by DB Major Culbert at the ACU 19 with 7:49 left in Q3.

ACU Drive No. 8

RB Reggie Brown runs up the middle for 1. Gale passes complete in the left flat to FB Emery Dudensing, to the 14. On 3rd and 7, Mitchell Gale passes to WR Edmund Gates, who drops the ball in the left flat. On 4th and 7th, Mark Sprague punts to the 42 of MSU, where BeeJay Mathis fields it and returns it to the ACU 47 with 10:26 left in Q3.

MSU Drive No. 7

ACU kickoff fielded by BeeJay Mathis and returned to the MSU 22, but a flag on the Mustangs for holding moves the ball back to the 12 to start the second half. Eskridge passs complete to a wide-open WR Sheldon Galloway and he runs from the MSU 12 to the ACU 33 for a first down. Mathis runs left and out of bounds for first-down yardage at the 19, but MSU is flagged for holding, which moves the ball to the 29 as a cold front arrives and the wind blows hard out of the northwest. Eskridge passes complete to Galloway at the 24 of ACU. Eskridge runs around right end and into the end zone, but MSU is flagged for holding, moving the ball back to the 34 of ACU. On 2nd and 11, Eskridge passes incomplete in the left flat, the ball nearly picked off. On 3rd and 11, Eskridge is sacked by LB Kevin Washington at the 38. On 4th and 15, Eskridge pooch punts to the ACU 9, where Major Culbert returns the ball to the 21.  However, ACU is flagged on the play for a block in the back, and the ball moves back to the ACU 11 with 11:45 left in Q3.

ACU Drive No. 7

MSU kickoff is downed in the end zone for a touchback. On 1st and 10 at the ACU 20, RB Reggie Brown runs around left end for 8 to the 28. Brown runs around left end for a first down at the 34. ACU lets the clock run down on the first half, trailing 14-7.

MSU Drive No. 6

QB Zack Eskridge passes complete to RB BeeJay Mathis for 5 at the MSU 24. Mathis runs up the middle for a first down at the 35. Mathis is stopped for no gain up the middle. Eskridge sprints to the left to avoid the rush, and passes complete down the left side to WR David Little on a pretty play to the ACU 26, a gain of 38. Bush runs off left tackle to the ACU 21, a gain of 5. Eskridge passes complete in the right flat to WR Andy Tanner, who runs out of bounds at the 17. On 3rd and 1, Eskridge passes over the head of Little on the left sideline. MSU calls a time out. On 4th and 1, Lester finds first-down yardage at the ACU 14. Mathis runs around right end for 5 to the 9. Eskridge fakes a handoff and runs into the end zone for a 9-yard TD. Jose Martinez' PAT kick is good and MSU leads, 14-7 with 00:57 left in Q2.

ACU Drive No. 6

MSU kickoff is fielded by V.J. McElroy 4 yards deep in the end zone and returned to the ACU 18. Gale passes incomplete over the middle, intended for Kendrick Johnson. Gale passes complete to WR Edmund Gates, good for 6 to the 25. Gale passes complete to Gates in the right flat, good to the 27, short of a first down. Mark Sprague's punt is downed at the MSU 24 with 4:11 left in Q2.

MSU Drive No. 5

QB Zack Eskridge passes complete to WR Sheldon Galloway to the 29, a gain of 7. RB Lester Bush runs right for a gain of 3 to the 32 and a first down. Eskridge passes too far for his receiver down the middle of the field, but ACU is flagged for offsides, moving the ball to the 37 of MSU. On 1st and 5, Bush runs up the middle to the 40. On 2nd and 2, Eskridge passes complete to WR Andy Tanner, who runs out of bounds at the ACU 41, good for a first down. Bush is caught for a loss of 1 at the 42. Eskridge runs up the middle but is tripped by DL Mike Jones at the ACU 38. On 3rd and 7, Eskridge passes off the fingertips of Tanner, but ACU is flagged for defensive holding, giving MSU a first down at the ACU 28. BeeJay Mathis runs off left tackle for 3 to the 28. Eskridge passes incomplete on the left sideline, running for his life from the ACU pass rush. MSU calls a time out. On 3rd and 7, Eskridge avoids the pass rush, and runs untouched for a 28-yard TD, finding the right side of the field wide open. PAT kick by Jose Martinez is good with 5:30 left, and we have a 7-7 tie.

ACU Drive No. 5

On first down, Gale passes 70 yards down the middle of the field, about 6 yards farther than his receiver, WR Edmund Gates. RB Daryl Richardson runs up the middle for 3 to the 39. ACU is flagged for a false start, and the ball moves back to the 34. Gale passes over the head of Gates down the right sideline. On 4th and 12, Mark Sprague's punt is fair-caught at the MSU 22 with 10:17 left in Q2, and ACU still leading 7-0.

MSU Drive No. 4

QB Eskridge chooses to run but is stopped after a gain to the 39, a gain of 1. Eskridge passes complete to WR Andy Tanner at the MSU 45. On 3rd and 3, Eskridge is sacked at the MSU 35, the Wildcats' fourth sack of the game, ninth in two games against the Indians. MSU's punt is downed at the ACU 35 with 11:34 left in Q2.

ACU Drive No. 4

RB Darryl Richardson is stopped for no gain on a run up the middle on first down. Q1 ends and the teams move down to the other end of the field for Q2 with ACU leading, 7-0. Richardson runs around the left side and out of bounds at the 13. Gale is flushed from the pocket and sacked at the ACU 11. On fourth down, Mark Sprague punts to the MSU 38, a 51-yard punt into the wind. He barely avoided a block on the play. 13:53 left in Q2.

MSU Drive No. 3

Eskridge is sacked by LB Fred Thompson at the MSU 45 on 1st down. RB Bush gains 1 up the middle on 2nd down. Eskridge passes to RB Mathis in the right flat, but he drops it. What a big defensive stop for the Wildcats. On 4th and 9, Jose Martinez' punt is fielded by Kendrick Johnson at the ACU 8 with 00:39 left in Q1.

ACU Drive No. 3

RB Reggie Brown runs up the middle and cuts back to the left to the ACU 9. Brown runs again, up the middle, to the Wildcat 15. On 3rd and 1, Brown follows FBs Justin Andrews and Emery Dudensing up the middle, only an inch or two short of the first down. On 4th and 1, Mark Sprague's punt with the wind at his back is fielded at the 39 of MSU and is brought down at midfield with 2:06 left in Q1.

MSU Drive No. 2

1st and 10 on the MSU 7. Eskridge completes a screen pass to Mathis for a first down at the 20. Mathis runs left, avoids a potential tackle in the backfield, gaining 5 to the 25. Mathis runs off left tackle for 6 to the 31 and a first down. Eskridge passes to WR David Little, but he drops the ball. Mathis runs up the middle to the 41 for a first down. RB Lester Bush finds tough running up the middle, gaining 2 to the 43 of MSU. Eskridge passes complete to WR Andy Tanner in the left flat, and he is smashed by DB Drew Cuffee at the 48. On 3rd and 3, Eskridge is sacked by LB Kevin Washington at the 39 on a huge defensive play. On 4th and 13, MSU's punt is fielded by Kendrick Johnson, and he is tackled at the ACU 5.

ACU Drive No. 2

RB Reggie Brown runs up the middle for 5. QB Mitchell Gale passes complete to Kendrick Johnson for a first down at midfield. Gale completes a pass to Johnson at the MSU 41. Brown runs up the middle for 5 yards and a first down at the 36. Gale passes complete to Brown in the left flat for 2 to the 34. Gale passes complete to WR Chris Fowler, good to the MSU 33 on a screen play. On 3rd and 7, Gale is sacked back at the 46. On 4th and 20, Mark Sprague's punt is fair-caught at the MSU 7 with 7:55 left in Q1.

MSU Drive No. 1

ACU kickoff fair-caught at the MSU 20. Zack Eskridge is the QB and BeeJay Mathis is the RB. Eskridge passes complete over the middle to Jared Freeman, but MSU is called for holding, and ball moves back to the 31. Mathis is caught by Aston Whiteside in the backfield and fumbles, but MSU recovers at the 24. Eskridge is sacked by Marvin Jones at the 16. 3rd and 23. Eskridge keeps the ball and is run out of bounds at the 29. On fourth down, MSU's punt is fielded by Kendrick Johnson, but flags fly. ACU flagged for holding and MSU flagged for a block in the back. ACU gains possession at its 35.

ACU Drive No. 1

MSU kickoff  fielded by Dennis Campbell and taken to the house for a TD!  A 96-yard TD return gives ACU the lead. PAT by Morgan Lineberry is good and the Wildcats lead 7-0, just 15 seconds into the game. Longest return in ACU playoff history. Wow.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Looking Back



Fifty-six years ago, Wildcat faithful made the rather unremarkable 156-mile trip north to Wichita Falls for an important game with Midwestern State University in the middle of an important season for the Wildcats. Only they didn't do it in carpools or like the Big Purple Band today, in a comfy travel bus.

In 1953, 800 students and fans paid $1 for a game ticket and $5.90 for a round-trip train ride to and from Wichita Falls on Saturday, Oct. 3, for a tilt with the Indians.  

Like last week's 15-13 ACU loss to MSU, the 1953 team found itself in a defensive struggle, only it prevailed, 13-7, in a game where all the points were scored in the first quarter and then the two teams played to a draw in the final three quarters. Freshman QB Leondous Fry scored ACU's first TD in the 1953 game on a 58-yard run (the PAT was missed), and then FB Gene Boyd ran 26 yards for the winning TD.  Like the stingy 2009 version of the Wildcat defense, the 1953 contingent held MSU to 75 yards rushing and only 7 first downs.

While we're comparing things, an ACU win today means the Wildcats travel to play one of the nation's top NCAA Division II teams – Northwest Missouri State – in Marysville, Mo, for the second round of the national playoffs.  The 1953 team also faced a formidable road trip in its next game – Florida State University in Tallahassee (ACU beat the Seminoles, 20-7).

 The Wildcats went on to a 7-3 record in 1953, winning the Texas Conference.  Current head coach Chris Thomsen would like his team's season to end in Florence, Ala., with a handsome piece of hardware of its own.

Thanks to Dr. Charlie (’55) and Peggy (Gambrill ’55) Marler for saving the tickets to the 1953 game, a trip which marked the beginning of their longtime romance.  They rode the Love Train, by the way.

Volleyball team on the brink again

Last year at about this time I wrote a piece on this blog that wasn't too well-received by some folks in the Heartland Conference.

It was basically decrying the fact that the conference earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II South Central Region volleyball tournament when none of its teams had done anything to earn the spot. Now, I realize that the spot is guaranteed by the NCAA and there's nothing that can be done about that. ACU has certainly been the beneficiary of some automatic bids and at-large post-season bids.

However, the bid last year was partly to blame for a very qualified ACU volleyball team missing the regional tournament.

Well don't look now, but the Wildcats are back in the same spot, despite a team that entered this weekend's Lone Star Conference Post-Season Tournament riding a 15-match winning streak. That streak hit 16 straight in Thursday's quarterfinal win over Texas A&M-Kingsville and could hit 17 today with a semifinal victory over Angelo State.

ACU, though, is ranked No. 8 in this week's regional poll, which was released Thursday. And with no Heartland Conference team anywhere to be found in the top 10 (strong league, huh?) the Wildcats are again on the brink of watching another great season slide down the drain.

So now the Wildcats know they probably have to win the league championship and earn the conference's automatic bid to keep their season alive. Unless they get a lot of help this weekend in the MIAA.

ACU's reward for what would be a 29-5 record going into a possible conference championship match? A meeting with West Texas A&M for the seconde straight season with the knowledge that it probably has to beat the Lady Buffs on their home floor just to continue their season.

Have I mentioned that WT has a 42-match home-court winning streak going into tonight's semifinal match? Or that they haven't lost a match to a conference team since 2005? In fact, the last LSC team to beat WT -- and they beat them on their home floor -- was the ACU Wildcats, who took a 3-2 win over the Lady Buffs back on Nov. 3, 2005.

If the Wildcats get past the Rambelles this evening, will it be impossible for ACU to beat the Lady Buffs on Saturday? No; not with the way the Wildcats have played of late.

The thing that head coach Kellen Mock and assistant coach Lindsey Campbell can't figure out, however, is how they're in this situation in the first place. They've got a team that could have 29 wins going into Saturday, and yet they're on the outside looking in while a team that they've beaten twice this season -- Pittsburg State -- sits comfortably at No. 5 in the region? ACU has beaten the Gorillas in Abilene and Pittsburg, Kan.

The Wildcats don't have a bad loss on their schedule. On the contrary, four of their five losses this season have been to teams that were nationally ranked at the time of the match.

So here the Wildcats sit, hoping they can beat one of the best teams in the country -- on their home floor -- in the conference championship match so that they KNOW for sure that their season will continue. Otherwise another extraordinary season will come to a premature end.

Saturday's game to be broadcast online

The NCAA announced Friday morning that Saturday's first-round NCAA Division II playoff game between No. 18 ACU and No. 7 Midwestern State has been picked up by NCAA productions.

The game will be Web-streamed (audio and video) free of charge on NCAAtv, the broadband channel for college sports. Kickoff between the Wildcats and Mustangs is set for noon (central time) Saturday from Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls.

ACU will provide a local radio broadcast, but will not provide an internet broadcast. Wildcat fans, however, will have a multitude of platforms from which to follow the game:

NCAAtv
Live stats
ACU Facebook
ACU Twitter
ACU Optimist Twitter

Also during the game, ACU director of creative services, Ron Hadfield, will be live-blogging in the radio booth with play-by-play man Grant Boone and myself. They will welcome your questions about the game. Simply add your question in the comments section of the blog and they'll get to them as they can during the course of the broadcast.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

We're No. 6!!!

Number 6 never sounded so good.

Sunday, the ACU Wildcats learned they had made the Division II playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. In the final regional rankings announced on ESPNews a little after 2 p.m. CST, ACU was 6th, meaning the 'Cats earned the final playoff spot in Super Region IV.

The reward? A return trip to Wichita Falls to take on Midwestern State for the second time in eight days. The Mustangs beat ACU, 15-13, Saturday in the regular season finale despite being held scoreless for the final three quarters.

Here is how the final Super Region IV rankings shook out:

1. Central Washington
2. Northwest Missouri State
3. Midwestern State
4. Texas A&M-Kingsville
5. Tarleton State
6. ACU

The top two get Saturday off. Kingsville will host Tarleton in a rematch of a game the Javs won, 34-20, with two late TD to break a 20-20 tie. The LSC is guaranteed of having two teams in the second round. The MIAA and its schools' fans will no doubt be unhappy about four LSC teams making the postseason, but I believe one could make a compelling case that the LSC South Division alone is stronger than many D2 conferences. For evidence, look no further than Canyon, Texas. West Texas A&M went 1-5 without star RB Keithon Flemming and 5-0 after he returned from a dislocated elbow, including road victories over ACU and Tarleton State. (WT lost to Kingsville and Midwestern before Flemming came back.)

Unlike the NFL, which reseeds its playoffs after each round to guarantee the best team plays the lowest seed, the D2 brackets are locked in. So the winner of the ACU-Midwestern game will play at Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 21. (ACU handed Northwest its last home loss in August 2008, 44-27.)

Beating Midwestern anywhere won't be easy for ACU. The Mustangs are solid in every phase, though their kicking game abandoned them yesterday (two missed PATs and a missed FG with the wind at the kicker's back). But I can't believe coach Bill Maskill is thrilled about having to beat ACU twice in as many Saturdays. Midwestern was terrific in the first quarter with the wind at its back, scoring two TD and a FG. But the Mustangs barely mustered 100 yards in offense and zero points in the final 45 minutes and four seconds.

After the game, my son, Nick, and I applauded the Wildcats as the buses drove out of the parking lot and back to Abilene. This has been a great team to cover and get to know, on and off the field. With 37 wins (and counting), these seniors are the winningest class in ACU's 90 years of football.

They're not done yet.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Lessons Learned: ACU vs. Midwestern

  • What a rugged game by two fine teams who could both end up in the playoffs, thanks to the wild and wacky things that are going on and may yet go on tonight in the Wildcats' region. Already today, the region's No. 4 (ACU was edged by Midwestern State), No. 5 (Missouri Western fell to unranked Nebraska-Omaha) and No. 6 (Central Missouri lost to No. 1 Northwest Missouri) teams have lost, and No. 3 Tarleton has its hands full tonight with a resurgent but unranked West Texas A&M. No. 8 Texas A&M-Kingsville hosts No. 10 Angelo State later tonight. If ACU survives the playoff-makers' surgical knife Sunday afternoon, it will likely play this coming Saturday, and on the road, perhaps as close as an LSC opponent's home stadium.
  • Despite a loss to an all-around powerhouse team today, ACU's defense proved it is playoff and championship caliber. After spotting Midwestern a 15-0 lead in the first quarter, the Wildcats neutralized national passing efficiency leader Zack Eskridge in the final three quarters. After he lit up ACU on 13 of 14 passes for 215 yards in the first half, Eskridge was just 1 of 10 for 6 yards in the second half. The Wildcats also sacked him five times.
  • ACU backs ran for a solid 185 yards on the ground, but overall, the Wildcats returned to their struggling ways on offense, never able to mount the downfield passing game it showed last week in the win over A&M-Kingsville. Mitchell Gale was 18 of 32 for just 141 yards. The redshirt freshman threw only one interception, but it was a big momentum stopper. 
  • Morgan Lineberry became the first Wildcat to kick two 50-yard-plus field goals in one game, connecting on a 56-yarder in the second quarter and a 51-yarder in the fourth.
  • Reggie Brown topped the 100-yard mark in rushing (11 for 104 yards), 55 of that on a long run in the second quarter, setting up Lineberry's 56-yard field goal.
  • Follow the national scoreboard tonight at d2football.com – it will be an interesting finish to a fascinating regular season. Playoff pairings will be announced Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. CST on ESPNews.

Final Stats: MSU 15, ACU 13

    Score: MSU 15, ACU 13
    First downs: ACU 15, MSU 12
    Rushes: ACU, 38 for 185 yards; MSU 38 for 115 yards
    Passes: ACU, 18 of 32 for 141 yards, 1 INT and 1 TD; MSU, 14 of 24 for 221 yards and 1 TD
    Total yards: ACU 326, MSU 336
    Penalties: ACU 5 for 49, MSU 7 for 55
    Third-down conversions: ACU 1 of 1, MSU 2 of 2
    Red-zone conversions: ACU 6 of 16, MSU 2 of 12
    Possession time: ACU 31:07, MSU 28:53
    Sacks by: ACU 5 for 28 yards, MSU 2 for 16
    Leading rushers: ACU, Reggie Brown, 11 for 104 yards, Daryl Richardson, 16 for 49 yards, Kendrick Johnson, 2 for 24 yards; MSU, Lester Bush, 13 for 53 yards and 1 TD, Zack Eskridge, 11 for 52 yards
    Leading passers: ACU, Mitchell Gale, 18 of 32 for 141 yards, 1 INT and 1 TD; Zack Eskridge, 14 of 24 for 221 yards and 1 TD
    Leading receivers: ACU, Dennis Campbell, 6 for 68 yards, Edmund Gates, 4 for 17 yards; MSU, Andy Tanner, 5 for 95 yards, Sheldon Galloway, 3 for 74 yards

SCORING SUMMARY
    Q1, 07:18 – MSU 6, ACU 0 – Jared Freeman 31-yard pass from Zack Eskridge (Jose Martinez kick failed)
    Q1, 03:46 – MSU 9, ACU 0 – Martinez 25-yard field goal
    Q1, 00:04 – MSU 15, ACU 0 – Lester Bush 2-yard run (Martinez kick failed)
    Q2, 06:23 – MSU 15, ACU 7 – Trey Simone 3-yard pass from Mitchell Gale (Morgan Lineberry kick)
    Q2, 01:05 – MSU 15, ACU 10 – Lineberry 56-yard field goal
    Q4, 06:03 – MSU 15, ACU 13 – Lineberry 51-yard field goal


MSU Drive No. 14

BeeJay Mathis rushes for no gain at the ACU 44. Mathis rushes and loses 2 yards to the 46. ACU calls a time out with 00:52 left. Bush rushes 8 yards to the ACU 38. On 4th and 4, MSU is flagged for delay of game, and the ball moves back to the 43. MSU calls a time out with 00:02 left. Eskridge takes the snap and scrambles back to the MSU 41 before taking a knee as time expires. Final score: MSU 15, ACU 13

ACU Drive No. 13

Ball on the ACU 30 with 3:31 left. Gale scrambles 3 yards to the ACU 33. Gale passes completes to Edmund Gates to the 36 with 2:54 left in Q4. Gale passes complete to Gates at the 41 for a first down with 2:37 left. Reggie Brown rushes 5 to the 46 and a first down. Under 2:00 left. ACU is flagged for a false start, bringing up 2nd and 10. Gale passes over the head of Kendrick Johnson on the right side, bringing up 3rd and 10 from the 41. Gale scrambles to the 44, and ACU calls time out with 1:05 left. On 4th and 7, Gale passes incomplete to Gates, and MSU takes over.

MSU Drive No. 13

ACU kickoff is downed for a touchback. Zack Eskridge hands off to Lester Bush, who gains little ground. Eskridge fakes a handoff and scrambles for a first down at the MSU 37. RB Neal Carr gains no ground on a rush up the middle. Carr is stopped for no gain on second down. With 3:55 left, Eskridge passes incomplete over the middle. He has completed just one pass in the second half after a lights-out first half. On fourth down, Jose Martinez bobbles the snap and punts to the Wildcats.

ACU Drive No. 12

At the ACU 3, Reggie Brown rumbles up the middle to the Wildcat 18 for a first down. Brown runs up the middle again, gaining 7 to the 25. Brown again runs, losing his footing at the 27, bringing up 3rd and inches. Brown bulls up the middle, gaining the first down at the 28. Gale passes complete to WR Kendrick Johnson, good for 8 to the 37. On 2nd and 1, Brown rushes up the middle for another first down to the ACU 43. Gale throws the ball away, under heavy pressure, bringing up 2nd and 10. Gale throws incomplete. With 8:19 left, Gale passes complete to WR Dennis Campbell for a first down at the MSU 38, a gain of 19 yards. Richardson rushes up the middle to the 33 a gain of 5. Richardson runs left to the 31, a gain of 2. Kendrick Johnson takes the handoff on an end-around but it stopped for no gain. Morgan Lineberry attempts a 51-yard field goal, and it is good, his second long-range FG of the game and third of the season. He becomes the first player in ACU history to kick two 50-yard-plus field goals in the same game. New score is MSU 15, ACU 13 with 6:03 left in Q4.

MSU Drive No. 12


Eskridge passes incomplete to Andy Tanner on first down, the ball nearly intercepted by Craig Harris. Eskridge scrambles 14 yards to the ACU 48 and a first down. RB BeeJay Mathis rushes 6 to the 42. RB Lester Bush rushes 7 to the ACU 35. Bush rushes but is tackled by Mike Jones for a loss of 2 to the 37. Bush rushes for 2 to the 35. On 3rd and 10, Eskridge passes incomplete to Andy Tanner, pressured by Aston Whiteside. On 4th and 10, MSU goes for it. Eskridge pooch-punts down to the Wildcat 2 with 11:05 left in Q4.

ACU Drive No. 11

Daryl Richardson rushes 8 yards to the 17. Richardson gains 10 to the 27 and a first down. Richardson gains 2 to the ACU 29 as the third quarter winds down. With the wind at its back and the fourth quarter starting, Gale eludes the 2nd-down rush initially, but is sacked by Emmanuel Bagley at the Wildcat 19. Gale rolls right and overthrows Edmund Gates down the sideline on third down. Mark Sprague's punt is caught at the 36 and returned to the MSU 4. The Mustangs are flagged for a block in the back on the return, moving the ball to the 38.

MSU Drive No. 11

Zack Eskridge's pass to Sheldon Galloway is incomplete, with Kevin Washington bearing down on him. Lester Bush rushes 1 yard to the ACU 42. Eskridge's pass to Andy Tanner is complete, with pressure from Aston Whiteside. On fourth down, Eskridge pooch-punts the ball out of bounds at the ACU 9 with 1:54 left in Q3.

ACU Drive No. 10

RB Daryl Richardson runs for 4 to the ACU 24. Mitchell Gale passes complete to Edmund Gates for a first down at the ACU 30. Gale passes complete over the middle to WR Kendrick Johnson to the 43, a gain of 13 and a first down. Gale is sacked by Emmanuel Bagley for a loss of 6 at the 37 of ACU. Gale passes complete to WR Dennis Campbell, who fumbles. MSU recovers at the 43 with 2:56 left in Q3.

MSU Drive No. 10

RB Lester Bush runs 4 to the MSU 30. On 2nd down, Eskridge passes complete to Andy Tanner  to the ACU 30, but MSU is called for holding. Ball moves to the MSU 20. Eskridge rushes 16 yards to the Mustang 36 for a first down. Bush runs 6 yards to the 42. Bush runs again, to the ACU 48 for another first down. Eskridge flees heavy pressure from Marvin Jones, and his pass downfield is incomplete. Eskridge passes complete to Tanner for 6 to the ACU 42. Eskridge is sacked by Derek Odelusi, for a loss of 1 to the 43. On fourth down, Eskridge pooch-punts the ball through the end zone for a touchback with 5:18 left in Q3.

ACU Drive No. 9

RB Daryl Richardson gains 2 yards to the 36. Mitchell Gale hands off to Richardson, who leaps a tackler and gains 1 yard to the 37. Gale runs to the 42, just shy of the first down. Mark Sprague punts to the MSU 26, where BeeJay Mathis calls a fair catch with 9:05 left in Q3.

MSU Drive No. 9


MSU takes over after the interception at ACU's 34. Zack Eskridge rushes for 4 to the ACU 30. On second down, Eskridge is sacked by Marvin Jones at the 34. Eskridge's pass to Andy Tanner is dropped. On fourth down, Jose Martinez' 51 field goal attempt is wide right and no good, and ACU takes over at its 34 with 11:02 left in Q3.  

ACU Drive No. 8

ACU begins at its 20. QB Mitchell Gale hands off to RB Reggie Brown, who gains 3 yards to the 23. Gale's pass is intercepted by Danny Jackson at the ACU 34 with 12:33 left in Q3.

MSU Drive No. 8

ACU kickoff is fielded at the 20 and returned to the 30 of MSU. The Mustangs are flagged for a block in the back, moving the ball to the 20. Zack Eskridge passes incomplete to WR Andy Tanner on first down. Eskridge runs to the right for 25 yards, and a first down at the 45 of MSU. RB BeeJay Mathis runs 2 yards to the 47, bringing up 2nd and 8. Eskridge throws a rare incomplete pass to Tanner. Eskridge is sacked at the 35 by LBs Fred Thompson and Courtney Lane. On fourth down, Jose Martinez's punt is a 65-yarder that rolls through the end zone with 13:21 left in Q3.

ACU-MSU Halftime Stats

    Score: MSU 15, ACU 10
    First downs: ACU 7, MSU 6
    Rushes: ACU, 17 for 119 yards; MSU 14 for 30 yards
    Passes: ACU, 11 of 19 for 81 yards and 1 TD; MSU, 13 of 14 for 215 yards and 1 TD
    Total yards: ACU 200, MSU 245
    Penalties: ACU 4 for 44, MSU 3 for 20
    Leading rushers: ACU, Reggie Brown, 4 for 65 yards, Daryl Richardson, 3 for 21 yards, Kendrick Johnson, 1 for 27 yards; MSU, Lester Bush, 4 for 14 yards and 1 TD, BeeJay Mathis, 4 for 13 yards
    Leading passers: ACU, Mitchell Gale, 11 of 19 for 81 yards and 1 TD; Zack Eskridge, 13 of 14 for 215 yards and 1 TD
    Leading receivers: ACU, Dennis Campbell, 4 for 43 yards; MSU, Andy Tanner, 4 for 89 yards

MSU Drive No. 7

ACU's kickoff is downed in the end zone for a touchback with 1:05 left in Q2. RB John Fisher runs 1 yard to the 21. Zack Eskridge hands off to Fisher, who gains no yardage as time expires in the first half. MSU 15, ACU 10.

ACU Drive No. 7


MSU is flagged for illegal substitution, and the ball moves to the ACU 19. Mitchell Gale hands off to RB Reggie Brown, who rumbles 55 yards to the MSU 36. Brown gets the ball again, gaining 6 to the 30. Gale's pass to WR Austin Kessler is incomplete, and ACU is flagged for intentional grounding, which moves the ball back to the 39. A shovel pass to Daryl Richardson is complete but goes nowhere. On 4th and 13, Morgan Lineberry attempts a 56-yard field goal that is good, making the score 15-10 with 1:05 left in Q2. The 56-yarder is the third-longest FG in ACU history.

MSU Drive No. 6

ACU's kickoff is fielded at the MSU 25 and returned to the Mustang's 37. QB Zack Eskridge hands off to RB BeeJay Mathis after a gain of 2 to the 40. Eskridge passes complete to Jared Freeman at the 46 of MSU, bringing up 3rd down. ACU jumps offsides, and Eskridge passes complete to Freeman at the ACU 42, a gain of 12. Lester Bush rushes to the 40. Eskridge is sacked at the 43 by Fred Thompson and Aston Whiteside. Eskridge runs from trouble in the form of Derek Odelusi, and throws the ball away to no one in particular. ACU calls a timeout with 3:09 left in Q2. On 4th and 11, Eskridge pooch-kicks the ball, which is downed at the Wildcat 4 with 2:58 left.

ACU Drive No. 6


At the MSU 45 with 10:21 left in Q2, Edmund Gates takes the end-around handoff and gains 9 to the 36. Mitchell Gale runs 2 yards to the 34, and a first down. Richardson runs 4 to the 30. Gale passes complete to WR Dennis Campbell at the 23 and a first down. Richardson finds no room to run, tackled after losing 2 to the 25. Gale passes complete to Richardson at the 20. Gale passes complete to Campbell at the MSU 8. Gale's pass to Emery Dudensing is batted down. Gates takes the handoff on an end-around and runs 5 yards to the 3. MSU calls its final time out of the first half with 6:38 left in Q2. (MSU QB Eskridge is 11 for 11 for 197 yards and 1 TD thus far. WR Andy Tanner has 4 catches for 89 yards.) On 3rd and goal, Gale passes complete to TE Trey Simone for a TD. ACU is flagged for a personal foul, which will take effect on the ensuing kickoff. PAT kick by Morgan Lineberry is good and the new score is MSU 15, ACU 7 with 6:23 left in Q2.

MSU Drive No. 5

Eskridge hands off to BeeJay Bush, who makes it to the MSU 30. Bush rushes to the 31. On 3rd and 1, Eskridge is sacked by ACU DE Aston Whiteside. Jose Martinez's punt is downed at the MSU 45, a 23-yard kick into the wind.

ACU Drive No. 5

MSU's kickoff is downed in the end zone by ACU's V.J. McElroy. Daryl Richardson runs 4 yards to the 24 as Q1 ends. On 2nd and 6, WR Kendrick Johnson takes the end-around handoff and runs to the MSU 49, a gain of 27. ACU is flagged for a false start, moving the ball back to the Wildcat 46. On 1st and 15, the snap is bad from C Matt Webber, but Mitchell Gale falls on it at the 43. Gale passes complete to Richardson at the Mustang 42, bringing up 3rd and 3. Richardson is tackled 2 yards short of a first down on a run play. On 4th and 1 at the 40, ACU decides to go for it, calling a timeout first, however. MSU then calls a time out. Gale passes complete to Justin Andrews at the MSU 19, but is flagged for a personal foul, and the ball moves back to the 40. Mark Sprague's punt is fielded at the MSU 12 and returned to the 22 of MS with 12:19 left in Q2.

MSU Drive No. 4

Eskridge hands off to RB Lester Bush for a gain of 2 to the MSU 48. Eskridge's pass is caught by WR Sheldon Galloway at the ACU 27 and a first down. Eskridge passes complete to RB BeeJay Mathis, who loses 1 yard on the play. Eskridge passes complete to WR Andy Tanner at the ACU 7 for a first down. Mathis runs up the middle to the 2. MSU calls time out with :07 left in Q1. Eskridge hands off to Bush, who runs in for the TD. Jose Martinez' PAT kick is no good and MSU stretches its lead to 15-0 with :04 left in Q1.

ACU Drive No. 4

MSU's kickoff is kicked through the end zone for a touchback. Mitchell Gale passes over the head of WR Austin Kessler, and incomplete. RB Reggie Brown gains 2 up the middle to the ACU 22. Gale passes complete to Brown, who falls short of a first down at the Wildcat 26.  On fourth down, Mark Sprague punts sails out of bounds at the MSU 45. 

MSU Drive No. 3

Eskridge passes complete to WR Sheldon Galloway to the ACU 13, a gain of 37 and a first down. BeeJay Mathis runs up the middle for 1 to the 12. On 2nd and 9, Eskridge passes complete to TE J.J. Ford at the ACU 9. Mathis runs to the 8. Jose Martinez attempts a 25-yard field goal on fourth down, and it is good. MSU 9, ACU 0 with 3:49 left in Q1.

ACU Drive No. 3

MSU kickoff is kicked through the end zone for a touchback. Reggie Brown is the RB. QB Mitchell Gale passes complete to FB Justin Andrews at the ACU 26. On 2nd and 4, Brown runs up the middle to the 28, bringing up 3rd and 2. Gale's pass screen pass to Andrews is tipped at the line of scrimmage, and incomplete. Mark Sprague's punt is fielded and returned to midfield with 5:48 in Q1.

MSU Drive No. 2

Zach Eskridge hands off to BeeJay Mathis, gaining 5 yards on 1st down, tackled by LB Kevin Washington. Eskridge passes complete to WR Sheldon Galloway, gaining 16 to the ACU 40. Eskridge runs for 7 to the ACU 33. Eskridge passes complete to WR Andy Tanner, short of a first down at the 31. Eskridge passes complete to WR Jared Freeman for a TD. Jose Martinez' PAT attempt is no good, wide right. MSU 6, ACU 0 with 7:18 left in Q1. 

ACU Drive No. 2

Richardson loses 1 yard on a run, to the Wildcat 23. WR Edmund Gates catches a pass from Gale, to the ACU 27. Gale throws complete to Dennis Campbell to the ACU 36 and a first down. Richardson runs to the right for 4 to the 30. Gates drops a screen pass from Gale on the right side of the field. On 3rd and 6, Gale's pass is tipped and batted down, incomplete. On fourth down, Mark Sprague's punt is downed by Emery Dudensing at the MSU 40.

MSU Drive No. 1

Zack Eskridge is the QB for MSU, and BeeJay Mathis is the WR. Eskridge throws complete to WR Andy Tanner, a gain of 9 to the 33. MSU is flagged for false start, moving the ball back to the 28 of the Mustangs. Eskridge hands off to Mathis, who gains short yardage. MSU is flagged for holding, however. The ball moves back to the 18. On 2nd and 16, Eskridge throws complete to Tanner, who gains 50 yards on the play but fumbles, recovered by LDB Courtney Lane for the Wildcats at the ACU 24.

ACU Drive No. 1

MSU kickoff is downed for a touchback in the end zone. ACU begins at its 20. Mitchell Gale is the QB, and Daryl Richardson is the RB. He runs up the middle for 4 on first down at the 24. Gale passes complete to the left, to the 39 to WR Dennis Campbell, and a first down. Gale rolls right and throws but his pass is incomplete to Campbell, and nearly picked off. Richardson runs to the left, losing 1 to the 38. Gale passes incomplete, avoiding a heavy MSU rush. On fourth down, Mark Sprague punts into a strong wind. The kick is fielded and returned to the MSU 24.

Win, or Go … to Kansas?

Sunny skies, 80 degrees, strong SSW winds (sorry, allergy sufferers) and high drama are on tap today when ACU and Midwestern State (both 8-2 overall and 3-2 in the LSC South Division) battle for the privilege to continue their seasons in the NCAA Division II playoffs.  The loser may be headed to Topeka, Kan., to play Dec. 5 in the inaugural Kanza Bowl, but more about that in a minute. What to watch for today:
  • Midwestern leads the nation in passing efficiency. ACU leads the nation in rushing defense. Now, those might seem to be of little consequence in a head-to-head match up, but they really matter. If the Wildcats (giving up a paltry 34.3 yards per game) shut down the Mustangs' running game (152.1 yards a game average), that will encourage MSU junior QB Zack Eskridge to throw more, which he does more effectively (187.28 efficiency rating) than anyone in the nation this season. MSU is tremendously accurate in its short-range passing game; in the Mustangs' 38-7 rout of Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 17, Eskridge completed 24 of 25 passes. ACU's superlative pass rush (28 sacks thus far) may not have time to get untracked if MSU employs a quick-strike barrage of short-range passes, so the pressure they bring on Eskridge is crucial.
  • ACU leads this series, 17-4-1, but the Mustangs are awfully hard to beat in Memorial Stadium, with a record of 34-8 during the Coach Bill Maskill era – an .810 winning percentage. MSU is 42-10 (.808) at home since 2000. ACU won the last meeting here, a 42-41 thriller in 2007 that saw the Wildcats rally from a 38-17 deficit midway through the third quarter to earn a spot in the national playoffs.
  • The special teams meltdown ACU experienced last week in the win over A&M-Kingsville – three blocked punts – needs to have been fixed in practice this week. MSU has blocked an astounding 10 kicks this season, and scored 66 points (9 TDs, 1 FG) off those defensive big plays. In fact, MSU has blocked 35 kicks in its last 82 games.
  • The Mustangs are on Cloud 9: they've never been ranked this high (ninth) in the nation. ACU is 12th, having been ranked No. 1 for a brief time earlier this season. Will the heady feeling be an Achilles' heel for MSU? ACU knows all about that.
  • Despite having identical records, MSU is only ranked No. 7 in the region, and ACU is No. 4.  That's largely a result of strength of schedule, thanks to the Wildcats' win over perennial NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri in the season opener. If the season ended prior to this game being played, the Mustangs would be on the outside looking in, as only the top six teams in regional rankings make the playoffs. MSU owns big wins over New Mexico Highlands, Northeastern State and Incarnate Word (in its first year of playing football), so the voters are not nearly as impressed with that lineup of softies.
  • ACU's ability to rebound last week from two straight losses was largely due to the steady and heady play of redshirt freshman QB Mitchell Gale. They'll need a similar performance today to keep their rediscovered offensive prowess purring, as well as big games from RBs Daryl Richardson and Reggie Brown, and WR Edmund Gates.
  • Speaking of Gates, he has a show-me opportunity today with MSU's fine senior WR Andy Tanner, who has caught passes for 999 yards and 11 TDs this season. After three straight sub-par weeks, Gates caught five passes for 111 yards last week in the big win over A&M-Kingsville, flashing his game-breaking speed on a 72-yard TD. 
  • The Kanza Bowl. It may be the consolation-prize-lovely-parting-gift for today's non-winner. The game will pit the highest-ranked, non-playoff-bound teams from the LSC and Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference. That feels a lot like the 1976 Shrine Bowl, played in Pasadena (Texas, not California … rats), which pitted teams in similar situations from the LSC and Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. As luck would have it, that turned out to be ACU and its Church of Christ recruiting rival Harding University, two sister schools that had never squared off before – or since – on the gridiron. The 1976 Wildcats were star-laden – future ACU Sports Hall of Fame QB Jim Reese, world-record field goal kicker Ove Johansson, and future NFL players Johnny Perkins (WR), Wilbert Montgomery (RB) and his brother, Cle Montgomery (WR-KR). Wilbert was hurt and did not play, still recovering from a thigh injury (that occurred, ironically, in a neutral-site game in Wichita Falls' Memorial Stadium with Cameron University). ACU beat the Bison, 22-12, in a bowl game seemingly witnessed by more Shriners than fans in a testy contest that saw a Harding player crash into Johansson on a kick attempt, injuring the Swede's knee. All that to say this: there could be worse things than a post-season consolation bowl game in an out-of-the way place. The 1976 Wildcats (9-2) went on to an 11-1-1 record in 1977, losing that pesky Homecoming game but winning ACU's most recent national championship.