GLENDALE, Ari. – The Louisiana College football team hit a couple of big plays in the search for the upset of nationally-ranked and defending Sooner Athletic Conference champion Arizona Christian, but it wasn't enough for the Wildcats who fell to the #22 Firestorm 35-22 Saturday afternoon at the ACU Football Field.
 
With the defense doing a good job slowing the high-powered Firestorm offense in the first quarter, it was the Wildcats who struck first on a big hitter. Markaylin Milburn took a handoff and burst through the line and into the clear for an 85-yard touchdown one play after LC got the ball back from an ACU punt. That's all the scoring that would occur in the first quarter as the Wildcats took the 7-0 lead to the second quarter.
 
But the Firestorm tied it up early in the second quarter, taking the ball at the start of the period and cashing in just a little more than 90 seconds later on a 14-yard touchdown rush to make it 7-7. ACU took their first lead of the game by taking advantage of a fourth down stop near midfield and driving 46 yards, capped off by a nine-yard scoring rush for a 14-7 Firestorm lead.
 
LC would cut into that deficit before halftime as the Wildcats forced a fumble on a punt return, which Brandon Isaac recovered to set up LC at the ACU 11 with 1:30 left before halftime. The Wildcats would knock on the doorstep of the goal line but ended up taking a Hunter Martensson 22-yard field goal as time expired to cut the deficit to 14-10 as the two teams headed to the halftime break.
 
With the third quarter clock ticking to its conclusion, the Firestorm connected on a 14-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead out to 21-10. The 11-point lead would not last long however as LC took advantage of a 15-yard penalty on the kickoff and went into the bag of tricks as Zion Williams took in a lateral and threw a pass of his own to an open Micah Dunn for a 53-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to five at 21-16.
 
The game had been tightly played through three quarters, but the first five minutes of the fourth quarter proved decisive into the favor of the Firestorm. ACU continued a drive that was in progress at the end of the third quarter, scoring on a two-yard touchdown rush to open the lead to 28-16. On LC's ensuing drive, a third and 22 pass was intercepted and returned 42 yards for the game-breaking touchdown.
 
LC wouldn't go down without a fight however as the Wildcats embarked on a 12-play, 55-yard drive immediately after that score, and on a fourth down play, River Thompson found Canaan Leon on an eight-yard touchdown pass that made the score 35-22 with 5:30 left in the contest.
 
The Wildcats had a chance to get back into the game as Logan Brimmer fell on an ACU fumble to give LC the ball back just 13 seconds later deep in Firestorm territory. LC got to the Firestorm one, but could not cash in on the turnover, ending the Wildcats' comeback hopes with less than two minutes remaining.
 
Markaylin Milburn's 85-yard touchdown scamper helped him lead the way for the LC ground attack as he finished with 141 yards on 16 carries with the score. Devin Briscoe was handed the ball 23 times and gained 56 yards.
 
Zion Williams' one pass was caught for a 53-yard touchdown to give him the most passing yards for LC. James Powell, Jr. went three-for-nine for 16 yards and an interception. River Thompson was one-of-six with that one covering eight yards and into the end zone for a touchdown.
 
Micah Dunn had two catches for 54 yards, including the 53-yard touchdown catch. Glenn White, Canaan Leon, and Jacob Ganote each had a catch with Leon's catch also being a score.
 
Ernest Simon led the LC defense with 12 total tackles, two being behind the line of scrimmage for a loss, as well as a sack. Micah Latin had ten tackles, one for loss. Logan Brimmer and Brandon Isaac each had a fumble recovery while Bennie Clark III picked off the ACU quarterback.
 
The Wildcats (0-4, 0-2 SAC) will come back home trying for their first win against another ranked opponent as #18 Ottawa. Kickoff against the Spirit (2-0, 2-0 SAC) is set for 12:00 P.M. at Wildcat Field.