ABILENE – Running back
Daryl Richardson rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns to power No. 10-ranked Abilene Christian University to a 31-17 win Saturday night in Shotwell Stadium over previously undefeated Angelo State University.
A senior, Richardson had scoring runs of 1 and 20 yards to help ACU (2-1 overall and 2-0 in the Lone Star Conference) rebound from only its second loss in 14 games.
ASU and ACU traded touchdowns to open the game. ASU quarterback Blake Hamblin threw a 29-yard scoring pass to wide receiver Joey Knight, and ACU's Richardson ran 1 yard for a score. The Rams' Jarred Martin followed with a 23-yard field goal to give ASU a 10-7 lead as the second quarter began.
But the Wildcat defense stiffened, holding Angelo State scoreless in the final three quarters while ACU tallied 24 straight points of its own.
Morgan Lineberry added a 20-yard field goal, Richardson ran 20 yards for another touchdown, and quarterback Mitchell Gale threw a pair of 7-yard scoring passes to fullback
Justin Andrews and tight end
Ben Gibbs.
ASU (3-1 overall and 0-1 in the LSC) added a late score when Hamblin threw a 21-yard pass to tight end Nate Bayless with 5:29 remaining. The Ram sophomore completed 39 of 67 passes for 446 yards and two scores. His 67 passes are the most ever attempted against ACU in a game.
Gale completed 18 of 32 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, and Gibbs led ACU receivers with five catches for 53 yards and one score. Defensive back
Darien Williams' 10 tackles led a Wildcat defense that intercepted Hamblin twice and kept the Rams off the scoreboard despite Hamblin's heroics.
The Wildcats return to action next Saturday when they host Western Oregon at 6 p.m. in Shotwell Stadium.
