BLACKWATER DRAW, N.M. – Sophomore quarterback
Mitchell Gale kept No. 4-ranked Abilene Christian University on a roll, scoring on its first five drives and creating a 33-0 halftime lead on its way to a 53-14 rout of Eastern New Mexico University.
A steady 35-mph west wind gusting to more than 40 through Greyhound Stadium did not deter Gale, who threw for five touchdowns for the second straight game. He totaled 362 yards through the air in just under three quarters of action while helping build the Wildcats'record to 8-0 and 5-0 in the South Division of the Lone Star Conference. ENMU dropped to 3-5 and 2-3 in the LSC North Division.
The Greyhounds' breathless, no-huddle offensive attack limited ACU defensive substitutions, but the Wildcats still frustrated ENMU all afternoon, forcing 10 punts, breaking up four passes, registering three sacks and tackling ballcarriers for a loss eight times.
Gale led his team to scores on its first five drives of the game in building a 33-0 halftime lead.
With placekicker
Morgan Lineberry home resting an injury, sophomore
Ryan Owens stepped in and opened the scoring with a 52-yard field goal. Senior fullback
Emery Dudensing ran 2 yards for a TD,
Edmund Gates raced 50 yards with a Gale pass for a score, Owens added a 35-yard field goal, and
Kendrick Johnson caught a short pass before jitterbugging his way 45 yards to the end zone to end another prolific first quarter for the Wildcats.
ACU scored on both of its third-quarter drives. Gale found Johnson for 21 yards in the back of the end zone with 10:07 left, and connected wiht Gates again for a 9-yarder with 1:09 remaining.
Defensive back
Shane Baham intercepted a Wood pass at the Greyhound 11 and returned it for an ACU score with 13:05 remaining, with Owens' PAT padding the Wildcat lead to its apex, 53-14.
ENMU scored on a 33-yard pass from Wesley Moore to Carl Bouldin in the third quarter, and again in the fourth when Curtis Jackson picked up a Josh Moore fumble and returned it 15 yards for a TD.
The Wildcat offense totaled 575 yards – 362 passing and 213 rushing. Eight ACU players ran the ball, led by
Darrell Cantu-Harkless' 56 yards,
Josh Morgan's 52 and
Daryl Richardson's 50. Gates caught seven passes for 124 yards and three TDs to lead Wildcat receivers.
Defensive tackle
Marvin Jones and linebacker
Kevin Washington led ACU with six tackles each.
