Cats Open UAC Action at UCA on Saturday

ABILENE – Abilene Christian plays its first United Athletic Conference contest at 6 p.m. on Saturday when the Wildcats travel to Central Arkansas.
 
ACU is 2-1 after a 27-20 loss to ninth-ranked Incarnate Word. Central Arkansas comes in at 1-2.
 
UCA leads the all-time series, 10-2-1.
 
ACU Storylines
 
SECURITY: Through three games, Abilene Christian is one of 17 teams in the FCS to have not lost a fumble. The only other UAC team to have that level of ball security is Stephen F. Austin.
 
PICKS AND SUCH: ACU cornerback Patrick Jolly leads the United Athletic Conference and is 10th in the FCS with two interceptions. He also has forced and recovered a fumble this season. Both of Jolly's picks came in the end zone.
 
RANGE: ACU kicker Kyle Ramsey is one of 20 FCS kickers to have not missed a field goal this season. That Ramsey has made all four of his field goals is not even the headline. The attempts have been from 55, 51, 44 and 40 yards.
 
MAVERICK MOVES IT: Maverick McIvor leads the United Athletic Conference and is third in the FCS with 16.79 yards per completion. He also is tops in the league and 14th in the FCS in passing efficiency at 157.5. His five touchdown passes rank second in the UAC and he is third in passing yards per game at 240.7. He also leads the league and is sixth in the FCS with 9.63 yards per attempt.
 
NO TOUCHING: Abilene Christian allowed its first sack of the season last week. The one sack allowed has the Wildcats ranked seventh in the nation and second in the UAC.
 
RED ZONE: The Wildcats are eighth nationally in Red Zone defense, allowing scores in just 63.6 percent of the opponent's trips inside the 20. ACU ranks No. 1 in the UAC in that category.
 
BEHIND THE STICKS: Linebacker Cirby Coheley leads the conference in quarterback sacks (0.67 per game) and tackles for loss (1.5 per game). He ranks 25th in the FCS in tackles for loss. He also leads the Wildcats with three quarterback hurries this season
 
HATS TO THE BALL: Izaiah Kelley leads the Wildcats with 21 tackles this season but seven Cats are averaging better than five tackles per game. Elijah Moffett has 20 tackles, followed by Cirby Coheley, Darius Moore and Dorian Plumley with 16 each and Patrick Jolly and Kenton Wilhoit with 15 apiece.
 
 

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Scouting Central Arkansas
 

• The Bears come into the game at 1-2 after a 49-31 loss at North Dakota. The other loss was a 27-13 setback at Oklahoma State. UCA blasted NAIA Texas College, 70-2, two weeks ago.
• ShunDerrick Powell leads the FCS with 11.39 yards per carry. He is third nationally with 376 yards this season. He has rushed for four touchdowns. He had 218 yards on 18 carries at North Dakota and rushed three times for 87 yards against Texas College.
• Averaging 38 points per game, the Bears lead the UAC in scoring offense.
• Will McElvain is third in the UAC in passing efficiency at 142.1. He has passed for 533 yards and four touchdowns this season.
• Myles Butler has three receiving touchdowns on 10 catches for 142 yards this season. Jarrod Barnes also has 10 receptions for 143 yards.
• David Walker leads the Bears with two sacks and is one tackle behind team leader Jake Golday with 14 tackles.