Morales Led Firestorm Ease Past Pioneers For Perfect SAC Record
Plainview, Texas- On Saturday, Arizona Christian scored a touchdown on their first three drives including a 99 yard drive and cruised to a 42-7 win over Wayland Baptist. The victory allowed ACU to finish SAC play 6-0 on the season.
Offensively, the Firestorm average 6.8 yards per play and were spearheaded by Junior Shea Morales passing for three touchdowns and running for another. Freshman Derek Anderson hauled in two touchdown receptions while Senior Jon Cole accounted for more reception yards than the entire WBU team. Junior Aidan Quinn (touchdown) and Sophomore Jaylen Jefferson both averaged 6.7 yards per carry.
Defensively, ACU was locked in again as they held WBU to just 118 passing yards- the fourth time this season that they have kept an opponent under 120 yards passing. The defensive highlights were stopping the Pioneers twice at the ACU one yard line in the second quarter. A fourth and goal rush denied by Junior Jalyn Mitchell and Freshman Maurice Powell and Junior Deon Horton forcing a fumble just before the endzone at the end of another run.
Game Info
- Game score: Arizona Christian – 42, Wayland Baptist – 7
- Records: Arizona Christian- 9-1, 6-0 SAC, Wayland Baptist – 3-4, 2-3 SAC
- NAIA Top 25 Rank: Arizona Christian – 14, Wayland Baptist – not ranked
- Location: Sherwood Memorial Bulldog Stadium, Planview, TX
Offensive Stars
- Morales- 23-33, 311 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, rushing touchdown
- Cole- 9 catches, 154 yards, touchdown
- Zaachary Cullop– 6 catches, 83 yards, touchdown
- Anderson- 4 catches, 68 yards, 2 touchdowns
- Quinn- 11 carries, 74 yards, touchdown
- Jefferson- 7 carries, 47 yards
Defensive Stars
- D’Marcus Jones– 6 tackles, sack
- Stephaun Peters– 6 tackles
- Caleb Ashby– 6 tackles
- Deonsaye Dean– 5 tackles, forced fumble
- Horton- 5 tackles, forced fumble
- Powell- 5 tackles, forced fumble
Inside The Numbers
- Two offensive plays into the game, Deonsaye Dean recorded a strip sack and his brother Dezmon Dean recovered the fumble
- Nine plays later Morales found the endzone from two yards out
- After a punt by WBU, Morales connected on a TD with Anderson from 31 yards out
- Following the Mitchell/Powell goal line stand, ACU got the ball at their one
- Just five plays later, Morales-Cole hooked up for a TD from 42 yards away (their second 42 yard connection of the drive)
- WBU called a run from the ACU 21 and appeared endzone bound before Horton dislodged the ball at the one
- Up 21-0 at the break, ACU scored on their first drive of the second half (Morales-to-Cullop)
- The first play of the fourth quarter saw Quinn reach the endzone
- James Duncan later found Anderson to cap the ACU scoring
- The Pioneers broke up the shutout midway through the fourth
- WBU outgained ACU 167-163 on the ground but the Firestorm held a 529-285 total offensive edge
Thoughts from Coach Bowen
“The Firestorm showed our dominance today… I am so proud of our team. The best record in school history at 9-1, a Sooner Athletic Conference championship, and the trip to the national tournament! From the first kick off our team made it known that we were not going to let the game slip away and we were going to enter the playoffs on a high note. The defense was dominant, the offense was hitting on all phases, and the special teams were executing throughout the entire day. I could not be prouder of this team. Now the fun begins… the national championship tournament!“
Up Next
The Firestorm will find out on Sunday (April 11) at 4:00 pm (Arizona) where they will play their first championship series game. The first round game will be played on April 17.
