Fort Worth, TX- Arizona Christian came out ready to play in the season finale on Saturday as they scored on their first defensive and first offensive series in a 63-7 route over Texas Wesleyan.  Defensively, ACU accounted for six sacks and two interceptions.  Offensively, ACU out gained TWU by 400 yards (567-167).

Four plays after the kickoff, Senior Mike Crockett picked off a pass and returned the interception 52 yards to the house.  Senior Derek Brush made his first of nine extra points.  After the Rams (0-10, 0-7 CSFL) turned the ball over on downs, Senior Ryan Esslinger needed just four plays to connect with Junior Isaiah Huston on a 19 yard slant for the touchdown.  Less than seven minutes in, ACU grabbed the 14-0 lead and did not look back.

The next offensive series ended with Brush beginning his punting day with a 50 yard boot (though his long of the afternoon was a 56 yard effort).

Sophomore Mark Wood ran in from 17 yards out for the final score of the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Senior Damario Fair made the score 28-0 with a two yard plunge.

A 12 yard sack by Freshman Marcus Powell was the highlight of one defensive stand.  The next defensive series ended when Senior Jason Whitfield pounced on a fumble recovery.  The offense then marched 44 yards in eight plays capped by Esslinger to Sophomore Alias Sturges for the 35-0 edge.

In the closing seconds of the half, Esslinger called his own number from the six and headed toward the end zone.  But on his way in fumbled the ball and Junior Josh Cronk scooped up the rock and walked into the end zone for six points to give Arizona Christian a 42-0 advantage headed into the locker room.

The Firestorm (7-3, 5-3 CSFL) received the second half kickoff and covered 75 yards in 14 plays and 5:53 of clock time.  Senior Justin Carroll rumbled 32 yards during the drive.  The final pass of Esslinger's career was a 27 yard touchdown strike to Junior Kendrick Murphy.

Esslinger was 19-32 for 338 yards and three touchdowns.

A 70 yard returned punt for a touchdown accounted for the TXWES seven points.

Junior Adam Abbatacola relieved Esslinger and drove the team 75 yards.  A 16 yard pass to Senior Scott Kuhn put the Firestorm at the TWU eight yard line.  Abbatacola then lofted a pass into the back corner of the end zone and Huston snagged it and stayed in bounds for his second touchdown on the day and fourth on the season.

Halfway through the fourth quarter, Carroll busted off a 79 yard touchdown run to cap his career and the scoring.  Carroll concluded his final game with nine carries for 114 yards.

Seniors Jamorien Hill and Mitchell Carpenter topped the team with six tackles.  Senior Joshua Carter (sack), Senior Ricky Bradley, and Powell (two sacks) all made four tackles.  Senior Robert Harding III (48 yard interception) and Junior Zhi'irKane James were in on three tackles.  Seniors Quintin Riley, Bryton Green, and Whitfield all produced a sack as well.

Head Coach Jeff Bowen stated, "It was an impressive win and a nice way to end the season. We thanks the seniors for their efforts and we challenge the underclass men to work to take the program to another level."

Unfortunately, the fourth year of Arizona Christian football goes in the books.  Gentlemen- season well played.