ABILENE - ACU redshirt senior running back
Sam Hicks was awarded for his career night against Utah Tech with the United Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor on Monday.
Hicks ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries in the Wildcats' 55-30 victory in St. George, Utah. Hicks' performance was just the 16th time in ACU history, and the third time in the Division I era, a player rolled up at least 200 rushing yards.
"Glory to God," said Hicks after the game. "I'm at a loss for words. All I thought in my head was to do my job and execute. It's a great experience."
The Ft. Worth-native's touchdown runs from 53 and 35 yards out helped ACU build a two-score lead at halftime. His third score was a powerful, 8-yard run that included a truck move over a defender at the 2-yard line.
"Shout out to the offensive line and coach
Ryan Pugh... I trust my guys to make that play and open the hole for me. I'm going to do the rest - make somebody miss or outrun somebody."
The last Wildcat to top the 200-yard mark was Billy McCrary who rushed for 222 yards against Southeastern Louisiana in 2018. De'Andre Brown holds the Division I era record with 256 yards at Stephen F. Austin in 2014.
ACU's 25-point win over Utah Tech pushed the Wildcats to a 2-0 record in the UAC and sets up a top 25 match-up for the second consecutive home game. The #16 Wildcats host #5 Central Arkansas on Saturday at 3 p.m.
"I think this was the first game we played complete since Texas Tech," said Hicks. "I don't want to look at it as, 'Oh, we've got Central Arkansas next.' It's another opponent in front of us that's in our way to get a national championship."
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