Wildcats Cruise Past Cardinals on to Round 2

Saturday, November 29

Abilene, Texas

12 p.m. (CT)

Abilene Christian

9-4 , 7-1

Lamar

8-5 , 5-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Lamar University

Abilene Christian

Javon Gipson hauls in a one-handed touchdown pass against Lamar on November 29, 2025

Photo by: Brandon McAuliffe

11/29/2025 4:28:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Evan Nemec

ABILENE - The ACU football team scored the game's first 24 points and never looked back in a 38-20 victory over Lamar in round one of the 2025 Division I Football Championship on a sunny Saturday at Wildcat Stadium.

The win sends the Wildcats (9-4) to face Stephen F. Austin (10-2) in round two on Saturday, Dec. 6, in Nacogdoches.

The Wildcats led 24-0 by the early part of the second quarter and did not allow a score until 0:18 left in the first half. ACU's defense kept the Cardinals to 95 rushing yards marking the fourth time in the past five games the Wildcats have held their opponent to less than 100 yards on the ground.

Senior receiver Javon Gipson continued his stellar play as quarterback Stone Earle's go-to target with multiple acrobatic catches. Gipson finished with nine receptions for 164 yards -- his third consecutive 100-yard performance -- and his first two-TD game of his career. Over the last three weeks Gipson has hauled in 25 passes for 452 yards and four scores.

ACU received the opening kickoff and sliced through Lamar's defense with ease. Jordon Vaughn's 14-yard TD run capped the 10-play, 84-yard scoring drive. It was the first time the Wildcats have scored on their opening drive since Sept. 27 at UIW.

Following a Lamar three-and-out, ACU added another touchdown when Earle hit Raydrian Baltrip over the middle from 18 yards out to go up 14-0.

Two plays later Noah Mangham blind-sided Cardinal quarterback Aiden McCown jarring the ball loose and recovering it himself. Brandon Perez then connected on a 29-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 17-0 advantage with 3:59 left in the first quarter. ACU outgained Lamar 183-48 in the opening frame.

Earle notched his third career 300-yard passing game, including his second in as many weeks. The senior from Ft. Worth was 25-of-31 for 308 yards and 3 TD.

Vaughn carried the ball 15 times for 96 yards, ending just short of his third 100-yard rushing game of the season. Rovaughn Banks, Jr. chipped in 44 yards on 11 attempts.

ACU is now 6-2 all-time in home postseason games, and has won five straight games for the first time since 2010 when the Cats won their first 11 games of the season. ACU also extended its winning streak at Wildcat Stadium to ten, which is the third longest home win streak in program history.

Up Next

No. 10 national seed ACU travels to play in-state rival No. 7 Stephen F. Austin in round two of the FCS playoffs. Kickoff from Nacogdoches is Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. on ESPN+ and the ACU Sports Network.

Click here to buy tickets and join the Wildcats in Nacogdoches!

The Wildcats beat the Lumberjacks in the second game of the year, 28-20 in Abilene. Since then, SFA, winners of the Southland Conference, have run off ten consecutive victories and enjoyed a first round bye.

Postgame Press Conference