Gameday
ABILENE – Each year when the next season's football schedule is released, fan bases at Abilene Christian and West Texas A&M have only one game on their minds: the one the teams play against each other.
In a series that dates back to 1921 – the third year of football at Abilene Christian – the last six years have undoubtedly brought out the best in each program.
Eight times the teams have met since 2005 with each team winning four times. Neither team has beaten the other on its home field in the regular season in that span. They have played two epic NCAA Division II playoff games against one another with each winning on its home field.
They have combined for five Lone Star Conference titles since 2005 (three for West Texas A&M and two for ACU). And they have made a combined 10 NCAA Division II playoff appearances since 2005 (2006-10 for ACU, 2005-08 and 2010 for WTAM).
And Saturday they renew the rivalry in what should be another classic to add to the long list in the 45th renewal of the series. This is the fourth time since 2005 that ACU has hosted West Texas A&M for Homecoming, and it's been the Buffaloes who have had the most fun in that span, winning all three previous games (40-24 in 2005, 41-31 in 2007 and 32-21 in 2009) to spoil the festivities for the Wildcats.
By any statistical measure, these two teams are about as even as it gets, which should make for an interesting and taught game.
Both teams are ranked in the top three in the league in scoring offense and both are ranked in the top four in scoring defense.
Both are ranked in the top three in total offense and passing offense, and both are ranked in the top five in total defense and rushing defense.
The two areas where Saturday's game could turn are the ACU running game and the West Texas A&M passing game.
The Wildcats rank third in the LSC in rushing offense at more than 140 yards per game, while the Buffs are fifth in the league against the run at 102.0 yards per game. ACU's
Daryl Richardson had more than 100 yards two weeks against Angelo State, and
Reggie Brown had 78 yards and one score last week against Eastern New Mexico.
West Texas A&M has the top-ranked passing offense in the league at 351.0 yards per game, led by sophomore quarterback Dustin Vaughan, who is third in the league in total offense and third in the league in passing yards per game. He's thrown 11 touchdowns against just three interceptions on the season. His top target is senior Brittan Golden, who has 26 catches for 448 yards and three scores and leads the LSC at 89.6 yards per game.
He'll be going against an ACU secondary that, although it played its best game of the season last week against pass-happy Eastern New Mexico, still ranks last in the LSC in pass defense at 320.8 yards per game. The Wildcats, however, limited the Greyhounds to just 192 passing yards in last week's 36-7 win.
ACU junior quarterback Mitchell Gale leads the LSC in passing at 322.0 ypg and has thrown 12 touchdowns against just four picks on the season.
He's one of many who'll be trying to add their name to the list of greats who have made their name in this game.
