ACU (2-0,0-0) earned a big win Saturday night beating Prairie View A&M (1-1,1-0) in a final score of 45-16.
Coming into Saturday, the Wildcats were coming off of a 31-11 win in week one against Northern Colorado and were looking to keep their momentum going against a Prairie View team who barley squeaked out an overtime win in week one.
The Wildcat offense started off right where they left off from week one with the opening kickoff being taken back 54 yards by sophomore wide receiver Marcayll Jones to set the Wildcats up in great field position. The Wildcats would score quickly from a 24 yard pass from junior quarterback Maverick McIvor to senior wide receiver Waydale Jones to make it 7-0 early in the game.
After a promising start to their opening drive, PVAMU would punt the ball back to the Wildcats pinning them deep in ACU territory.
In the Wildcats second drive, McIvor would find junior wide receiver Blayne Taylor on a crucial third down for a 16 yard gain to get the offense out from their own eight yard line. Just three plays later, McIvor would connect with Taylor again, this time for a huge 75 yard touchdown to put the Cats up two scores.
The first quarter fireworks continued after the ACU defense forced another punt from the Panthers. However, the offense would not be needed this time as redshirt freshman tight end Chidubem Lebechi would block the Panther punt allowing the Wildcats special teams unit to score the third touchdown of the night.
Prairie View would get on the board late in the first quarter to make it 21-7, thanks to some big plays from Panther quarterback, and last week’s SWAC player of the week Trazon Connley.
Back to back stalled drives from both offenses would get the Wildcats the ball back with around 8:45 left in the second quarter.
The offensive drive would once again be led by McIvor, who during the drive, would throw for four completions and 63 yards including a 40 yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Waydale Jones.
After a forced fumble from the Wildcat defense late in the second quarter, ACU would once again move its way down the field to set up sophomore kicker Kyle Ramsey to sink a 55 yard field goal to take it to the half.
The Panthers would start off the second half with the ball and slowly move the ball down the field into the ACU redzone. However, senior defensive back Patrick Jolly would sang the first interception of the year for the Wildcats ending the Prairie View Drive.
However, the Wildcats would wait until their next drive to add on to the lead again coming from another big throw and catch from McIvor to Jones.
The last score of the night for the Wildcats would be one to remember ast the Panthers were driving late in the third a fumble in the ACU redzone would result in an 80 yard scoop-and-score for senior defensive back Aaron Reynolds.
The Panthers would try to make the score a little more reasonable late in the fourth scoring a field goal and later a touchdown on the games final play.
The Wildcats would take the win in a dominating effort from all sides of the ball, beating the Panthers 45-16.
McIvor would be the highlight of the game for the Wildcats as the junior finished the game with only 12 competitions yet threw for 314 yards and four touchdown passes. The Wildcat running backs, who were the difference maker in week one’s win, only rushed for a total of 79 yards led by junior running back Jermiah Dobbins with 43.
Besides the late game scores, the Wildcat defense played with the same energy and mentality they did last week and continue to shine early in the season. A big area of improvement for the Wildcats came with the penalty flags, as ACU was only charged with about half the amount of flags they had in last weeks game.
The Wildcats are back home this Saturday when they take on the 10-ranked Incarnate Word Cardinals at 7 p.m. at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium with the game being streamed live on ESPN+.
Quotes will be added following head coach Keith Patterson’s next press conference.
