Box Score Goodwell, Okla.- Trailing by 14 in the fourth quarter, Arizona Christian rattled off 21 straight points to pull off the 42-35 comeback win over Oklahoma Panhandle State on Saturday afternoon. Senior Cole Davis scored two of the final three touchdowns and accounted for three touchdowns on the day.
Davis scored a touchdown three different ways- on the ground, through the air, and via kickoff return- to spark the ACU offense. Junior Tyler Duncan topped in passing and Senior Aidan Quinn was the ground game leader.
Junior Jake Farrell was a beast defensively as he produced an ACU single game record 5.5 sacks and game high ten tackles. Arizona Christian notched a team record eight sacks in the game.
Game Info
- Game score: Arizona Christian - 42, Oklahoma Panhandle State - 35
- Records: Arizona Christian- 6-2, 5-2 SAC, Oklahoma Panhandle State - 4-6, 3-5 SAC
- NAIA Top 25 Rank: Arizona Christian - RV, Oklahoma Panhandle State - not ranked
- Location: Anchor D Stadium, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Goodwell, OK
Offensive Stars
- Duncan- 19-35, 216 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 34 rushing yards, rushing TD
- Davis- 44 rushing yards, TD, 97 yards receiving, TD, kickoff return TD
- Quinn- 74 rushing yards, TD
- Jon Cole- 6 catches, 39 receiving yards, TD
- Abiel Lepe- 6-6 extra points, 241 yards punting yards, 377 kickoff yards
Defensive Stars
Inside The Numbers
- After a Lepe punt pinned the Aggies at the two, they marched 98 yards to score the game's first touchdown
- Duncan capped an 11 play drive with a TD toss to Cole to tie the score
- OPSU scored the next two TDs before Quinn found the endzone to cap the first half scoring
- Following another Panhandle TD, Davis busted off a 79 yards kickoff return
- With 95 seconds remaining in the third quarter, OSU punched in another touchdown to grab a 35-21 edge
- But the comeback was on when Davis found paydirt from three yards out
- Facing a fourth and eight defensively, the Firestorm held by forcing an incomplete pass
- Two plays later, Duncan connected with Davis who raced 78 yards to the house for the tie
- Two sacks from Farrell forced a three and out and punt that went just 18 yards
- Needing 35 yards for the game winner, ACU milked off four minutes of clock with eight plays (seven on the ground) before Duncan scampered ten yards for the victory
- A sack by Adan Zapien and a tackle for loss by Jalyn Mitchell highlighted the final defensive stand
Thoughts from Coach Bowen
"We did not play well in the first half… There is no way to sugarcoat that. But our guys were resilient. And then down 14 in the fourth quarter we found a way to rally and scored 21 points to win the game. I am proud of that effort to find a way to get the win. Just find a way! #ToByFor"
Up Next
On Saturday, the Firestorm will head back to Oklahoma but this time to Langston to try and slow No. 14 Langston University. The opening kick is set for 2:00 pm (CST)/ 12:00 pm (AZ).
