Wildcats Comeback for Huge Win at #6 Austin Peay

Saturday, November 14

Clarksville, TN

1 p.m.

Abilene Christian

6-5 , 5-1

Austin Peay

8-3 , 4-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Abilene Christian	10	0	3	21	34
Austin Peay	14	7	0	10	31

Tucker Parks throws against Austin Peay on Nov. 14, 2026

Photo by: Jonathan Sargent

11/14/2026 5:23:00 PM | Football

Box Score Watch: Postgame with Keith Patterson

By: Evan Nemec

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The No 24 Abilene Christian football team rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to take down No. 6 Austin Peay 34-31 on a crisp Saturday afternoon, boosting their résumé for the 2026 FCS Playoffs.

The victory represents the Wildcats' first top 10 road win of the Division I era, and is head coach Keith Patterson's fifth double-digit comeback in his five seasons.

ACU (6-5, 5-1) must still win its regular season finale against Eastern Kentucky for a possible share of the United Athletic Conference championship, and one of 13 at-large spots in the 24-team postseason.

Trailing 21-10 at halftime, ACU's defense forced stops on three consecutive drives: a punt, a Jocelyn Malaska interception and a blocked field goal by freshman Hudson Page.

The offense turned all three into scores as Brandon Perez tied his Division I career-long with a 51-yard field goal and quarterback Tucker Parks connected on touchdown passes to Itty Henry (2 yards) and Seth Weller (29 yards). The latter score put the Wildcats ahead 26-21 with 7:57 in the 4th quarter.

After the Governors (8-3, 4-2) kicked a 40-yard field goal, they induced a punt and went 75 yards on a long bomb to pull back in front 31-26.

ACU got the ball back with 2:45 remaining and three timeouts. Facing a 4th and 3, Parks ran a designed QB draw up the middle. He was hit one yard down field, but fell on top of Governor defenders, rolled ahead and extended his right forearm. The officials' ruling was short of the line to gain, but was reversed by video review and the Wildcats extended their drive.

One play later, Parks lofted a pass to tight end Larry Benton III who leaped and brought the ball down to the 4-yard line for a 40-yard pickup. The catch pushed Benton over the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career. ACU chewed some clock, and Makenzie McGill rammed ahead for the go-ahead 1-yard touchdown with 0:18 left.

STAT PACK

Luke Moffitt returned the opening kickoff, his first career return, 92 yards to the 6-yard line to set up ACU's first touchdown
Larry Benton III recorded a career-high 6 catches for 108 yards
Seth Weller finished with 6 grabs for 64 yards and a TD
After running 79 plays at Tarleton State last week, the Wildcats ran 72 at Austin Peay
ACU was near its season averages for 3rd downs, which are both Top 20 in the nation. The Cats converted on 5/12 (42%) offensively, and only allowed Austin Peay to move the chains 3-of-9 (33%) times.
Brandon Perez was 2/2 on field goals, pushing him to 14 made field goals for the season which is tied for 3rd most in ACU history. Perez connected on 15 field goals in 2025.
It was the first time ACU has played back-to-back Top 10 opponents since the 2010 season as an NCAA Division II member