With a win Saturday, the Wildcats can achieve a fifth conference victory, which would be their most in a Div. I season, and remain in contention for an FCS playoff spot.
ACU faces Sam Houston for its final road game of the regular season. The Bearkats are caught up in a four-way tie for second with the Wildcats and have the same 4-3 conference and 5-4 overall record. A loss by either team would ruin all hopes for a trip to the playoffs.
Head coach Adam Dorrel said he knows this game huge and will be a challenge.
“Sam (Houston) hasn’t changed, they have great athletes and are very well coached,” Dorrel said. “The big challenge to me is just trying to match their intensity and from an athleticism standpoint just trying to keep up.”
The Wildcats and Sam Houston have had similar seasons on the defensive side of the ball. ACU’s 30 points allowed per game ranks just above the Bearkats’ 30.2. Both teams aren’t too far off in yards allowed per game either with ACU giving up 397.1 and Sam Houston surrendering 426.7.
Although the Bearkats have stayed in the middle of the pack overall defensively, it hasn’t stopped redshirt defensive end Derick Roberson from disrupting offensive backfields. Roberson has totaled 56 tackles this year with 18 for a loss and 13.5 sacks.
Their leading tackler is redshirt senior linebacker Hunter Brown who has earned 75 tackles along with five for a loss and one sack.
Offensively, the Wildcats have outdone Sam Houston in yards 4,240-3,828. ACU has also averaged more points per game with 34.1 as opposed to Sam Houston’s 30.9.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Ty Brock has proceeded the talented Jeremiah Briscoe under center this season. Brock has thrown for 1850 yards and 12 touchdowns so far.
Brock has had the help of senior wide receiver Davion Davis and junior wide receiver Nathan Stewart. Davis has hauled in the second most touchdown passes in the conference with 10 on the year and Stewart sits in second for the most receiving yards with 823.
Sophomore running back Kyran Jackson has also provided a strong running presence for Sam Houston with 705 rushing yards, the third most in the conference, and eight touchdowns, tied for the third most.
After junior transfer running back Billy McCrary went down with an injury against the Demons last week, Dorrel said he should be ok for game time.
“We’re expecting him to play Saturday,” Dorrel said. “We’re doing our best to get him back and he’s doing everything he can, so we’re optimistic that he’s going to be ready to go.”
Kickoff is scheduled 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Huntsville at Elliot T. Bowers Stadium. Coverage of the game can be watched on Eleven Sports and will also air on 98.1 FM.
