Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Sports / ACU ends season with home loss against reigning FCS champion Sam Houston
Redshirt sophomore kicker Blair Zepeda prepares to strike the ball. (Photo by Meghan Long)

ACU ends season with home loss against reigning FCS champion Sam Houston

November 21, 2021 by Joseph Chapa

The 100th season of Wildcat football ended with a 35-9 blowout loss against the last year’s FCS national champion and conference opponent, the Sam Houston State Bearkats.

ACU ends the season with a 5-6 overall record, and a 3-5 WAC/ASUN Challenge record that places them third overall in the WAC standings to finish off the 2021-22 season.

A total of 265 yards, 17 1st-downs, and only 1 turnover, were the positive statistical metrics ACU had going for them, but they were unable to find the finishing touch to their offense in order to score. The 3-16 3rd-down efficiency rate held the Wildcats from capitalizing on opportunities in order to score to stay competitive in the ball game.

“Our defense played them as well as they have been played all year,” head coach Adam Dorrel said. “We missed opportunities on offense today against a very fundamentally sound and diverse football team, but overall I was pleased with our guys’ efforts.”

Peyton Mansell, redshirt sophomore quarterback from Belton, finished the game with 20-35 passing completions and attempts, but no touchdowns. SHSU shut down Kobe Clark, junior receiver from Sweetwater, by only allowing one reception for -7 yards to give ACU zero directions to look to for points.

With this runaway win for the Bearkats, they proved on all levels why they are the defending FCS National Champions making historic win streaks. The explosive 424 total yards for SHSU and star-studded defense only allowed ACU to score three field goals by sophomore kicker from Richardson, Blair Zepeda.

Junior quarterback from the Woodlands, Eric Schmid, led the way for the Bearkats victory with three touchdowns on 244 passing yards. Sophomore second-string running back from Houston, Noah Smith, was the impact playmaker of the game with one rushing and two receiving touchdowns.

“They were all business today for a team that has won 22 straight games,” Dorrel said. “We learned a lot from this very physical football team. We just have to continue to get better on the defensive end, continue to recruit, and get back out there.”

As ACU heads into the offseason, they look to celebrate their improvement this year with a disciplined group led by a wide group of senior class leadership. Senior running back from Hamshire, Tyrese White, and senior defensive back from Angleton, Koy Richardson, are some of the nine notable seniors for the Wildcats that have potentially played their last game of football.

“I want my seniors to go out and do great things with their life,” Dorrel said. “We do a good job and not only teaching them football here, but getting them ready to go out and be successful in a very competitive world where the competition is not done, but just getting started.”

Filed Under: Sports Tagged With: ACU, Football

Other Sports:

  • Wildcats fall on the road in WAC opener

  • Football earns nearly $1 million in contract guarantees from 2023 season

  • ACU heads to College Station with hopes set high of upsetting Aggies

About Joseph Chapa

Journalism major with a Business & Comm. minor, Sports Talent for ACUTV, and Sports Writer for yours truly, Optimist Sports.

You are here: Home / Sports / ACU ends season with home loss against reigning FCS champion Sam Houston

Other Sports:

  • Wildcats fall on the road in WAC opener

  • Football earns nearly $1 million in contract guarantees from 2023 season

  • ACU heads to College Station with hopes set high of upsetting Aggies

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

10 hours ago

The Optimist
Worry. Confusion. Fear. These are emotions that consume people when processing the concept of war. A student wants answers to peace and looks for it in family, friends, and leaders of the community. Students want answers to their questions and ACU has provided a platform for this. To read more about the resources provided visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #israelhamaswar #abilenetx #warresources ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

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

The Optimist

3 days ago

The Optimist
This week on the Optimist Newscast we talk about the end of the Wildcat Football season and the goodbye blessing of Chaplin Cyrus Eaton. #acu #abilenechristianuniversity #acuchaplin #acufootball #acuvstexasam ... See MoreSee Less

Video

View on Facebook
· Share

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

Videos

Optimist Newscast Nov. 28, 2023

Our top stories this week include the Venture Out Market, ASA's Choma Event and ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Nov. 16, 2023
  • Ethnos: Echoes Celebrates Students’ Diverse Cultures
  • Optimist Newscast Nov. 10, 2023

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved