A lot of offense and a balanced offense led Abilene Christian to a 31-11 win Thursday night over the University of Northern Colorado, spoiling Ed Lamb’s debut as Bears coach in Abilene, Texas.
ACU, a member of the new United Athletic Conference, scored on its first two drives and three of the first four times the Wildcats had the ball, grabbing a 21-3 halftime lead and finishing the game with 493 yards of total offense.
ACU (1-0) moved the ball with balance behind a deep, big and experienced offensive line. All of the Wildcats’ starters on the line were at least 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, and at least four of the ACU O-lineman came to Abilene from Football Bowl Subdivision programs.
The Wildcats had 268 yards rushing and 225 yards passing.
UNC (0-1) scored its points late in both halves. The Bears’ first touchdown of the year came with 7 minutes, 57 seconds left in the game on a 4-yard pass from quarterback Jacob Sirmon to tight end Alec Pell.
Sirmon then connected with receiver Jordan Riles on a point-after conversion pass, capping a 15-play, 85-yard drive consuming 7 minutes, 33 seconds.
Sirmon, officially named the starter earlier this week in his second year with the Bears, was 18-of-32 passing for 106 yards and the touchdown. Redshirt freshman receiver Blake Haggerty had five catches for 30 yards on seven targets.
Junior running back David Afari had 56 yards on 11 carries. Pell had four catches for 27 yards, and Riles had two catches for 27 yards.
UNC had 190 yards of total offense.
UNC got on the board for the first time on a 31-yard field goal by Hunter Green with 28 seconds left in the second quarter.
Down 21-0 after a 12-yard run by ACU’s Jay’Veon Sunday, the UNC field goal came at the end of a 16-play, 61-yard drive over 7 minutes, 44 seconds.
UNC, which hired Lamb in December, plays at home for the first time this season Saturday, Sept. 9 against the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. Game time is 2 p.m. at Nottingham Field.
Incarnate Word is ranked third in a Football Championship Subdivision preseason poll. The Cardinals open their season Saturday at UTEP. Abilene Christian hosts Incarnate Word on Sept. 16.
In setting up Green’s field goal, UNC had some help on the drive from a late-hit penalty by ACU. The penalty on defensive back Patrick Jolly moved the ball to the Wildcats’ 31-yard line.
After three completions by Jacob Sirmon, including a 13-yard reception by receiver Ty Arrington, Green connected for the Bears’ first points.
Wildcats’ quarterback Maverick McIvor was 16-of-25 passing for 219 yards and a touchdown. McIvor completed passes to eight different receivers including a 12-yard touchdown to Rovaughn Banks Jr. on the Wildcats’ opening drive of the game.
Six different ACU players carried the ball led by No. 1 back, junior Jermiah Dobbins with 83 yards on 10 carries.
Redshirt freshman running back Xavier Wishert, who was not among the top two backs on the depth chart for the game, had a rushing touchdown in each half. Sunday scored on a 12-yard run midway through the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 21-0 lead.
Wishert scored on a 2-yard run in the first quarter, and an 18-yard run late in the third.
UNC went 3-and-out on three of its four drives totaling 14 yards before Green’s field goal. Another drive ended after 16 yards on six plays.
The Bears had 76 yards and five first downs in the first half.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
