By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor
ACU’s offense scored more than 40 points for the fourth straight week as the nationally ranked Wildcats won their Lone Star Conference South Division opener against Eastern New Mexico 45-20 Saturday night.
Although Greyhound quarterback and No. 1 rusher in the nation Michael Benton ran for two touchdowns and 149 yards against ACU, the Wildcats’ offense was too much for the run-happy Greyhounds to keep up with. ACU scored six touchdowns en rout to its fourth straight win since dropping its season opener to the University of Central Oklahoma.
“It’s just fun having so much depth on the field with so many playmakers; it seems easier than last year,” senior wide receiver Jerale Badon said.
Badon broke the LSC record for career receptions after catching a 36-yard grab down the left sideline for an ACU first down in the first quarter. Badon’s second catch of the game put his career total at 182 and broke the record that was held by former East Texas receiver Gary Compton, who held the record since 1990. The record was the third one Badon has broken this season; he broke the ACU record for career receptions on Sept. 1 and the ACU record for career receiving yards on Sept. 22.
Badon, who was named LSC Co-Offensive Player of the Week for his record-breaking performance, finished the night with six catches for 107 yards to put his career catches total at 186.
“It’s just fun, it was a fun game,” the modest Badon said.
ACU extended its overall record to 4-1 and is now 3-0 in LSC play and 1-0 in LSC South Division play, something that ACU hopes to maintain if it wants to make the playoffs for the second-straight season in a row. Meanwhile, ENMU drops to 4-1 overall and 0-1 in the LSC South.
“I think we want to just win every game, no matter what we are in the nation or in the LSC,” Badon said.
ACU jumped up two spots from No. 17 to No. 15 on the American Football Coaches’ Association Division II poll after downing the formerly undefeated Greyhounds on Saturday.
ENMU, who held the second- best rush defense in the LSC prior to the game, did little to slow down ACU junior running back Bernard Scott, who rushed for 179 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries. Scott, who was ranked No. 13 in rushing before the win, has rushed for more than 100 yards every game this season for a season total of 552 yards.
Despite a few mistakes, junior quarterback Billy Malone threw another solid outing, this time a 272- yard performance with four touchdown throws.
“I don’t think it’s gonna stop, we have more weapons that we can use,” senior cornerback Corey Jordan said. “We got a lot of people stepping up each week.”
ACU’s defense stepped up to hold the No. 1 rushing team in the nation to 344 yards on the ground, which is modest considering ENMU’s averages 403 yards per game. ACU also held Benton under his game average; Benton rushed for more than 40 yards below his average of 187.8 yards.
“You can never really practice live for their offense,” said linebacker Cody Stutts, who led ACU in tackles with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery. “I think our defense responded well and adjusted well.”
Stutts was named LSC Defensive Player of the Week for his part of ACU’s strong defensive stand against the Greyhounds.
ACU’s next game will be against the University of Northeastern Oklahoma State on Saturday.
