For the second time in two years, the Wildcats will host a first round FCS Playoff game. After a commanding 24-0 victory over the University of Northern Arizona in 2024, the team will host Lamar University on Saturday.
The Cardinals enter the round one contest having lost their final two games of the season and ending Southland Conference play with a 5-3 record. The winner of the SLC, Stephen F. Austin University, awaits the winner of the LU vs ACU showdown.
The Wildcats enter the game on a four-game winning streak after going undefeated in the month of November so far. Head Coach Keith Patterson said the team took responsibility for the loss on the road at Southern Utah University which led to the success the team produced to end the regular season.
The loss to the Thunderbirds featured four Wildcat turnovers and a 179-yard, two-touchdown performance from SUU running back Joshua Dye.
“That was a gut wrenching loss,” Patterson said. “I think the open date came at the right time. It allowed us to have to carry that loss for not one week, but two weeks. I think they realized that we cannot allow that to happen again.”
Patterson also said that he saw the team “take matters into their own hands” which led to the 4-0 finish to the year, including a win over the No. 2 team in FCS.
The Wildcats’ 7-1 United Athletic Conference record earned them their second consecutive conference title. The UAC will have two teams representing the conference in the FCS playoffs, with two teams, Austin Peay State University and SUU, barely missing the cut, ending the season in the “first four out” of the tournament.
“I think this conference is one of the top conferences in the country,” Patterson said.
The Wildcats took pride in their defense, ending the year with 12 interceptions and 11 fumbles recovered. In their final regular season game, the team took the ball away four times in the victory over the University of Central Arkansas.
“KP always says the first key to victory is the ball,” Will Shaffer said. “When you’re able to take away the ball on defense and protect it on offense, that creates a lot of problems for the opposing team.”
Shaffer, senior linebacker from Tempe, Arizona, was named UAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. He has recorded 98 total tackles, 42 solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss and one interception, coming at home versus Utah Tech University.
In addition to Shaffer’s defensive dominance at the linebacker position, Rashon Myles Jr., junior from Brownsburg, Indiana, was named a Buck Buchanan Award finalist, given to the FCS Defensive Player of the Year. Myles led the team in tackles with 103, including eight tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Additionally, he leads the country at all levels with five fumble recoveries.
“He’s been consistent all year,” Shaffer said. “He’s on a steady climb. He’s having a breakout year.”
The Cardinals and the Wildcats have not faced off since Sept. 1, 2022, Patterson’s first game and first victory at the helm of the program. The Wildcats have won the last three against LU, though they trail 13-10 all time in the series, dating back to 1953.
LU enters the game scoring 22.67 points per game and allowing 21.75 to their opponents. The offense has utilized two main quarterbacks throughout the season, sophomore Aiden McCown and senior Robert Coleman. The two have combined to throw for 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and just over 1800 yards, with McCown registering eight touchdowns and 1170 yards.
The Cardinals have leaned on a variety of rushers, with eight different players finding the endzone on the ground. Senior running back Xavier Coleman leads the active roster with 526 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
For the Wildcats to secure their second playoff victory at home in the last two years, they will look to force three or more turnovers, protect the ball offensively and score in the red zone.
During the FCS selection show watch party, hosted in the club level of Wildcat Stadium, Patterson said that last year’s team “was just happy to make it” to the FCS playoffs but this year he thinks the team has their goals set higher.
Shaffer agreed but emphasized that Patterson encourages the team to “be where their feet are” and focus on the task at hand.
“We’re just fighting to keep playing great football in the postseason,” Shaffer said. “We just have to take everything one day at a time.”
The first round playoff game on Saturday is set for a noon kickoff at Wildcat Stadium will give the Wildcats a chance to improve to 6-0 at home this season, and 18-4 over the last four years.
