End of Q1: ACU 24, East Central 7

East Central opened a 7-0 lead on its fifth play from scrimmage with a 70-yard TD pass from QB Tyler Vanderzee to WR Tyra Waits at 13:52 of the first quarter. ACU moved the ball smartly down the field, with senior WR Edmund Gates making a leaping grab at the back of the end zone of a 9-yard Mitchell Gale pass for a TD at 10:50. Morgan Lineberry's PAT tied the score at 7-7.

Less than a minute later, ACU junior DB David Lamour intercepted a Vanderzee pass at the ECU 44-yard line, and the Wildcats were in business again. Three plays later, Gale escaped a sack attempt to find RB Darrell Cantu-Harkless over the middle. The freshman from Austin outraced defenders to the end zone on a 35-yard scoring play. Lineberry's PAT put ACU on top, 14-7 with 8:40 remaining.

Lineberry's 48-yard field goal at 5:39 extended the ACU lead to 17-7.

After a penalty-filled drive, Wildcat senior FB Emery Dudensing scored the third TD of the season – and his career – when Gale found him for a pass completion in the right flat and the former six-man football star rumbled into the corner of the end zone for a score with 2:17 left. Lineberry's third PAT of the game made the score 24-7.

Gale, ACU's sophomore QB, ended the quarter having completed 10 of 15 passes for 115 yards and three TDs. The ACU defense held ECU to 3 yards of rushing.