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Hargrove
Jeremy Enlow

Football

I-20 rivalry on tap for first-place Wildcats

ABILENE, Texas – The ACU football team is set to make the short trip over to Stephenville this week to take on rival Tarleton on Saturday evening. The Wildcats enter play all alone atop the Western Athletic Conference standings with a perfect 2-0 record, and an ACU victory would give the Purple and White their highest win total since the 2017 campaign. 
 
The Game
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.
Watch: ESPN+
Listen: ACU Sports Network
Tickets
Live Stats
 
The Wildcats (5-3, 2-0 WAC)
  • ACU played its' second nationally-ranked opponent of the season last week, falling 34-31 on the road at #23 North Dakota. It was the Wildcats' first-ever trip to the Peace Garden State and their fourth indoor game in the 101-year history of the program. 
  • Three different receivers hauled in a touchdown catch from quarterback Maverick McIvor last week, as Tristan Golightly, Kobe Clark and Blayne Taylor combined for 15 catches and 169 yards. 
  • Elijah Moffett and JaDarius Thursby each picked up eight tackles against the Fighting Hawks, while Tyrin Bradley spent a ton of time in the UND backfield, recording a sack, a QB hurry and 1.5 TFL. 
  • Running back Jermiah Dobbins broke off a 59-yard run early in the third quarter on Saturday, marking the longest run by a Wildcat so far this season. With three games left to play, the Lubbock native has racked up 724 yards to go with seven scores on the ground, making him one of the biggest threats in the league. 
  • Davion Johnson made his presence felt in a big way last week, breaking off a pair of big returns that were negated before finally hitting for a 91-yarder that started the drive at the UND four-yard line. He finished his afternoon with 182 yards on just four touches. 
 
The Texans (5-3, 1-1 WAC)
  • Tarleton is coming off a Homecoming loss at the hands of defending WAC champ Sam Houston last week, surrendering 40 points for the third time in four games. The loss was the first at home for the Texans this fall. 
  • Wideout Darius Cooper turned in a monster day against Sam Houston, racking up 190 yards and a pair of touchdowns on nine catches. He and Jaden Smith continue to be one of the most dynamic receiving duos in the WAC, combining for 78 receptions, 15 scores and nearly 1500 yards between them. 
  • The Texans bring a stout and aggressive defense with multiple looks, as 16 different players have recorded a sack so far. Tarleton is led defensively by junior linebacker D.J. Harris, whose 2022 resumé includes 32 solo tackles, 34 assisted tackled, 5.0 TFL and a pair of hurries. 
  • Quarterback Beau Allen has already cleared 2,000 yards in the air this season, tossing 17 touchdowns along the way. Last week, the Kentucky transfer went 15-for-28 with 201 yards and a pair of scores, giving him his sixth game this season with multiple touchdown passes. 
 
The Series 
  • ACU enters play this weekend with a 20-12-4 advantage in the longstanding series against Tarleton. 
  • The Wildcats and Texans met for the first time as Division I opponents last fall, when ACU came away with a 28-3 victory at Wildcat Stadium. 
  • The last game between the two teams in Stephenville came back in the season opener of 2011, when a Nate Bailey interception at the five-yard line clinched the 27-24 victory for the Wildcats.
 
How to Watch
  • Head to plus.espn.com
  • Log in or create an account
  • Click NCAAF at the top of the page
  • Find ACU at UND and click play 
 
How to Listen   
- OR -
  • Go to the App Store/Google Play on your mobile device
  • Download The Varsity Network app
  • Create a free account or choose to skip
  • Search for Abilene Christian
  • Find ACU at UND and click play 
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