ACU Downs Prairie View for Eighth Straight Winning Season
ACU Athletics
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Two of the best offensive units in college football lit up the scoreboard Saturday at Blackshear Field as Abilene Christian outlasted Prairie View A&M, 65-45, as the Wildcats finished off the 2013 season by recording their eighth straight winning season.
The win – led by senior quarterback John David Baker's 485 passing yards and senior running back Charcandrick West's four rushing touchdowns and 155 yards on the ground – helped ACU finish its first season as an NCAA Division I FCS program at 6-5. The Wildcats haven't endured a losing season since 2005.
The Wildcats never trailed as Baker got them on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run just 2:46 into the game. After Prairie View A&M got the game tied on a Greg Thurmond touchdown reception, West scored three consecutive touchdowns for the Wildcats on runs of 60, 2 and 3 yards to give ACU a 28-17 lead in the second quarter.
After the Panthers were able to cut the lead to 28-24 late in the first half, the Wildcats drove 78 yards on nine plays to a 13-yard touchdown pass from Baker to DeMarcus Thompson to make it a 35-24 game at the half. The Wildcats scored on their second possession of the second half on a touchdown pass from Baker to Noah Cheshier to push the lead to 42-24.
After Nik Grau's 10th field goal of the season gave the Widlcats a 45-24 lead with 2:14 left in the third quarter, the Panthers weren't able to get closer than 14 points the rest of the way.
ACU football will play in the Southland Conference beginning next season.