WICHITA FALLS, Texas - A slight adjustment paid great dividends for No. 18 Abilene Christian in Saturday afternoon's NCAA Division II first-round playoff game at Memorial Stadium.

The Wildcats went to a center return and Dennis Campbell raced 97 yards to return the opening kickoff for a score as ACU held off No. 7 Midwestern State 24-21.

"Teams have been scheming us on our outside returns, but I have to credit the return team," Campbell said. "All I had to do was beat the kicker."

Campbell's return was the lone bright spot of the first half for the Wildcats as the Mustangs were able to move the ball in the opening half particularly in a big second quarter.

"It was the difference in the game," MSU coach Bill Maskill said.

But Zack Eskridge, who finished the game with 298 yards on 23-of-34 passing, used his feet to give MSU a 14-7 halftime lead as the junior quarterback accounting for scoring runs of 25 and 9 yards.

The Wildcats, who were held to 64 total yards in the first half, found a way to move the ball late in the third quarter.

Mitchell Gale hit Edmund Gates for a 16-yard scoring strike with 1:47 to go to cap an 11-play, 81-yard drive and tie the game at 14-14.

Gale then connected with Kendrick Johnson on a 41-yard crossing pattern to give the Wildcats a 21-14 advantage, then ACU linebacker sacked Eskridge and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Wildcats at the MSU 18-yard line.

The Wildcats sacked Eskridge eight times led by Jones and linebacker Kevin Washington, who had two sacks each.

Morgan Lineberry, who hit a pair of 50-yard field goals last week, connected on a 25-yard field goal with 9:57 to go give ACU a 10-point advantage with 9:57 to play.

The Mustangs responded with an 11-point, 98-yard drive capped by an Eskridge-to-Andy Tanner 7-yard scoring connection to cut the ACU advantage to 24-21 with 1:06 to go.

MSU was unable to fall on Lee Scott's ensuing on-side kick allowing the Wildcats to run out the clock.

Senior wide receiver Andy Tanner closed a stellar career with nine receptions for 92 yards and a touchdowns, while senior running back BeeJay Mathis paced the rushing attack with 62 yards on 11 carries.

Abilene Christian advances to face No. 2 Northwest Missouri State next Saturday in Maryville. Kickoff is set for noon.

The Mustangs close the season at 9-3 - with all three losses by just a field goal.