Saturday, November 15
Richmond, Ky.
2 p.m. (CT)
Abilene Christian
7-4 , 6-1
17
at
10
Eastern Kentucky
4-7 , 2-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Abilene Christian
3
0
3
11
17
Eastern Ky.
0
3
0
7
10
Photo by: Aly Bayliss
Wildcats Rally to Win, One Step Closer to Playoffs Auto Berth
11/15/2025 5:33:00 PM | Football
RICHMOND, Ky. - ACU's Kaghen Roach recorded 2.5 sacks and recovered a pivotal fumble to set-up the winning touchdown as the Wildcats defeated Eastern Kentucky 17-10 on Saturday afternoon.
On the next snap after kicking a field goal to pull within one point, 10-9, Chris Wright and Kortlin Rausaw sandwiched EKU quarterback Myles Burkett which popped the ball free, and Roach scooped it up and ran to the EKU 20-yard line. Three plays later Stone Earle found Javon Gipson free on a slant route in the endzone for ACU's only touchdown of the game. A two-point conversion throw to Jed Castles put ACU ahead 17-10 with 4:03 remaining.
The Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out, and then Jordon Vaughn and the ACU offense squeezed most of the clock out for the comeback victory.
The Wildcats improve to 7-4 overall and 6-1 in the United Athletic Conference. The win keeps them at least tied for first place in the UAC. ACU owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tarleton State, and will clinch the conference title and the automatic berth into the FCS Playoffs with a win next Saturday at Central Arkansas.
A blustery breeze from the southwest made life difficult for both teams' offenses when moving to the south. The Colonels were held to just eight first downs, 155 passing yards, and a mere ten yards on the ground.
Brandon Perez was 3-for-3 on field goals, including a 25-yarder into the wind. That field goal and Earle's touchdown pass were the game's only points heading into the wind.
ACU's defense sacked Burkett six times -- it's first time to hit that number since recording ten sacks against McMurry on Sept. 1, 2012. Along with Roach's 2.5 sacks, Wright was credited with 1.5, Dorian Plumley with 1.0, and Will Shaffer and Kortlin Rausaw with a half-sack.
What the Win Means
Up Next
ACU finishes its regular season with a UAC tilt at Central Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m.
On the next snap after kicking a field goal to pull within one point, 10-9, Chris Wright and Kortlin Rausaw sandwiched EKU quarterback Myles Burkett which popped the ball free, and Roach scooped it up and ran to the EKU 20-yard line. Three plays later Stone Earle found Javon Gipson free on a slant route in the endzone for ACU's only touchdown of the game. A two-point conversion throw to Jed Castles put ACU ahead 17-10 with 4:03 remaining.
The Wildcat defense forced a three-and-out, and then Jordon Vaughn and the ACU offense squeezed most of the clock out for the comeback victory.
The Wildcats improve to 7-4 overall and 6-1 in the United Athletic Conference. The win keeps them at least tied for first place in the UAC. ACU owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over Tarleton State, and will clinch the conference title and the automatic berth into the FCS Playoffs with a win next Saturday at Central Arkansas.
A blustery breeze from the southwest made life difficult for both teams' offenses when moving to the south. The Colonels were held to just eight first downs, 155 passing yards, and a mere ten yards on the ground.
Brandon Perez was 3-for-3 on field goals, including a 25-yarder into the wind. That field goal and Earle's touchdown pass were the game's only points heading into the wind.
ACU's defense sacked Burkett six times -- it's first time to hit that number since recording ten sacks against McMurry on Sept. 1, 2012. Along with Roach's 2.5 sacks, Wright was credited with 1.5, Dorian Plumley with 1.0, and Will Shaffer and Kortlin Rausaw with a half-sack.
What the Win Means
- Head coach Keith Patterson earned his 28th win at ACU, tying him for seventh most in school history with Tonto Coleman and N.L. Nicholson.
- Gives ACU 7 wins for the third time in the past four years (ACU went 7-4 in 2022, and 9-5 in 2024).
- Pushes the Wildcats' record to 10-1 in their last 11 UAC games, and 12-2 in their last 14.
Up Next
ACU finishes its regular season with a UAC tilt at Central Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 22, at 4 p.m.
Team Stats
ACU
EKU
Total Yards
350
165
Pass Yards
226
155
Rushing Yards
124
10
Penalty Yards
20
30
1st Downs
24
8
3rd Downs
9
2
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
35:19
22:12
1st Quarter
ACU 3, EKU 0
ACU - Perez,Brandon 30 yd field goal 15 plays, 74 yards, TOP 06:29
2nd Quarter
ACU 3, EKU 3
EKU - Flabiano,Buzz 41 yd field goal 7 plays, 29 yards, TOP 02:53
3rd Quarter
ACU 6, EKU 3
ACU - Perez,Brandon 21 yd field goal 10 plays, 37 yards, TOP 04:24
4th Quarter
ACU 6, EKU 10
EKU - Latham,Brayden 3 yd run (Flabiano,Buzz kick), 5 plays, 81 yards, TOP 02:13
ACU 9, EKU 10
ACU - Perez,Brandon 25 yd field goal 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:36
ACU 17, EKU 10
ACU - Gipson,Javon 6 yd pass from Earle,Stone (Castles,Jed pass) 4 plays, 11 yards, TOP 00:00
Game Leaders
CMP
23
TD
1
YDS
226
INT
0
Players Mentioned
TE
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WR
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K
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S
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DL
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DL
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LB
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RB
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LB
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