Box Score Waxahachie, TX- After surrendering a game tying touchdown with under a minute to play, Arizona Christian marched down the field and Nestor Higuera converted the game winning field goal as time expired. The win locked up the Sooner Athletic Conference Championship for the Firestorm.
Junior Shea Morales led the offensive attack with 257 passing yards and a touchdown. Junior Aidan Quinn found the end zone twice on the ground.
Senior Clay Branton III topped the team in tackles while adding a pass break up. Senior Jacob Hernandez was right behind with five tackles. Sophomore Mitchel Jackson notched a sack.
Game Info
- Game score: Arizona Christian - 23, SAGU - 20
- Records: Arizona Christian- 8-1, 5-0 SAC, SAGU - 3-2, 2-1 SAC
- NAIA Top 25 Rank: Arizona Christian - 16, SAGU - receiving votes
- Location: Lumpkins Stadium, Waxahachie, TX
Offensive Stars
- Morales- 24-38, 257 passing yards, touchdown
- Jon Cole- 7 catches, 111 yards
- Sid Turnbull-Frazier- 7 catches, 54 yards, touchdown
- Quinn- 12 carries, 38 yards. 2 touchdowns, 3 catches, 20 yards
- Higuera, 2-3 on PATs, 1-2 on field goals including 46 yard game winner
Defensive Stars
Inside The Numbers
- The Lions marched down the field on their opening drive for a touchdown
- ACU scored early in the second quarter when Quinn found the end zone from 19 yards out
- Morales and Turnbull-Frazier connected from 12 yards out for a 13-7 lead (extra point missed)
- With time expiring in the first half, Higuera had a field goal blocked
- SAGU made a field goal before Quinn scored his second touchdown
- A second field goal from SAGU made the score 20-13
- With just 39 seconds to play, the Lions scored the game tying touchdown
- But the Firestorm used two rushes, two completions, and a penalty on SAGU to set up Higuera with four seconds remaining
- Snapper Nathan Peterson, holder Tucker, and Higuera were all on target to seal the win and SAC championships
- For the Firestorm, Saturday marks their third conference championship in the last six years
Thoughts from Coach Bowen
"What an amazing game for the Firestorm typified our whole entire season, no quit attitude, trust in each other, and playing at the highest possible level. And with this amazing win we finish as SAC champs. We want to make sure we finish up at Wayland Baptist on a high note, and then get ready for the national championship tournament- the first time in school history! I am so proud of our guys, players and coaches!"
Up Next
After a bye next week, Arizona Christian will head to Plainview, TX, to close out the regular season against Wayland Baptist on April 10. Kick-off is set for 2:00 pm (Central)/12:00 pm (Arizona).
