The Lions football team got a big win in Dallas at Cowboys Stadium against Abilene Christian, the No. 3 team in the country, Saturday.

The Lions went into the game playing in one of the largest stadiums in the country against a team that is located about 160 miles away from Cowboys Stadium. After an onside kick, the Lions came away with 23-17 victory.

In the closing minutes of the game, the Lions led 23-10 and it looked as if the game was about to be out of reach until ACU forced a fumble on the goal line to keep the game alive.

ACU carried that momentum on a 10 play 80-yard scoring drive that cut the lead to 23-17 with 1:42 left in the fourth quarter. ACU then lined up for an onside kick, and the ball bounced off a Lions player, but UNA recovered the kick and closed out the game.

“We came into Texas and beat the No. 3 team in the country in their own back yard, and missed three field goals and a fumble on the goal-line and we still won the game,” said Head Coach Terry Bowden. “I couldn’t be any happier for the team.”

With the win, the Lions now have a 3-0 record and remain perfect (5-0) against Lone Star Conference opponents.

The Lions got off to a quick start during the game, scoring 16 points in the first quarter and forced two turnovers to give the offense great field position to get those early points in a big game.

“It was huge for us to get off to a big start in this game,” said senior quarterback Lee Chapple. “We haven’t got out to a fast start all year, and to put 16 points on the board in the first quarter was huge for our momentum.”

UNA scored on its first three drives with each one starting off in ACU territory. The Lions first score came off a 45-yard field goal from senior Nathan O’Jibway.

The defense then forced its first of four turnovers with an interception from DeAndre Morgan setting the offense up at the 33-yard line. The Lions capitalized with a touchdown pass from Chapple to Tristan Purifoy for 23 yards, making it 10-0.

The Lions defense again ended a deep drive to the UNA 20-yard line from ACU as Jonathon Byrd picked off a pass and returned it 46 yards to the ACU 39-yard line.

It took the Lions offense just three plays as Antwan Ivey rushed for his first touchdown of the game for nine yards. A missed extra-point from O’Jibway gave the Lions a 16-0 lead with 5:57 left in the first quarter.

ACU finally got on the board in the second quarter with 4:56 left in the half cutting the Lions lead to 16-7. ACU then stopped the Lions on fourth down and added a field goal to make the score 16-10 going into the half.

The third quarter was filled with missed opportunities as Lions had field position through the quarter and left points off the board, including another missed field goal from O’Jibway. The Lions also had a blocked field goal in the quarter as well.

Late in the third quarter, it looked as though ACU was about to go down and grab their first lead of the game before senior linebacker Marcus Dowtin forced a fumble and senior cornerback Janoris Jenkins picked it up and ran 50-yards for the score making it 23-10.

“Our defensive line read the play good and we forced the fumble and all I was thinking was scoop and score,” Jenkins said.

In the fourth quarter, the Lions forced their fourth turnover of the game and drove the ball to the goal line, but a fumble kept the door open. ACU then drove down and scored, but failed to recover the onside kick and the Lions closed the game with a 23-17 win.

Despite giving up 493 yards of total offense, the Lions defense forced four turnovers and held ACU under 27 points since 2009.

“We came together as a defense and in crunch time we stuck together and didn’t fallout,” Jenkins said.

Chapple finished the game completing 22-37 passes with 240 yards and one touchdown.

The Lions are scheduled to play Harding next Saturday for Homecoming with kick-off set for 6 p.m.