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No. 3 Abilene Christian rolls past Rams 51-7
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ABILENE - Billy Malone threw for 319 yards and five touchdowns, including four to Johnny Knox, as the No. 3-ranked Abilene Christian University Wildcats cruised past the Angelo State University Rams 51-7 in a Lone Star Conference South Division game Saturday at Shotwell Stadium.
Knox, who set ACU and LSC records with 17 touchdowns last season, tied ACU and LSC single-game records with his four touchdowns. The senior receiver had scoring catches of 59, 60, 47 and 29 yards. Knox also set a school single-game record with 232 receiving yards overall on six receptions.
Malone, who completed 13 of 23 passes, also threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kendrick Holloway. The senior quarterback threw one interception.
ACU running back Bernard Scott ran for 119 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. The senior has rushed for 100 yards or more in 11 consecutive games, dating back to last season.
Overall, ACU amassed 478 yards against the No. 1 defense in the LSC.
The Wildcats also have scored 40 or more points in 11 consecutive games. ACU has scored 50 or more points in its past four games.
Matt Adams kicked a 39-yard field goal, and Quintin Wilson returned an interception 56 yards for another ACU score. The ACU defense has scored in five consecutive games and has seven touchdowns in that span.
The Wildcats (6-0 overall, 5-0 LSC, 2-0 LSC South) held the Rams (3-4, 3-2, 1-2) to 252 total yards. ACU also forced six turnovers, including five interceptions, and the Wildcats blocked a field goal.
The victory sets up an LSC South showdown between two of the top-ranked teams in the nation. ACU plays No. 4 West Texas A&M (7-0) at 6 p.m. Saturday in Canyon.
Malone threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, as the Wildcats rolled to a 31-7 lead at the break.
On just the third play from scrimmage to start the game, Malone found Knox wide open over the middle for a 59-yard touchdown pass.
Then with 2:24 left in the opening quarter, he hooked up with Knox again for a 60-yard touchdown pass.
Drew Cuffee, who had two interceptions on the night, picked off a Will Mezger pass at the ACU 30 and returned it to the ACU 47. That set up a nine-play, 53-yard touchdown drive. Scott capped it with a 1-yard touchdown run.
On the very next play from scrimmage, Daniel Thomas ripped off an 87-yard touchdown run. That made it 21-7 with 9:12 left in the half.
Holloway returned the ensuing kickoff 29 yards, down to the Rams' 27-yard line. The Wildcats settled for a 39-yard field goal by Adams.
The Wildcats wrapped up the half with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Malone to Holloway with 45 seconds remaining.
The Wildcats almost had more. Willis Hogan picked off a Michael Cochran pass at the Rams' 41, and it appeared he would get into the end zone. But Hogan fumbled the ball inside the 10, and the ball rolled out of the end zone for a touchback - giving the Rams the ball at their own 20.
But the defense finally got its touchdown, as Wilson returned a pick 56 yards with 8:11 left in the third quarter.
Malone finished the quarter by throwing his final two TD passes to Knox, the last with 55 seconds left in the third.
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