Lessons Learned: ACU vs. A&M-Kingsville

• Now, THAT'S what the No. 1 team in the nation might look like, only the Wildcats answered that bell about two weeks late.  Nevertheless, ACU took care of business, beating Texas A&M-Kingsville in a game that was not as close as the 47-35 score indicated.  The fourth quarter was a flag-fest, with several foolish penalties that gave the Javelinas life and momentum.
  
• ACU's run defense, ranked No. 1 in the nation entering this game, held the LSC's top rushing team to 50 yards on the ground. TAMK's junior RB, Fred Wilborn, is a real talent who ran for 263 yards last week, but could only manage 47 today. The Wildcats are a menace to their opponents' running game, and they put heavy pressure on QBs, as well.
• Four times in the red zone for the Wildcats, and four times they scored.
• Mitchell Gale played his best game of the season, stepping up when his team really needed a calm and steady presence in the pocket. The offensive line yielded no sacks, and Gale did a fine job of stepping up in the pocket when pressure came from the Javelina defensive ends. 
• WR Edmund Gates showed his speed on a fine play in the third quarter, catching a Gale pass on the sideline, shucking a tackler and sprinting for a 72-yard TD, ACU's longest of the season.

Final Stats: ACU 47, A&M-Kingsville 35

    Score: ACU 47, TAMK 35

    First downs: ACU 23, TAMK 21

    Rushes: ACU, 45 for 167 yards and 4 TDs; TAMK 24 for 50 yards and 1 TD

    Passes: ACU, 24 of 34 for 289 yards and 2 TDs; TAMK, 24 of 38 for 309 yards, 1 INT and 3 TDs

    Total yards: ACU 456, TAMK 359

    Possession time: ACU 36:33, TAMK 23:27

    Third-down conversions: ACU 8 of 16, TAMK 7 of 13

    Red-zone scores: ACU 4 of 4, TAMK 6 of 6

    Penalties: ACU 7 for 93 yards, TAMK 9 for 80 yards

    Leading rushers: ACU, Reggie Brown, 24 for 106 and 2 TDs, Daryl Richardson, 14 for 52 yards and 2 TDs; TAMK, Fred Winborn, 17 for 47 yards and 1 TD

    Leading passers: ACU, Mitchell Gale, 24 of 34 for 289 yards and 2 TDs; TAMK, Billy Garza, 24 of 38 for 309 yards, 1 INT and 3 TDs

    Leading receivers: ACU, Edmund Gates, 5 for 111 yards and 1 TD, Justin Andrews, 5 for 48 and 1 TD; TAMK, E.J. LeBlanc, 9 for 109 yards and 1 TD, Ryan Lincoln, 5 for 100 yards, Sherman Batiste, 5 for 91 yards and 2 TDs

SCORING SUMMARY

    Q1, 09:16 – ACU 7, TAMK 0 – Daryl Richardson 1-yard run (Morgan Lineberry kick)

    Q1, 03:46 – ACU 7, TAMK 7 – Corey Robertson 22-yard blocked punt return (Christian Brom kick)

    Q1, 00:10 – ACU 10, TAMK 7 – Morgan Lineberry 23-yard field goal

    Q2, 12:11 – TAMK 14, ACU 10 – E.J. LeBlanc 15-yard pass from Billy Garza (Brom kick)

    Q2, 06:10 – ACU 17, TAMK 14 – Reggie Brown 3-yard run (Lineberry kick)

    Q2, 03:54 – ACU 24, TAMK 14 – Richardson 1-yard run (Lineberry kick)

    Q3, 11:21 – ACU 31, TAMK 14 – Edmund Gates 72-yard pass from Mitchell Gale (Lineberry kick)

    Q3, 07:45 – ACU 33, TAMK 14 – Fred Thompson safety

    Q3, 03:51 – ACU 40, TAMK 14 – Justin Andrews 5-yard pass from Gale (Lineberry kick)

    Q3, 00:56 – ACU 47, TAMK 14 – Brown 4-yard run (Lineberry kick)

    Q4, 11:05 – ACU 47, TAMK 21 – Sherman Batiste 10-yard pass from Garza (Brom kick)

    Q4, 04:39 – ACU 47, TAMK 28 – Fred Winborn 1-yard run (Brom kick)

    Q4, 01:38 – ACU 47, TAMK 35 – Batiste 10-yard pass from Garza (Brom kick)

ACU Drive No. 13

TAMK's onside kick is caught by Terrell Woodall and returned to the Javelina 28. Gale takes a knee to let the clock run. And he does it again, with 0:44 left. One more knee, and it's a ballgame, folks. ACU 47, Texas A&M-Kingsville 35, Playoff Hopes: Still Ticking

TAMK Drive No. 11

Garza passes complete at the left sideline for a first down, and a personal foul penalty on the Wildcats gives the Javs a first down at the 48. Garza scrambles on a long run, the the Javs are called for holding, and the ball moves back to the 37. Garza completes another pass, but TAMK is flagged for holding, and the ball moves back to the 27. Garza passes over the head of his receiver, and amazingly, there are no flags on the play. However, on 2nd and 30 from the 27, TAMK is flagged for delay of game and a 5-yard loss of yardage. Fred Winborn runs up the middle for 2 yards. On 3rd and 33, Garza's long pass down the right sideline is complete to the ACU 30. ACU is flagged for roughing the passer, which takes the ball to the 15. Garza's pass on first down to no one in particular is incomplete in the left end zone. Garza's pass to Sherman Batiste is too far for him, and past the end zone. On 3rd and 10, Garza passes complete to Winborn, who takes it the ACU 1. Garza's pass to Batiste is complete for a Javelina TD, and the PAT kick is good, with the new score 47-35, still in ACU's favor with 1:38 left in Q4. That's what you call a garbage-time score, with five penalties called on the drive.

ACU Drive No. 12

TAMK lines up for an onside kick, but ACU calls timeout, its first of the second half. The Javs try it again, but ACU WR Austin Kessler fields it cleanly at the TAMK 43. On first down, Reggie Brown runs around left end for a gain of 3 to the Javs' 40. Brown is stuffed at the line of scrimmage, losing 4 to the 44 and bringing up third and 11. Brown runs for his life from a blitzing Kingsville defense, losing 5 to the 49. TAMK calls its third and final timeout of the second half. On fourth down, Mark Sprague punts successfully, and the kick is returned to the TAMK 20 with 3:34 left in Q4.