Abilene Christian
2-2 , 1-0
Austin Peay
2-2 , 0-1
No. 14 ACU Sprints Past Austin Peay for Conference-Opening Win
9/20/2025 10:09:00 PM | Football
The Wildcats (2-2, 1-0) have now won five of their last six Top 25 matchups dating back to the start of the 2024 season, and are 7-1 in their last eight home games.
After being shut out in the first quarter in each of their first three games, ACU scored its first points of an opening frame with the defense setting up the offense.
Austin Peay was backed up at its own goalline when team captain Kaghen Roach forced a fumble which Myles jumped on. One play later, quarterback Stone Earle kept the ball and motored four yards ahead for a touchdown.
The Wildcats went up 14-0 early in the second quarter when Earle found Raydrian Baltrip for a 26-yard strike. It was Baltrip's first career TD reception.
The Governors fumbled again on a botched handoff in the backfield. The ball rolled free, and Myles again pounced on top of it. The takeaway led to an ACU score as Earle scrambled away from pressure, rolled to his left and found Dallas Dudley in the back corner of the endzone from five yards out.
On the ensuing kickoff, Austin Peay's returner misjudged the flight of the ball, let it drop at the 10-yardline where he tried to pick the ball up. T.J. Marshall blasted the returner, causing the ball to come free where Myles recovered his third fumble of the half.
ACU ended the first half with a 1:07 drive and a 23-yard field goal from Brandon Perez to take a 24-3 edge into the locker room.
The Wildcats made it three straight games with a touchdown on their opening drive of the second half. ACU received the kickoff and went 75 yards in 12 plays, finishing with a 4-yard pass from Earle to Jed Castles to lead 31-3.
After back-to-back touchdown runs by Governors QB Chris Parson, Earle faked out the entire Austin Peay defense by pulling the ball out of his running back's gut and scrampering 35 yards untouched for a TD.
Earle also hit Baltrip for a TD for the second time with 7:45 left in the game. The 55-yard pass is the longest play of the season so far.
UP NEXT
ACU hops back into nonconference play with its final game out of the UAC. The Wildcats travel to San Antonio to play Incarnate Word (1-3) on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m. at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium.
Team Stats
APS 0, ACU 7
ACU - Earle,Stone 4 yd run (Perez,Brandon kick), 1 plays, 4 yards, TOP 00:04
APS 0, ACU 14
ACU - Baltrip,Raydrian 26 yd pass from Earle,Stone (Perez,Brandon kick) 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 03:10
APS 3, ACU 14
APS - Smith,Carson 22 yd field goal 11 plays, 63 yards, TOP 04:20
APS 3, ACU 21
ACU - Dudley,Dallas 5 yd pass from Earle,Stone (Perez,Brandon kick) 6 plays, 22 yards, TOP 02:48
APS 3, ACU 24
ACU - Perez,Brandon 23 yd field goal 11 plays, 92 yards, TOP 01:07
APS 3, ACU 31
ACU - Castles,Jed 4 yd pass from Earle,Stone (Perez,Brandon kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:47
APS 10, ACU 31
APS - Parson,Chris 2 yd run (Smith,Carson kick), 4 plays, 58 yards, TOP 02:27
APS 17, ACU 31
APS - Parson,Chris 1 yd run (Smith,Carson kick), 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 02:17
APS 17, ACU 38
ACU - Earle,Stone 34 yd run (Perez,Brandon kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:59
APS 24, ACU 38
APS - Robinson,Jaden 44 yd pass from Parson,Chris (Smith,Carson kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:28
APS 24, ACU 45
ACU - Baltrip,Raydrian 55 yd pass from Earle,Stone (Perez,Brandon kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:05
APS 31, ACU 45
APS - Head,Jackson 6 yd pass from Parson,Chris (Smith,Carson kick) 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:49
