The never-say-die ACU Wildcats did it again Saturday night, and this time, it resulted in the football program’s first NCAA Division I conference championship and berth in the FCS playoffs.

The 14th-ranked Wildcats and 13th-ranked Tarleton State Texans battled for 60 minutes in a game worthy of a conference championship. Fortunately, the Wildcats walked out of Memorial Stadium with a 35-31 win, the United Athletic Conference championship and a berth in the FCS playoffs.

The Wildcats trailed 31-28 with just 1:48 left in the game, but they were not deterred. They did what they’ve done all season: put together a clutch drive when they needed it most. Staring at the end of their dream of a conference championship and a berth in the FCS playoffs, the Wildcats came up with the program’s biggest touchdown drive of its Division I era (since 2013), moving 75 yards in 12 plays and taking up just 1:29.

Aside from stopping the clock three times with clock-killing spikes, Maverick McIvor completed nine of nine passes for 75 yards, including a 24-yard pass to J.J. Henry down to the 1-yard line. On second down, after McIvor killed the clock, he found Sam Hicks in the front of the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown.

Tarleton State got the ball back with 19 seconds left and moved to the ACU 39-yard line before calling timeout with six seconds left to play. On the game’s final play, Tarleton State quarterback Victor Gabalis heaved the ball deep into the north end zone toward a trio of Texan receivers. But ACU defensive back Izaiah Kelley knocked it down, setting off a wild on-field celebration by the Wildcats, and a huge contingent of Wildcat fans assembled in the north end zone stands.

ACU (8-3 overall and 7-1 in the UAC) will close the regular season next Saturday at Stephen F. Austin in a non-conference game. On Sunday, Nov. 24, the Wildcats will learn of their playoff fate. A win next Saturday would give the Wildcats nine wins, which could lead to a home playoff game.

Show your spirit with exclusive ACU championship gear at acu.getugear.com.