ABILENE – Central Arkansas University's big-play offense and best-in-the-nation run defense powered the Bears to a 58-27 Southland Conference win Saturday afternoon over Abilene Christian University in Shotwell Stadium.
UCA knocked ACU quarterback
Dallas Sealey out of the game in the first half and scored twice in the last 1:12 of the second quarter to drop the Wildcats to 0-5 on the season and 0-3 in conference play. The Bears improved to 4-1 and 3-0 in the Southland. UCA entered the game leading all FCS teams in rushing defense (54.8 yards per game) and limited ACU to 55.
The Bears rolled up 502 yards of offense – including 329 on the ground – to the Wildcats' 253 overall. UCA quarterback Hayden Hildebrand ran 80 yards for a first-half touchdown and completed 15 of 23 passes for 173 yards and one score. George Odum returned a pass 18 yards for a score with 53 seconds left before halftime and Dwayne Smith answered a third-quarter ACU touchdown with a 93-yard kickoff return. Keshawn Ledet and Hildebrand paced the Bear rushing attack with 80 yards apiece.
Sealey, a sophomore ranked second in the nation in passing yards and total offense, suffered a head injury while throwing in interception in the first quarter.
Parker McKenzie replaced him, completing 14 of 31 passes for 155 yards and one score.
The Wildcats host Southland Conference member Lamar University in Shotwell Stadium next Saturday at 6 p.m. Central Arkansas is on the road to play McNeese.
SCORING DRIVES
- 1Q (11:54) – A 61-yard punt by UCA's Patrick Ponder pinned the Wildcats on their 1-yard line to begin their second possession of the game. On the second play, De'Andre Brown was tackled in the end zone by Chris Terrell for a safety. Central Arkansas 2, ACU 0 (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00)
- 1Q (7:05) – After stopping UCA following its first-quarter safety, Dallas Sealey completed big first-down passes of 20 yards to Justin Miller and 14 yards to Vasquez Haynes in leading the Wildcats to their first score. De'Andre Brown ran 1 yard for a touchdown to put ACU in the lead. ACU 7, Central Arkansas 2 (Drive: 11 plays, 59 yards, 3:15)
- 1Q (4:37) Darrie Danieals rushed three times for 13 yards and Hayden Hildebrand completed three consecutive passes, including a 32-yarder to Jatavio Wilson for a TD, to help the Bears regain their lead. Central Arkansas 9, ACU 7 (Drive: 6 plays, 57 yards, 2:23)
- 2Q (14:48) UCA's short-lived drive started with Hildebrand being tackled for a 2-yard loss by ACU's Josh Bloom. Two plays later, the UCA quarterback ran untouched for 80 yards and another score. Central Arkansas 16, ACU 7 (Drive: 3 plays, 81 yards, 1:09)
- 2Q (9:53)– Nik Grau's 21-yard field goal was his fifth of the season. More than half of the 47 yards covered in ACU's drive were the result of UCA penalties. Central Arkansas 16, ACU 10 (Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 2:08)
- 2Q (6:12)– Kelton Warren ran 1 yard for a TD in a drive set up by Jatavio Wilson's 50-yard kickoff return. Central Arkansas 23, ACU 10 (Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 3:31)
- 2Q (6:12)– Nik Grau's 34-yard field goal pulled the Wildcats to within 10 points of the Bears. Parker McKenzie's big 23-yard pass to Josh Fink on second-and-3 put the Wildcats in UCA territory. Central Arkansas 23, ACU 13 (Drive: 9 plays, 43 yards, 2:13)
- 2Q (1:12) – Kelton Warren's 49-yard run loomed large in the Bears' scoring drive late in the first half. Keshawn Ledet finished it off with a 4-yard run. Central Arkansas 30, ACU 13 (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:42)
- 2Q (0:53) – UCA's George Odum intercepted a Parker McKenzie pass and returned it 18 yards for a touchdown. Central Arkansas 37, ACU 13 (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00)
- 3Q (8:20) – Keshawn Ledet ran 5 yards for a TD to pad UCA's lead following Jaylon Lofton's 19-yard interception return of a Parker McKenzie pass deep in to Bear terrritory. Hilderbrand completed passes of 20 and 21 yards along the way. Central Arkansas 44, ACU 13 (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:28)
- 3Q (4:48) – Redshirt freshman Tracy James ran 1 yard around left end for the Wildcats' second TD of the afternoon. McKenzie completed three of four passes for 48 yards on the drive. Central Arkansas 44, ACU 20 (Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 3:28)
- 3Q (4:33) –Dwayne Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for a TD. Central Arkansas 51, ACU 20 (Drive: 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00)
- 4Q (11:01) – Jarvis Cooper ran 1 yard for a TD to cap a clock-eating drive for the Bears. Central Arkansas 58, ACU 20 (Drive: 14 plays, 84 yards, 7:00)
- 4Q (11:01) – Sophomore tight end Cody Ennis caught a 2-yard scoring pass from Parker McKenzie to wrap up ACU's longest drive of the game, aided by two penalties on the Bears. Central Arkansas 58, ACU 27 (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:00)
PLAYS THAT MATTERED
- A 61-yard punt by UCA's Patrick Ponder pinned ACU on its 1-yard line and led to a safety two plays later, and an early 2-0 lead.
- A screen pass into heavy traffic, deep in ACU territory by Dallas Sealey, was intercepted by defensive back Devin Spurlock at the Wildcat 25-yard line late in the first quarter. Sealey was injured on the play and did not return to the game. ACU's defense stiffened, however, and the Bears' 45-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right.
- Quarterback Hayden Hildebrand recorded a UCA season-best 41-yard run from scrimmage Sept. 1 against Houston Baptist, but he nearly doubled that with an 80-yarder up the middle for a TD early in the second quarter against ACU.
- Kelton Warren's 49-yard run late in the second quarter, and linebacker George Odum's 18-yard pick-6 powered UCA to big scores just before halftime, padding a lead it never relinquished.
WILDCAT PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Offense
Redshirt junior placekicker
Nik Grau booted field goals of 21 and 34 yards, his fifth and sixth of the season, and was three-for-three on PATs.
Defense
Sophomore defensive tackle
Ivan Thomas Jr., a transfer from Butler Community College, had eight tackles and broke up a pass.
QUOTABLE
- "This was a tough day for the Wildcats. We faced a really good team and they played really well. Do I think they're 58-27 better than us? No, and that's frustrating. We continue to make mistakes and those really showed up today. We gave up an interception return for a score, a kickoff return for a score and had an interception on a screen pass that led to a score. Those mistakes allow games to get out of hand, and that's what happened today." – ACU head coach Ken Collums
NOTABLE
- The Bears entered the game with the No. 1 defense in the FCS against the run (54.8 yards per game). They held ACU to 38 rushing yards in the first half and 55 overall.
- Until today, the Wildcats had not allowed a safety since Oct. 31, 2012, in a 36-0 loss in Canyon to former Lone Star Conference rival West Texas State.
- ACU's offense fell flat when Dallas Sealey – the Southland Conference's leading passer with 1,310 yards through four games – was sidelined with an injury late in the first quarter. Backup Parker McKenzie completed just of 6 of 16 passes for 70 yards and one interception (returned for a TD) in the first half.
- ACU's 37-13 halftime deficit increased its first-half scoring woes. Wildcat opponents have a 142-66 edge in the first half of five games this season.
- The two universties' marching bands shared the field while performing "God Bless America" at halftime.
NEXT GAME
ACU remains at home next Saturday and hosts Lamar University at 6 p.m. in Shotwell Stadium. Central Arkansas travels to Lake Charles, La., to play McNeese State at 6 p.m.
