ABILENE, Texas — In a thrilling match on Saturday, Maverick McIvor showcased an impressive performance, completing 22 of 31 passes for 306 yards and three touchdown passes as Abilene Christian edged out Southern Utah 28-25.

Isaiah Johnson contributed significantly for Abilene Christian with two rushing touchdowns in the first half, finishing the game with 72 yards on 19 carries. Another key player, Sam Hicks, added 65 rushing yards on 17 attempts. He also caught a 12-yard touchdown pass with less than ten minutes on the clock, further extending Abilene Christian’s lead to 28-10.

Late in the third quarter, Targhee Lambson made his presence felt on the field with a 3-yard touchdown run. He later added a 13-yard rush that brought the score to 28-17 with just over 5 minutes remaining in the game. Abilene Christian quickly moved into Southern Utah’s territory before a pivotal interception by George Ramirez halted their momentum. Ramirez intercepted a pass at the five-yard line and made a remarkable 94-yard return, setting up another 1-yard touchdown run by Lambson, who also converted a two-point attempt, leaving the score at 28-25 with only 4:03 left in the game.

Following this, Abilene Christian struggled offensively, going three-and-out in their next drive. However, Southern Utah handed the Wildcats a second chance as they fumbled a snap, allowing David Oke to recover the ball, effectively sealing the victory for Abilene Christian.

Lambson had an exceptional day on the ground, accumulating 198 yards on 27 carries, which included a standout 76-yard rush that set up his initial touchdown. The scoring opened for Abilene Christian when McIvor connected with Javon Gipson for a 13-yard touchdown pass less than five minutes into the game. Johnson then scored with a 6-yard rush roughly eight minutes later, and a touchdown from the 1-yard line by Johnson gave his team a comfortable 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Southern Utah finally got on the board just before halftime, thanks to Jayden Rogers, who kicked a 42-yard field goal. The match showcased a robust performance by Abilene Christian, improving their record to 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the United Athletic Conference, while Southern Utah fell to 4-5 and 3-2 in the conference.