ACU builds a 17-0 lead, then grinds out the clock to beat Central Arkansas 20-14
The Wildcats converted 10 of 14 third downs and held the ball for more than 36 minutes.
SchoolsAbilene Christian beat Central Arkansas 20-14 on Saturday night, Oct. 10, at Wildcat Stadium, moving to 2-0 in United Athletic Conference play and 3-4 overall.
The Wildcats were up 17-0 at halftime. Brandon Perez kicked a 26-yard field goal to finish an 18-play opening drive, quarterback Tucker Parks ran in a 2-yard score after a Santana Miller interception, and Parks found Dallas Dudley for a 10-yard touchdown before the break. It was the second straight week ACU kept an opponent off the board in the first half.
Central Arkansas made it close after halftime with two long touchdown runs, the second from 46 yards out, to pull within six with 8:11 left. Perez added a 34-yard field goal in between, and linebacker Boone Morris recovered a Bears fumble in the fourth quarter.
The Bears never got the ball back. ACU ran out the final 8:11 on a 15-play drive, extending it with several third-down conversions. The Wildcats finished 10 of 14 on third down and had the ball for 36:23, holding Central Arkansas to 47 offensive plays.
The win was ACU's 10th straight home conference victory and its third straight over Central Arkansas. Attendance was 7,466.
