By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor
The back and forth South division tiebreaker between ACU and Tarleton State came down to special teams Saturday. Tarleton executed and ACU didn’t.
“It’s a disappointing deal,” head coach Chris Thomsen said. “We had the opportunity to win the game…we just got beat.”
Tarleton State kicker Paul Williams booted a 32-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in the game to beat the nationally ranked ACU Wildcats 37-36 and pull into first place in the Lone Star Conference South division on Saturday.
The loss is ACU’s first of the season and drops them to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in LSC South play. Tarleton, however, won its fifth straight, moving to 5-3 overall and to the top of the LSC South Division with a 4-0 record.
Despite coming back from a 17-point first-half deficit and finding a temporary answer to Tarleton’s explosive running game, two fourth-quarter failed extra points came back to haunt the Wildcats and gave the Tarleton Texans their fifth-straight win.
“We didn’t play well collectively,” said wide receiver Jerale Badon, whose 14-catch performance broke the ACU single-game record. “We made mistakes we don’t usually make.”
ACU’s defense failed to find an answer for Texans running back Michael Sampson, who rushed for 157 yards for three touchdowns, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Sampson, a Georgia Tech transfer, was injured for the Texans’ first three losses but has played in all of five of Tarleton’s wins.
ACU quarterback Billy Malone recorded his fourth-straight game with over 300 yards passing, with 353 yards and four touchdowns.
ACU jumped ahead early after Malone completed three passes for 80 yards, the last being a 27-yard touchdown to wide receiver John Brock. But the early ACU score would soon be overshadowed by a Tarleton State offense that scored on its first five possessions of the game.
Tarleton pulled ahead 27-7 after Sampson ran in two touchdowns and Williams hit two field goals, one from 44 yards out and the second from 43 yards.
A field goal from ACU kicker Matt Adams shortened the gap before half time, leaving the Wildcats behind 27-10.
ACU came back from the deficit and appeared to find an answer to Tarleton’s rushing attack and defense, after forcing four straight punts and scoring two third quarter touchdowns.
Malone found running back Taber Minner who weaved his way through the defense for a 24-yard touchdown reception early in the third quarter. Minutes later, running back Chancy Campbell ran in the second third quarter touchdown, after breaking through the line and escaping for a 28-yard score on a crucial third and one possession.
After the two scores ACU was within three points of the Tarleton lead.
ACU continued to score, as Malone found Badon for a 16-yard touchdown and the Wildcats first lead of the game. But ACU failed to convert the extra point.
Sampson presented Tarleton’s answer the following drive with a 32-yard touchdown.
ACU continued the lead-switching, with another Malone-Brock touchdown, this time for nine yards. But another missed extra point put Tarleton within two points with 5:22 remaining.
Tarleton capitalized on the final drive ending with Williams’ game winning kick.
