The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Sports / Wildcats kick back

Wildcats kick back

November 8, 2006 by Daniel Johnson-Kim

By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor

Wide receiver Jerale Badon made one catch in the second half against Texas A&M-Kingsville.

But it was the most important catch of the game.

After heading to the sideline with a first-half MCL sprain, an injured Badon returned with 14 seconds on the clock and caught a 34-yard pass to set up place kicker Matt Adams for a game-winning field goal.

“We weren’t going to play [Badon] unless we had to have him,” offensive coordinator Ken Collums said. “There is just something in him that is different.”

Adams’ 25-yard field goal ended a back-and-forth offensive battle and won the Wildcats the game 41-38. The win extended the Wildcats’ record to 8-1 and kept the program’s hopes for its first NCAA Division II playoff berth alive.

 “I know I was praying,” head coach Chris Thomsen said. “I was praying for him to just have confidence and to just go out there and nail it.”

And nail it he did.

Adams was named Lone Star Conference South Division Special Teams Player of the Week after completing two of three field goals and booting the game winner on Saturday.

“They are the heroes this week,” Badon said about the special teams. “They stepped up and did what they had to do to win this game.”

The hero in Thomsen’s mind was quarterback Billy Malone.

“I was thinking about maybe kneeling the ball and playing for overtime,” Thomsen said. “But coach Collums talked me into going after it and reminded me how much confidence we had in Billy to come through.”

Malone, who drove the Wildcats 74 yards down the field into field goal position with 1:03 remaining on the clock, threw for career-best 404 yards and two touchdowns against Kingsville. Malone’s performance was the first time he has thrown for more than 400 yards in a game.

“That last drive he did exactly what you’re supposed to do,” Thomsen said. “And that’s the sign of a truly great quarterback; a guy that can do it in those types of situations.”

Two ACU receivers, Badon and wide receiver Chris Morris, both finished with more than 100 receiving yards. Morris led the Wildcats in catches with seven for 122 yards and a touchdown, while Badon made four grabs for 165 yards and one touchdown.

On the ground, running back Taber Minner led the Wildcats in rushing with 109 yards and two touchdowns. Chancy Campbell contributed with a touchdown of his own and 36 yards on the ground. Despite a pre-game average of 93 rushing yards, the Kingsville Javelinas’ biggest offensive weapon was its running attack. Kingsville rushed for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Outside linebacker Marcus Brown led the Wildcats in tackles with nine, while cornerback Corey Jordan recorded his fourth interception this season and linebacker Brandon Henry recorded a pick of his own. Henry also had the Wildcats’ only sack against the Javelinas.

The Wildcats final regular season test will be in their final home game against Midwestern State on Saturday.

ACU moved up to No. 18 in the American Coaches Football Association national poll and remained at No. 5 in the Southwest Regional rankings.

The Wildcats must beat Midwestern to secure a spot in the playoffs and win its first outright conference championship.

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: Football

Other Sports:

  • Out with the WAC, in with the UAC

  • Women’s golf drives for success despite young mid-major status

  • More than money: FBS games bring in revenue, impact program

About Daniel Johnson-Kim

You are here: Home / Sports / Wildcats kick back

Other Sports:

  • Out with the WAC, in with the UAC

  • Women’s golf drives for success despite young mid-major status

  • More than money: FBS games bring in revenue, impact program

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
optimistsports Optimist Sports @optimistsports ·
26 Jun

The United Athletic Conference is officially taking the place of the Western Athletic Conference in the 2026-2027 athletic year. The UAC is a joint football effort between the WAC and the ASUN but will now extend to all sports. #acuoptimist #acuathletics #wac #uac

Reply on Twitter 1938240320854008109 Retweet on Twitter 1938240320854008109 2 Like on Twitter 1938240320854008109 7 Twitter 1938240320854008109
Retweet on Twitter The Optimist Retweeted
ashleyh1607 Ashley Henderson @ashleyh1607 ·
3 Jun

My second year at ACU was full of opportunities that grew me as an individual and a journalist.

In my first year as editor in chief of @acuoptimist, we published six print issues, filmed a 3-hour live election show, and revamped our newscast, all while producing news weekly.

Reply on Twitter 1929734328445178254 Retweet on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Like on Twitter 1929734328445178254 1 Twitter 1929734328445178254

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

1 years ago

The Optimist

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

2 years ago

The Optimist
"Ending my college education early was always the plan for me, but the things that I have been able to see, experience and examine about ACU’s community were not. I have found immense growth in ACU over the past three and a half years, but ACU still has a long road to climb if it wants to keep catering to students as the world changes around them." To read more of this article visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #privatechristianuniversity #collegestudentopinion #acuopinion ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2025 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved