Wildcats blank NAU for first FCS playoff win

ABILENE – The ACU defense chose the perfect moment to deliver its best performance in years, propelling the Wildcats to Fargo, North Dakota, for the second round of the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs.
 
The 15th-ranked Wildcats – playing without starting quarterback Maverick McIvor and relying on the playmakers around backup Carson Haggard and their defense – blanked Northern Arizona, 24-0, Saturday afternoon at Wildcat Stadium in ACU's first playoff game at the FCS level. The win sets up a meeting between the Wildcats (9-4 and ranked 15th in the country) and North Dakota State (10-2 and ranked No. 2) in a second-round playoff game next Saturday at The Fargodome.
 
ACU thoroughly dominated Saturday's game against the Lumberjacks (8-5) from the Big Sky Conference. How complete was the domination? Here are a few examples:
• Northern Arizona entered the game averaging 413.8 yards and 30.7 points per game. The ACU defense limited the Lumberjacks to a meager 194 yards of offense and pitched the program's first shutout since Sept. 25, 2021, when the Wildcats beat Lamar 56-0.
• NAU quarterback Ty Pennington was averaging 230.1 yards of total offense entering the game (193.0 passing and 37.1 rushing) but finished with just 170 against the Wildcats (165 passing and five rushing).
• NAU was averaging 192.8 rushing yards entering the game but could muster only 29 yards on 24 attempts. The Lumberjacks ran the ball 13 times for 20 yards in the first half and 11 for nine yards in the second half.
• NAU was 3 for 14 on third-down conversions and 0 for 2 on fourth-down conversion attempts. That resulted in the Lumberjacks putting up just 11 first downs in the contest.
• And perhaps the most dominant statistic of all: Northern Arizona ran just 14 plays on ACU's end of the field, only four in the second half, the last four offensive plays the Lumberjacks ran in the game.
 
"Northern Arizona had a top-25 offense in the country coming into the game, but I knew we would play well," said ACU head coach Keith Patterson, who directed the Wildcats to their first playoff win at any level since a 2009 victory over Midwestern State in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs. "I've been saying for the last six weeks that if we can eliminate the big plays on defense, we could go from being a solid defense to a really, really good defense. We were able to do that on Saturday, and I'm so proud of our defense. Those guys played with great effort, and I think everyone saw what we can achieve when we play without giving up big plays."
 
Northern Arizona only reached the red zone twice in the game, and each time, the Lumberjacks were turned away by the ACU defense. The first time was the most significant in the game.
 
With ACU leading 7-0 early in the second quarter, Haggard was intercepted by Alex McLaughlin at the NAU 45-yard line, and he returned it two yards. Two plays later, the Lumberjacks had first-and-goal at the ACU 6-yard line after a 24-yard pass from Ty Pennington to Isaiah Gerena. NAU running back Darvon Hubbard was dropped for a 3-yard loss on first down, and Pennington threw an incomplete pass on second down. On third down, Pennington connected with Isaiah Eastman, who was ruled out of bounds at the 1-yard line, setting up fourth-and-goal.

Pennington carried the ball on fourth down and was swarmed by a group of Wildcat defenders - led by Jordan Mukes - dropping him for a four-yard loss, turning away NAU's best scoring chance.
 
"If we could have scored there, it certainly could have made a difference in the game," NAU head coach Brian Wright said. "We went for it, trying to generate some momentum and get our guys believing that we could (make something happen offensively). That could have changed momentum, but they made a great play to stop it."
 
While the ACU defense dominated the contest, the offense did what was necessary without its leader on the field. Haggard managed the game effectively, finishing 23 of 39 for 244 yards and two touchdowns. He threw three interceptions, but the ACU defense rendered each meaningless by shutting down the Lumberjack offense each time, including once on an interception in the end zone by Dorian Plumley.
 
The Wildcats scored first, finishing a 97-yard touchdown drive with a 37-yard pass from Haggard to Trey Cleveland. Sam Hicks, impressive with 171 rushing yards and 64 receiving yards, made a 24-yard run early in the drive to help ACU escape the shadow of its end zone.
 
ACU had a 10-0 lead going to the fourth quarter, and that's when the running game finished it off.
 
The Wildcats ran the ball 13 times for 113 yards in the quarter, including a 53-yard touchdown run by Sam Hicks that pushed the lead to 17-0. While ACU was grinding down the Lumberjacks, NAU managed four yards on six carries on the ground in the final 15 minutes. Pennington was 4 for 10 for 44 yards and was under constant harassment by the ACU defense, which sacked him four times, including 1.5 times by defensive end Kaghen Roach.
 
"Coach Nick Holt (ACU associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator) emphasized to us all week how important getting a great pass rush would be, especially in the playoffs," Roach said. "He emphasized taking it to another level. I knew I had to get home with my pass rush, and the rest of the defensive line had to do that. The guys in the secondary did a great job in coverage, giving the defensive line time to get home."
 
The Wildcats put the game away with 2:16 left as Haggard hit Blayne Taylor with a 6-yard touchdown pass, pushing the lead to 24-0. Hicks had carried the ball eight times for 101 yards and the 53-yard touchdown run in the final eight minutes, capping one of the best postseason performances by an ACU running back in program history.
 
"We knew there was a possibility that Maverick might not play," said Hicks, "I talked to (Patterson) and said, 'Coach, I'm ready.' I knew number 23 (Isaiah Johnson) was also out, but my mindset in practice was to work harder and get ready. The offensive line did a great job; I might have to take them out for some buffalo wings after that performance."
 
Now the Wildcats head to the frigid north to take on the Bison, who are the standard by which every other team at the FCS level is measured.
 
"We view everything as an opportunity," Patterson said of next week's game. "What an incredible opportunity to showcase our great university, the state of Texas, the Big Country, and Abilene on a national stage. This game is everything we've talked about with our team. Obviously we have a tremendous amount of respect for North Dakota State, and what that program has accomplished. But I also know our guys, and we'll be excited for the chance to play and compete."
 
GAME SUMMARY
How They Scored
1Q (3:18) – After a 44-yard punt by Northern Arizona's Ben A'Quila pinned ACU on its 3-yard line, quarterback Carson Haggard – playing in place of the injured Maverick McIvor – led the Wildcats on a 97-yard scoring drive for the game's first points. Haggard got the Wildcats out of a third-down hole with a 10-yard scramble on third-and-five from the 8-yard line. After a short pass set up second-and-6 from the ACU 22, Sam Hicks picked up 24 yards to the ACU 46. On third-and-3 from the NAU 47, Haggard hit Hut Graham for eight yards and a first down, and on the next play, Haggard hit a wide-open Trey Cleveland at the NAU 7-yard line, and he jogged in to complete the 37-yard touchdown pass.
            Scoring Play: Trey Cleveland 37 pass from Carson Haggard (Ritse Vaes kick)
            Drive: 10 plays, 97 yards, 4:36
            ACU 7, Northern Arizona 0
 
2Q (3:17) – Carson Haggard's second interception of the first half gave NAU the ball at its 47-yard line. The Lumberjacks moved inside the ACU 5-yard line and had fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line, trying to tie the score. NAU quarterback Ty Pennington carried the ball and was swarmed by a group of Wildcat defenders - led by Jordan Mukes - dropping him for a four-yard loss. Taking over on its 5-yard line, Sam Hicks carried four times for 22 yards to get the Wildcats out of the shadow of their end zone. On third-and-5 from the 27, Carson Haggard found Blayne Taylor for a 47-yard catch-and-run to the NAU 26. ACU appeared to score two plays later, but a holding penalty moved the ball back to the NAU 28. ACU eventually settled for a 46-yard field goal and a 10-0 lead.
            Scoring Play: Ritse Vaes 46 field goal
            Drive: 10 plays, 66 yards, 6:13
            ACU 10, Northern Arizona 0
 
4Q (10:16) – After the Wildcats flirted with scores a couple of times in the second half, Sam Hicks finally got the Wildcats back on the scoreboard one play after Northern Arizona punted on its fourth straight possession (the third of the second half). On first down from the ACU 47, Hicks took the handoff from Carson Haggard, found a massive hole up the middle and hit it, splitting multiple NAU defenders. He cut back to the left at the 23-yard line and coasted into the end zone for a 53-yard touchdown run.
            Scoring Play: Sam Hicks 53 run (Ritse Vaes kick)
            Drive: 1 play, 53 yards, 0:10
            ACU 17, Northern Arizona 0
 
4Q (2:16): The Wildcats finished this one with an 11-play, 67-yard drive that culminated in Carson Haggard's second touchdown pass. ACU relied on the running game for the majority of the drive, with Sam Hicks carrying the ball five times for 46 yards, helping the Wildcats get down to the 6-yard line. On fourth-and-goal, Haggard found Blayne Taylor on a fade pass to the left corner for a 6-yard touchdown pass and a 24-0 lead.
            Scoring Play: Blayne Taylor 6 pass from Carson Haggard (Ritse Vaes kick)
            Drive: 11 plays, 67 yards, 5:41
            ACU 24, Northern Arizona 0
 
POST-GAME NOTES
• Kaegen Roach had his best game of the season at defensive end, finishing with six tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1.5 tackles for loss, and three quarterback hurries. Roach and his defensive teammates finished the game with four sacks and seven quarterback hurries against an NAU offense that allowed only 24 sacks in the regular season.
• Sam Hicks finished the game with 171 yards rushing on 22 carries and 64 yards receiving on five catches, giving him 235 all-purpose yards and one touchdown on 27 touches. He has 1,180 rushing yards on the season, good for sixth on ACU's single-season list behind only Bernard Scott (2,165 in 2007 and 2,156 in 2008), Erik Polk (1,211 in 2001), Kelly Kent (1,184 in 1977), and Wilbert Montgomery (1,181 in 1973). He needs 32 yards to pass Polk for third place on the single-season rushing yards list.
• In Saturday's game, Hicks also became the second player in ACU football history to top 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season, joining the great Bernard Scott in that exclusive club. Scott had 2,730 all-purpose yards in 2007 and a school record of 2,982 yards in 2008, the year he won the Harlon Hill Award as the top player in NCAA Division II football. On Saturday, Hicks had 235 all-purpose yards (171 rushing and 64 receiving) to surpass College Football Hall of Famer Wilbert Montgomery (1,927 yards in ACU's NAIA Division I national championship season of 1973) for third on the single-season list.
• Carson Haggard is the seventh Wildcat quarterback to lead his team to a postseason victory, joining Ted Sitton (1950 Refrigerator Bowl), Clint Longley (two NAIA Division I playoff wins in 1973), Jim Reese (Shrine Bowl win in 1976), John Mayes (two NAIA Division I playoff wins in 1977), Billy Malone (NCAA Division II playoff wins in 2007 and 2008), and Mitchell Gale (NCAA Division II playoff win in 2009).
• ACU is now 15-2 under Patterson when leading at halftime (5-0 in 2022, 3-1 in 2023, and 7-1 in 2024).
• The Wildcats, likely not to play another home game in 2024, finished the season 5-1 at home, bringing their record to 12-4 under Patterson at Wildcat Stadium. Those four losses have come by a combined 14 points: three points to Stephen F. Austin in 2022, seven points against Incarnate Word, one point to Tarleton State in 2023, and three points to Idaho in 2024.
 
QUOTING NORTHERN ARIZONA HEAD COACH BRIAN WRIGHT
 
On his team's performance: "Obviously, we're disappointed with the outcome, but disappointed that we couldn't generate anything on offense. Our guys battled as they have all season, but we couldn't get anything going. That's a credit to (ACU head coach) Keith Patterson and his team. They outplayed and outcoached us (Saturday). They just beat in a lot of different ways. I'm sure he's proud of his defense and how it performed."
 
QUOTING ACU HEAD COACH KEITH PATTERSON
 
On his team's performance: "We were very well-prepared to play, and our players did a great job executing the game plan This is the first time we've been practicing during Thanksgiving week, and our guys did a really good job of managing everything that goes along with that week. It can become a distraction, but our players didn't let that happen, and we did everything it takes to win a game."
 
On playing the game without starting quarterback Maverick McIvor: "We talked to our players during the week and told them Maverick might not be ready to go, and that we had to do what we've done all year long, and that's pick up the slack and get ready to play. We're not built around one person. We've had eight players earn 10 United Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards, so we have a complete team. We have a bunch of guys who love each other and want to go out and play hard for one another. I'm very proud of the way they responded."
 
QUOTING ACU RUNNING BACK SAM HICKS
 
On the way Carson Haggard played in place of McIvor: "Once we got the offense going, he was getting the ball to Nehemiah (Martinez), Blayne (Taylor), Trey (Cleveland), myself, and others. He got warmed up and relaxed, and that helped him. I'm proud of him and my team."
 
QUOTING ACU DEFENSIVE END KAGHEN ROACH
 
On the defense's overall performance: "We knew going in that we wouldn't have some guys on offense, so we took it upon ourselves to make it a defensive game. Every week, KP (Patterson) stresses how important it is for the defense to step up and play well."
 
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will be on the road next Saturday in Fargo, North Dakota, to take on the No. 2 team in the country, North Dakota State, in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats (9-4) and Bison (10-2) will kick off at 2 p.m. Central time from Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. The Bison (pronounced Bye-zuhn) have won 17 college football national championships: three College Division titles (1965, 1968, and 1969), five NCAA Division II titles (1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, and 1990), and nine FCS national championships (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021).