ABILENE – Jim George once said, “It’s not how you start that’s important, but how you finish.” That statement rang true Saturday at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium as Sam Houston State overcame a fast start by Abilene Christian to earn a 24-10 victory.

“I thought we played a really good football team that plays really well at home. We respect so much what (Dorrel) does with his program and we knew it was going to be this kind of battle,” SHSU head coach K.C. Keeler said.

“I was disappointed in the outcome and I was disappointed in the way we played offensively,” ACU head coach Adam Dorrel said. “I don’t feel like we executed tonight, and I was disappointed in our energy and enthusiasm in the first half.”

This was a huge win for the Kats as they pulled into a four-way tie for the Southland Conference title after Southeastern Louisiana defeated Central Arkansas earlier Saturday.

“We got after the boys in the locker room at halftime and they knew what we were playing for – we have a chance to win the conference and we have a chance to make the playoffs,” Keeler said.

TALE OF TWO FIRST HALVES

The ACU offense got off to a fast start against a solid SHSU defense as Blair Zepeda hit a 24-yard field goal to give the Wildcats an early lead. The field goal marked the first points the SHSU defense had surrendered in the first half since Oct. 5 against Stephen F. Austin.

ACU then added another touchdown on a 97-yard drive capped by a 14-yard pass from Luke Anthony to Tracy James to give the Wildcats an early 10-0 lead.

“I thought we had a lot of momentum and were able to execute and that’s what’s such a headscratcher,” Dorrel said. “I’ve got to go back and watch the field and figure it out.”

The Bearkats defense did not help themselves in the opening with five personal foul penalties in the first half.

“I was really disappointed. I love the physicality, but you can’t hit them out of bounds, and you can’t hit them late and all those things,” Keeler said. “That’s going to be one of the things that we really stress (this week) because we almost beat ourselves.”

“I was proud of our kids for keeping their composure tonight,” Dorrel said.

TURNOVER CHANGES THE GAME

ACU was threating to score once again following another 90-yard drive when the game to a positive turn for SHSU. A Luke Anthony pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage multiple times before Will Lockett pulled down the ball for an interception at the Kats 10-yard line.

SHSU then drove 90-yards down the field and freshman wide receiver Noah Smith took a handoff on a reverse and found fellow freshman wide receiver Ife Adeyi wide open for a 36-yard touchdown.

“We needed a momentum shift because if they go up 17 (points), I don’t know if we come back from that,” Keeler said. “I always tell the kids that one play can change the game and one game can change the season and we made a play.”

Adeyi would give the Kats their first lead on their next drive with a 57-yard touchdown pass from Eric Schmid.

“He’s (Adeyi) a special player. He’s only played four years of football,” Keeler said. “He and Noah Smith I think can be difference-makers in our program and their both freshman and they both have bright futures.”

The ACU offense stalled after the turnover and was unable to sustain another long drive in the game.

“I don’t feel like our timing ever got back on and I don’t feel like our execution ever got back on,” Dorrel said. “I felt like coming into today that we didn’t have anything to lose and I felt like we were playing on our heels tonight.”

HOME SWEET HOME

Both ACU and SHSU will play at home next Saturday. The Wildcats will host Southeastern Louisiana in their final home game and final conference game of the season at 1 p.m.

The Bearkats return home to begin a two-game homestand to end the regular season when they host Northwestern State at noon.

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