By Joel Weckerly, Sports Editor

The junior varsity football team battled back after trailing early against Cisco Junior College to win its first game of the season, 21-13 on Monday.

“[Cisco] came right down on the first drive and scored, but we rallied back,” coach Colby Carthel said. “They were bigger, stronger and faster, but our guys just outplayed them.”

Carthel said the offensive line “controlled the game for us,” due to the blocking of freshmen Silas Crumbo, Jeff Gardner, Alonzo Barber, Brandon Booth, Jeremy Axel and sophomores Jeff Thigpen and Rien Dickerson.

The holes they created helped freshman running back Kevin Wesley run for 63 yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while freshman back Bradon Martin gained 49 yards on eight carries.

Freshman quarterback Brock Pierce led ACU’s passing attack, throwing for 112 yards and a touchdown on 7 of 11 passing. Redshirt freshman quarterback Caleb Ensor added 76 yards and a score on 8 of 13 passing.

Their main targets were freshmen Jeff Cavanaugh (three catches, 44 yards, one touchdown) and Korbin Williams (one catch, 63 yards, one touchdown) and Dickerson (three catches, 27 yards).

Defensively, freshman Anthony Fitzgerald led ACU with six tackles and an interception, while freshman Will Cones helped out with five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery.

The Wildcats return to action Saturday, Sept. 27, when they play at Ranger Junior College at 1 p.m.