The ACU Wildcats have moved to 7-0 with a 54-17 beat down of the University of Incarnate Word in the first ever match-up with the Cardinals for ACU.
Mitchell Gale had another monster night as he continues to dominate opponents. Gale went 17-26 for 379 yards and five touchdowns. He did throw his first interception on the season when a pass intended for Taylor Gabriel bounced off of Gabriel’s hands and was picked off by the Cardinals.
“I thought Mitchell did another nice job tonight,” said ACU head coach Chris Thomsen.
Edmund Gates had another 100 yards in receiving making this his third straight 100-yard effort. Gates needed just three catches to pull in 121 yards and two scores, two of those receptions went for 40-plus yards.
“I thought we did pretty well in all three phases tonight,” said Thomsen.
ACU couldn’t get anything going on their opening drive of the game as the UIW defense came out fired up.
After forcing a three and out by the Cardinals the Wildcats were determined to get points on the board. It took just two plays to put them selves in great field position as Mitchell Gale found Edmund Gates for a 47-yard reception, to set the Wildcats up at the Cardinals’ one-yard line. Darryl Richardson would punch it in from there and the Wildcats were up 7-0.
The Cardinals could get nothing going on their next drive as the Wildcats brought huge pressure with Aston Whiteside and Fred Thompson. It would take Incarnate Word until the beginning of the second quarter to move the ball into ACU territory.
Towards the end of the first quarter Incarnate Word was trying to put something together, and Eric Massoni found Andrew Mocio who was then leveled by LB Suggs. Eric Edwards picked up the ball and rumbled into the end zone for another ACU defensive touchdown.
“I actually thought it was incomplete when I hit him,” said safety LB Suggs. “Then I saw Eric Edwards pick it up and score.”
With the Wildcats already leading 24-0 Mitchell Gale and ACU stepped back out on the field. But the drive did not go as planned as Mitchell Gale threw his first interception of the season thanks to a dropped pass by Taylor Gabriel.
Incarnate made good use of the solid field position given to them by the Gale interception and took just three plays for Eric Massoni to find Donald Giles in the end zone, Cardinals pull the score to 24-7.
The Wildcats seemed to be a bit off on their next drive. They drove down to the Cardinals four-yard line, but failed to punch it in. Morgan Lineberry missed the field goal attempt to leave the Wildcats empty on the drive.
After another great defensive stand by the Wildcats Mitchell Gale righted the ACU offensive ship and found Charcandrick West on a screen pass and West took it 67 yards for another Wildcat touchdown.
ACU went into the half up 37-7 and it got no better for the Cardinals in the second half.
LB Suggs led the Wildcats in tackles again for the second straight week with nine.
