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HOUSTON –Abilene Christian piled up 589 yards of total offense, using a balanced attack with 306 passing yards and 283 rushing yards to down HBU, 69-12, in the matchup of future Southland Conference foes in front of a crowd of 3,935 Saturday night at BBVA Compass Stadium.
 
HBU running back Craig Bell Jr. had 12 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown, while B.J. Kelly had 46 yards on 11 carries for the Huskies (2-2). Quarterback Ka'Darius Baker completed 15-of-22 passes for 80 yards and had one interception. Tight end Kenneth Bibbins made six catches for 35 yards.
 
Taylor Gabriel had seven catches for 174 yards and three touchdowns for ACU (4-3). Quarterback John David Baker completed 16-of-20 passes for 273 yards and four touchdowns. Adrian Duncan led the Wildcats on the ground, gaining 82 yards on 13 carries for two scores, while Darrell Cantu-Harkless had 62 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
 
After ACU took the opening kickoff and returned it to the 34, the Wildcats churned out 62 of their 66 yards on the opening drive. Cantu-Harkless took it in from 14 yards out to give ACU a 7-0 lead with 11:22 left in the first quarter.
 
HBU answered back on their first possession with Kelly running for 30 yards on the Huskies' first play of the game. Baker completed 5-of-6 passes on the drive, which stalled out at the 5-yard line, but Shinn knocked through a 22-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 with 7:59 remaining in the opening frame.
 
The Wildcats marched down the field on the ensuing possession, with Cantu-Harkless capping off the drive again with a 1-yard run to put ACU ahead 14-3 with 4:39 to go. When the Huskies got the ball back, Ka'Darius Baker overthrew Lazard and it was intercepted by Justin Stewart, who returned it 31 yards to the HBU 36. Four plays later John David Baker hit Gabriel for a 9-yard touchdown. On the point after, ACU went for two, but it was fumbled, scooped up by Moncure and returned 98 yards to give HBU two points instead and make the score 20-5 with 21 seconds left in the quarter.
 
The Huskies punted from deep in their own territory, and ACU took over at the HBU 33 after a personal foul penalty on the play. John David Baker scored on a 7-yard quarterback keeper around the left side and the Wildcats took a 27-5 lead with 10:07 remaining in the half.
 
Bell scored on a 32-yard run after breaking a tackle at the line of scrimmage, then outrunning the defense the rest of the way as the Huskies cut the score to 27-12 with 5:00 left on the clock.
 
ACU got the ball back and drove straight down the field with an 85-yard drive, which was completed by Noah Cheshier's 3-yard touchdown reception from John David Baker as the Wildcats led 34-12 with 1:16 to go. The Wildcats forced a three-and-out, then John David Baker hit Gabriel for a 71-yard touchdown strike that put ACU up, 41-12 at halftime.
 
The Huskies received the ball in the second half and Larry Day gained 25 yards on the first play, but fumbled, giving the Wildcats the ball back. Cade Stone scored on a 5-yard touchdown three plays later to put ACU ahead, 48-12, with 12:45 left. Gabriel's 20-yard touchdown catch with 7:59 on the clock put the Wildcats up, 55-12. Adrian Duncan ran it in from seven yards out as the Wildcats stretched their lead to 62-12 with 51 seconds left in the third.
 
In the fourth quarter, Duncan scored again on a 2-yard run as ACU extended the advantage to 69-12 with 8:15 left.
 
The Huskies return to action when they travel to face another future SLC opponent, Incarnate Word, Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. in San Antonio.