Gameday
BLACKWATER DRAW, N.M. – The ACU Wildcats (No. 10 by AFCA / No. 5 by d2football.com) return to Lone Star Conference action this weekend as they hit the road once again, this time to Blackwater Draw, N.M., to take on the dangerous Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico.
Saturday's game can be heard locally on Mix 92.5 FM and will be able to be seen for free on ACU's new broadcast partner, YOE TV at www.acu.yoetv.org. The audio will also be streamed live for free on the Mix 92.5 FM Web site.
The Wildcats have not lost to Eastern New Mexico since a 33-30 loss in Abilene in 2005. However, Eastern's style of play on the offensive side of the ball has made for some interesting contests.
Saturday should be no different as the Wildcats enter the game with a pass defense ranked 148th (out of 150 teams) in NCAA Division II, while the 'Hounds boast the nation's fifth-best passing offense at 334.8 yards per game. ACU has allowed 833 passing yards the last two weeks, the second-most passing yards given up over a two-week span since Chris Thomsen became the ACU head coach in 2005.
ACU's defense will be tested by quarterback Wesley Wood, who ranks eighth in the country in total offense per game (320.40 ypg) and wide receiver Darian Dale, who is fourth in the nation in catches per game at 8.20.
The Wildcats' offense got cranked up for the first time in 2011 last week in the 51-35 win over Western Oregon. Junior quarterback Mitchell Gale threw for 356 yards – his 10th career 300-yard passing game – and hit touchdown passes of 47 yards to
Darian Hogg and 61 yards to
Darrell Cantu-Harkless. The running game finally got untracked with senior
Daryl Richardson topping 100 yards (101 yards on 15 carries) and scoring on a 22-yard run.
Sophomore wide receiver
Taylor Gabriel provided punch in the return game and in the passing game. He finished with two punt returns for 93 yards – including a 55-yarder for a score – and six catches for a team-high 90 yards. He was named Lone Star Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the Wildcats' win over Western Oregon.
