ACU finishes season with victory

By TED DUNNAM / Assistant Sports Editor

Mitch Alvarado went Buffalo hunting Saturday and bagged his limit by halftime.

Abilene Christian University's offense, the species thought to be extinct entering the season finale against West Texas A&M, asserted itself early and put a quick end to the woeful Buffaloes by a 26-3 count at Shotwell Stadium.

The victory gave Jack Kiser a winning season (6-4) in his first-year as the ACU head football coach and provided the Wildcats with a 4-3 Lone Star Conference mark.

WTAMU saw its dismal season end at 1-9 and 0-7.

Quarterback Alvarado, an NCAA Division I transfer from Missouri, showed the poise and accuracy on this day that the Wildcats had hoped to see all season. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns, all in a decisive first half.

The Wildcats scored on their first two possessions, driving a stake directly in the Buffaloes' heart. Meanwhile, the ACU defense was a swarming mass in the only two quarters that mattered, limiting West Texas A&M to 26 yards in the first half, including four yards rushing on 20 attempts.

Alvarado's first-half touchdown passes covered 18 yards to tight end Casey Whittle, eight yards to split end Detrick Johnson and 13 yards to tailback Ryan Benn.

Benn also swept left end for a 14-yard touchdown.

The Wildcats led 26-3 at halftime and had no trouble warding off a Buffalo team that seemed to have little fight after the first quarter.

"I finally got something going today," Alvarado said. "I thank God for the way things went today. I didn't feel like I had been utilizing the talents He gave me all year long.

"I didn't feel I had been performing to the best of my ability, but everything clicked today. It was really nice to end the season on a positive note. We've got just about everybody back, and I'm really looking forward to next year."

No one was more relieved to witness the Wildcats punch across scores on their first two possessions than Kiser.

"I was tickeld to see that," the ACU head coach said. "The only problem with that was that our offense was winded. We're so used to going three plays and out."

The target for many of Alvarado's passes on this day was Whittle, who finished with six receptions for 89 yards.

"We decided to shorten the routes and get the passes off quick," Kiser said. "He got open and Mitch hit him."

ACU's first touchdown drive covered 62 yards in nine plays. Alternating tailbacks Sammie Overton and David Bennett did all of the work until ACU reached the Buffalo 19-yard line.

Alvarado then fired a strike to a wide-open Whittle at the 7-yard line and the freshman tight end sprinted to the end zone untouched at 10:10 of the first quarter.

The Wildcat defense then held and forced a 20-yard punt, setting up ACU in ideal field position at the WTAMU 39. The five-play drive included passes of 13 and 15 yards to Whittle before Alvarado threaded an 8-yard pass on a crossing pattern to Johnson for the second Wildcat touchdown.

With Brandon Baker's PAT, ACU led 14-0 at 6:23 of the opening quarter.

The Buffaloes' only points of the game came at 14:11 of the second quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Todd Finney, set up by one of three lost ACU fumbles.

Two possessions later, however, ACU's lead was at 20-3. A nine-play, 66-yard drive culminated with Benn's 14-yard sweep. Alvarado completed passes of nine yards to Johnson, 14 yards to Mike Breckenridge, and 14 yards to Whittle before Benn's nifty jaunt into the end zone.

The now-deflated Buffaloes went three-and-out again after the ensuing kickoff, setting up ACU's final scoring drive of the game.

Alvarado and his receiving corps did all the work in the four-play, 58-yard march.

He completed passes of 13 yards to Breckenridge, 15 yards to Whittle and 17 yards again to Breckenridge before Benn took a swing pass and outraced the Buffalo defense to the corner of the end zone.

The try for two failed on the conversion attempt, but that misfire wasn't going to be important on this day.

"The offense really played well," said defensive back Victor Burke, who had an interception and four tackles. "We all played as hard as we could. The defensive line was great again, and I was proud of the secondary. We really had it all going today."

ACU defensive coordinator Bob Strader again saw his defense do its job. With the exception of a sub-par season-opening performance, the Wildcat defense displayed its typical rock-solid form.

"After our turnovers today, we shut the door in a hurry," Strader said. "The defense really played good all year, and at times they played great. Good players, when they're having fun, will play good football.

"At times we had poor technique. But you can overcome poor technique with enthusiasm and intensity. I told these guys before the game that they were a lot of fun to coach because they showed enthusiasm and had fun playing football."

The win probably did more for Alvarado, though, than any ACU player.

"I went out there focused on having fun instead of putting a lot of pressure on winning," the McKinney native said. "The offensive line did a great job and it felt good to get those quick scores.

"It was a lot of fun. We've got a lot to look forward to next year."