The ACU Wildcats became the first-ever winners of the State Farm Big Country-Concho Valley Shootout Saturday with a 33 to 20 victory over rival Angelo State.
Mitchell Gale was named the State Farm player of the game. Gale completed 27 of 41 passes for 377 yards and four touchdowns. He has thrown at least three touchdowns in his last five games, and still has thrown only one interception.
Edmund Gates also had his fifth straight 100-yard receiving game.
“They have played everybody tough like they just played us,” said ACU head coach Chris Thomsen. “I think they’re a really good team.”
It was a slow start to a game that finished with 50-plus points scored.
The Wildcats managed, on their first drive, just a field goal attempt by Morgan Lineberry. Lineberry hit the 49-yard attempt but left the game immediately following the kick after re-injuring his back.
Angelo State would fire back toward the end of the first quarter. Quarterback Josh Neiswander hit CJ Akins twice on the drive for 68 yards. Garrett Tidwell capped the drive from the Wildcat formation with an 11-yard run. CJ Akins was named State Farm Player of the Game for Angelo; he finished the contest with seven receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown.
ACU’s next possession, which spilled into the second quarter, was all Mitchell Gale, who went three for three on the drive including a 24-yard rush. Gale found Emery Dudensing on the sideline, who took it into the end zone. Dudensing scored twice in the game for his fifth and sixth touchdowns of both the season and his career.
Gale would find Raymond Radway just before the end of the half to put the Wildcats up 16-7 heading into the break.
ACU went three and out on their first possession of the second half and ASU took advantage. The Rams embarked on a 9-play drive that spanned just over four minutes to pull within three at 16-13.
The Wildcats would not allow the Rams to get any closer. Later in the third quarter Gale found Dudensing again for the second time in the game. ACU went up 23-13.
Another score by each team would seal the deal as the Wildcats moved to 9-0 with the win.
“I’m real proud of our guys, they played hard to the end,” Thomsen said.
The Wildcats again proved they are for real by beating arguably one of the best 3-4 teams in the country. Of the four losses the Rams had coming into the game three were against top-25 teams, and they lost by a combined total of 31 points. Although that seems like a lot, the points were mostly late and in the fourth quarter.
ACU has been no stranger to the big game this season, and they showed it once again after being down early in the game. It seemed that Angelo may have had ACU’s number on Saturday after scoring an early touchdown from the Wildcat formation, but Coach Thomsen kept his team poised as he has all season.
The Wildcats also learned they might have a Harlon Hill candidate on their hands this season in quarterback Mitchell Gale. Gale has been the epitome of a leader this season, completing passes under pressure, directing traffic in an offense with numerous sets, and making much better decisions when the ball is in his hands. His stats are amongst the top in the nation in every category for a quarterback. Gale ranks fourth in passing efficiency, ninth in total yards, eleventh in yards per game, and first in fewest interceptions and in interception to touchdown ratio.
If Gale can have a game like he did against Washburn, Kingsville, Midwestern, and Angelo against West Texas, he will be in serious contention for the nation’s top Div. II football award.
