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The Details
Abilene Christian (1-2) vs. RV/RV McNeese (2-1)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 21
Kickoff: 6:05 p.m.
TV:
ESPN+ (
Zach Carlyle and Owen Simpson)
Radio:
98.1 FM - The Ticket (
Grant Boone and Jim Reese)
Digital Program
Real-Time Stats (StatBroadcast)
ABILENE --- Week two of Southland Conference play feels too early for a must-win game, but when you're playing at home vs. an opponent that lords a 6-0 series record over you, and you lost the previous league contest by one point on the road then it's time to balance the scales with a victory.
Even with new faces on the sideline, Abilene Christian football knows history has not been on its side against the Cowboys. McNeese thumped the Wildcats more than 40 years ago in their inaugural 1972 meeting, and once the series was revitalized when ACU rejoined the Southland Conference the Cowboys resumed their winning ways although three of the last four games have been decided by single digits.
McNeese has eked out a pair of wins in two previous trips to Abilene, winning 15-13 at Shotwell back in 2015 and 13-7 in their Wildcat Stadium debut (2017). Last year, the Wildcats lost a 24-21 decision in Lake Charles on Oct. 6 before kicking off a four-game winning streak that guaranteed them their first winning season at DI.
So what must the Wildcats do differently to turn the tide and get back to .500 within the Southland?
It all starts with ball security on offense and special teams as McNeese leads the FCS with 10 defensive takeaways. The Cowboys have recovered eight fumbles, including five in their season opener vs. Southern. This past Saturday vs. Alcorn State they picked off two passes and secured another fumble recovery in their 17-14 win over the Braves.
ACU also did well in this regard last week in Conway with a +2.0 turnover margin as a
Jack Gibbens' red zone interception and fumble recoveries by
Robert McKnight (special teams) and linebacker
Jeremiah Chambers led to 13 of the Wildcats' 30 points.
McNeese's defense overall ranks fifth in points allowed with 32.7 points per game, and its rushing (141.3) and passing (272.0) both rank fourth since the Cowboys' lopsided 56-14 loss at Oklahoma State is sandwiched in between their home wins over Southern (34-28) and Alcorn State (17-14). But the numbers that've impressed ACU head coach
Adam Dorrel the most are 9, 49 and .265.
Numbers 9 and 49 belong to McNeese defensive linemen Cody Roscoe (0.50) and Chris Livings (0.67), who rank among the Southland's sack leaders, and .265 is the combined third-down conversion percentage of Southern and Alcorn State. The Jaguars converted 8 of 19 first downs (42.1%) on Aug. 31, but the Braves were only 1 of 15 (0.67%).
ACU's defensive line additionally excelled at Central Arkansas for much of the game with linemen
Cole Burgess,
Temisan Kuyatsemi and
Kameron Hill combining for all four sacks and half the team's eight tackles for loss. Hill also was credited with the forced fumble recovered by Chambers.
As a result, UCA netted only 47 rushing yards all game.
The Bears, unfortunately, broke through on offense in the final quarter after being held to three field goals through the first 45 minutes. In fact, they didn't even hold the lead until their penultimate possession when Carlos Blackman ran the ball in from 3-yards out to put the home team up 31-30. That, however, has been UCA's MO through their first three games, and even though the Wildcats left Estes Stadium disappointed, they did not come home feeling discouraged.
Coach Dorrel was extraordinarily pleased with his team's off-and-on the field efforts at UCA, and he wants to see it matched again Saturday in front of the hometown crowd on Family Day.
"The big thing, the next challenge is … can we get off the mat with this type of energy and enthusiasm, and be ready to go at home against McNeese," he said following the UCA game. "I'm proud of the way we competed and what we did on the sideline. The energy and enthusiasm … we are certainly going to match or exceed the opposition. There was no doubt that we were ready to play football (last Saturday), and our energy level was high."
