ACU (4-3, 2-1) won its second straight game on Saturday after taking down Stephen F. Austin (3-5, 0-3) in a final of 34-27.
The Wildcats came into Saturday looking to keep their momentum rolling after taking down North Alabama last weekend for the team’s first conference win. The Lumberjacks were coming in following back-to-back losses and looking to turn things around on Homecoming.
SFA started off with the ball to begin the game, and a long first drive resulted in a Lumberjack touchdown. On ACU’s first drive, the Wildcats were able to move the ball down the field but ultimately would have to settle for a field goal from sophomore kicker Kyle Ramsey.
Two short drives from both offenses led to back-to-back punts, but late into the first quarter, senior defensive back Patrick Jolly would grab his fourth interception of the year to get the ball back for the Wildcat offense.
A series of wild events would happen to begin the second quarter after on a fourth down punt, sophomore punter Grant Nickel would fumble the ball and be forced to run giving the ball to SFA in prime field possession. But on the first play of the drive, SFA quarterback Preston Weeks would throw his second interception of the game, this time to junior safety Elijah Moffett.
The Wildcats would capitalize immediately as sophomore running back Jay’Veon Sunday would rush one up the middle and take it to the house for an 82-yard touchdown to give the Wildcats the lead 10-7.
The SFA offense would get back out and even the game up at 10 on a short 21-yard field goal. The Wildcats would respond with a field goal of their own with a 40-yard kick from Ramsey, who has still yet to miss a kick this season.
With about 90 seconds remaining in the half, SFA would connect on a big 65-yard touchdown to retake the lead headed into the second half.
In their first drive of the second half, a big throw and catch from junior quarterback Maverick McIvor to redshirt freshman tight end Hut Graham, would set up sophomore running back Rovaugn Banks Jr. to run it in for a 14-yard touchdown giving the lead back to the Wildcats 20-17.
The Lumberjacks answered quickly with a 44-yard run after some big broken tackles by the SFA running back Jerrell Wimbley.
Back-to-back punts would get the ball back to ACU midway through the third quarter and the Wildcats would string together a solid drive which ended in a six-yard touchdown pass from McIvor to sophomore wide receiver Cooper McCasland.
With the Wildcats ahead 27-24, the ACU defense would come up big on the next possession forcing a fumble from the Lumberjacks and getting the ball back at the SFA 36-yard line. But on the first play of the offensive drive, the Lumberjacks would get the ball right back off of a pick from Graham.
Going into the fourth quarter with a three-point lead, the Wildcats were stalled on their first offensive drive of the quarter and the Lumberjacks would put another field goal on the board to tie up the game at 27 with 11 minutes remaining.
A run-heavy drive from the Wildcats would result in a go-ahead touchdown pass from McIvor to junior wide receiver Blayne Taylor to put the Wildcats up 34-27 with 6:20 remaining in the game.
The defense would come up huge and grab two fourth-down stops to close out the game for the Wildcats and give them their second conference win of the season.
McIvor finished with 140 yards on 13 for 25 passing and two TDs and 45 yards on the ground. Sunday ran for 150 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown and Banks had 69 yards off of 13 carries with a touchdown as well.
The Wildcats are back on the road this week when they take on Southern Utah at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Eccles Coliseum with the game streaming live on ESPN+.
