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
- 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.
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