ABILENE, Texas – Zach Adkins threw for 238 yards and Daniel Atzenweiler scored three touchdowns to lead Northwestern State University to a 34-10 win Saturday afternoon over Abilene Christian University in a Southland Conference game in Shotwell Stadium.
After forcing seven turnovers last week, ACU (3-4 in the Southland and 5-6 overall) commited five of its own in its final home game of 2014. NSU evened its overall record to 5-5 and 3-3 in the league.
The Demons' win broke a 10-game Southland road losing streak that dates back to 2012 while the Wildcats turned in their most meager offensive performance in Shotwell in 11 years. Abilene Christian scored its fewest points at home since a 10-7 loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville and recorded its worst loss since a 41-7 defeat by Tarleton State – both in 2003.
ACU committed four first-half turnovers in helping NSU build a 20-0 halftime lead, the Wildcats' largest deficit after two quarters since a 70-28 loss to Midwestern State in 2011.
After scoring 52 points last week against Southland co-leader Central Arkansas, ACU – alternating quarterbacks and employing running plays from the Wildcat formation – could only generate 29 yards of offense in the first quarter and 117 in the first half, and just seven first downs.
Both opponents struggled early, combining for three turnovers in the first five minutes. ACU recovered its own opening onside kick but
Parker McKenzie's pass on the second play of the afternooon was intercepted by linebacker Tyler Roussel. Wildcat defensive tackle
Damon Williams blocked a 39-yard field goal by Chris Moore at the 8:49 mark.
Northwestern State opened the scoring when runningback Garrett Atzenweiler's 2-yard run put the Demons on top 7-0 with 50 seconds left in the opening quarter. A 30-yard pass from Adkins to Eagen set the pace for the 80-yard, 11-play drive.
Moore's 38-yard field goal with 4:35 remaining in the second quarter upped the NSU lead to 10-0.
The Demons converted an Adam Jones interception of McKenzie at the 3:43 mark into more points when Adkins ran 27 yards for a touchdown. NSU took only four plays to cover 52 yards and move to a 17-0 advantage over the Wildcats.
ACU's most productive drive of the half looked promising until McKenzie threw his third interception, a diving pick by Imoan Claiborne at the Demon 23-yard line with 1:24 left. Northwestern State moved quickly back down the field and extended its lead to 20-0 with Moore's 24-yard field goal as time expired.
The Wildcats posted their first points on the opening drive of the second half, using a
Nik Grau 36-yard field goal at the 9:46 mark to cut the Demon lead to 20-3.
After forcing NSU to punt on its first possession, ACU scored again with 4:26 left in the third. McKenzie hit wide receiver
Demarcus Thompson with a 2-yard touchdown pass, capping a 78-yard drive on which the Wildcat quarterback completed passes to four different receivers.
But the Wildcats couldn't stop the Demons' the rest of the half, while its sputtering offense returned to haunt. NSU allowed ACU only three possessions the rest of the way.
NSU answered on its next drive. Atzenweiler caught a swing pass from Adkins and ran 10 yards untouched for a touchdown with 11 seconds on the clock in the quarter, making the new score 27-10.
McKenzie threw a 38-yard pass to wide receiver
Jace Hudson and a 23-yarder to tight end
Jamie Walker on the first two plays of its next drive, setting up a scoring opportunity for the Wildcats. But McKenzie fumbled before crossing the goal line on a 2-yard run, and Demon linebacker Marion Chapman recovered in the end zone.
NSU ran its advantage to 34-10 with Atzenweiler's third touchdown, a 16-yard run with 4:49 left in the game.
Backup quarterback
Kade Munden (35 yards) led ACU in rushing after the Wildcats rolled up 286 yards last week in the win over Central Arkansas. McKenzie bounced back from a rough first half to complete 20 of 36 passes for 270 yards, but was sacked three times and intercepted three times.
Cedric Gilbert had six catches for 65 yards and Thompson added 70 yards.
Atzenweiler led NSU with 52 yards rushing on 10 carries. Eagen caught 13 passes from Adkins for 126 yards, giving him 364 yards receiving in the last two games.
NSU outgained ACU in total yardage, 425-373, and the two teams were whistled for only five penalties.
ACU wraps up its 2014 season next Saturday in Nacogdoches against Stephen F. Austin State University. Kickoff will be at 3 p.m. CST in Homer Bryce Stadium.
