CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (Interstat) — Brandon Perez drilled a 47-yard field goal as time expired to lift Abilene Christian to a stunning 31-28 victory over Tarleton State in a wild finish at Wildcat Stadium on Saturday.

The Wildcats, who led for nearly the entire game, saw their 14-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate in the final minutes before mounting a last-second drive to secure the win.

Abilene Christian dominated the early stages, building a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. Quarterback Stone Earle connected with tight end Jed Castles on a 2-yard touchdown pass, and running back Rovaughn Banks Jr. broke free for a 40-yard scoring run.

Tarleton State, which entered the game with a perfect 9-0 record across all competitions, struggled to find its footing offensively in the first half. The Texans finally got on the board in the second quarter when quarterback Victor Gabalis hit Peyton Kramer on a 9-yard touchdown pass. A 36-yard field goal from Brad Larson just before halftime cut the Wildcats’ lead to 14-10.

Abilene Christian extended its lead in the third quarter. Banks Jr. plunged in for his second touchdown from 2 yards out, and Earle capped another drive with a 9-yard scoring run, giving the Wildcats a commanding 28-10 advantage heading into the final period.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Texans, who mounted a furious comeback. Gabalis engineered a quick drive, culminating in a 25-yard touchdown strike to Cody Jackson. A successful two-point conversion pass brought Tarleton State within 28-18.

After forcing a Wildcats punt, the Texans drove deep into Abilene Christian territory but stalled, settling for a 34-yard Larson field goal to make it 28-21.

Tarleton State’s defense came up with a crucial stop, and a missed 45-yard field goal attempt by Perez gave the Texans life with under three minutes to play. Gabalis led a rapid, game-tying drive, which was finished by backup quarterback Daniel Greek on a 1-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds remaining. Larson’s extra point tied the game at 28.

The celebration was short-lived for the Texans. Earle quickly moved the Wildcats into field goal range, completing a key 38-yard pass to tight end Bryan Henry to get to the Tarleton State 37. After a few more plays, Perez trotted onto the field and calmly split the uprights from 47 yards as the clock hit zeroes.

Gabalis put up prolific numbers in the loss, completing 25 of 46 passes for 361 yards and two touchdowns. His primary targets were Cody Jackson, who had seven receptions for 134 yards and a score, and Trevon West, who caught six passes for 111 yards. Peyton Kramer added eight catches for 92 yards and a touchdown.

For Abilene Christian, Earle managed the game effectively, completing 16 of 25 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for another score. The Wildcats’ ground game was potent, led by E.J. Wilson’s 105 yards on 10 carries. Rovaughn Banks Jr. added 83 yards and two touchdowns on 10 attempts.

The loss is the first of the season for Tarleton State, which falls to 9-1. Abilene Christian improves to 5-4 with the victory. The Wildcats host Utah Tech next Saturday, while Tarleton State has a bye before hosting North Alabama on Nov. 15.