2012 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

The 2012 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University in the 2012 NCAA Division II football season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC).[1] The Wildcats were led by first year head coach Ken Collums and played their home games at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas.

2012 Abilene Christian Wildcats football
ConferenceLone Star Conference
2012 record7–4 (4–4 LSC)
Head coach
Defensive coordinatorDarian Dulin (1st season)
Captains
Home stadiumShotwell Stadium
(Capacity: 15,057)
2012 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 16 Midwestern State +^  7 –1     9 –2  
No. 4 West Texas A&M +^  7 –1     12 –3  
Tarleton State  5 –3     6 –4  
Texas A&M–Kingsville  5 –3     6 –6  
Abilene Christian  4 –4     7 –4  
Angelo State  4 –4     5 –6  
Eastern New Mexico †  2 –6     3 –7  
Incarnate Word  1 –7     2 –9  
Texas A&M–Commerce  1 –7     1 –9  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
  • † – Eastern New Mexico vacated all three wins.
Rankings from AFCA poll

During the 2012 season, Abilene Christian ended in fifth place in the LSC with 4–4 record and 7–4 overall with a win over No. 13 West Alabama. Abilene Christian became just third program to have three consecutive 12,000-yard passers after Hawaii and Houston.[2] The Wildcats had also the best punt return in college football averaging 25.2 yards per return.[3]

Previous season

The Wildcats finished the 2011 NCAA Division II football season with an 8–3 overall record, and a 7–1 record in Lone Star play to second place. They reached the NCAA Division II playoff where they were defeated by Washburn in the first round. After the season, Christ Thomsen resign Abilene Christian head football coach for an assistant coach position at Arizona State.[4]

Recruiting

Abilene Christian signed 13 new players on national signing day[5]

Pre-season

Abeline Christian were ranked no. 10 in the American Football Coaches' Association pre-season poll and no. 13 by Lindy's magazine.[6][7] The ACU Wildcats were picked to finish 2nd in the conference behind Midwest State.

Mitchell Gale was not only awarded Lone Star Conference pre-season player of the year but also chosen pre-season NCAA DII offensive player of the year by Lindy's. Mitchell Gale and Morgan Lineberry (placekicker) were selected first team All-American and Taylor Gabriel (WR) made the third-team.[8]

Transfers Will Latu (OL) transferred from Oklahoma

Personnel
Abilene Christian Wildcats coaches

Head coach

Assistant coaches

  • Mike Ribaudo – Linebackers coach
  • Darian Dulin – Defensive coordinator and secondary coach
  • Kendrick Holloway – Wide receivers coach
  • Nathan Young – Running backs coach, quarterbacks coach, recruiting coordinator
  • Sam Collins – offensive line coach

[9][10]

2012 Abilene Christian Wildcats

Quarterback

  • 12 Malcom Ruben – Freshman
  • 14 Parker McKenzie – Freshman
  • 15 Mitchell Gale – Senior
  • 17 John David Baker – Junior

Running back

  • 8 Marcel Threat – Sophomore
  • 26 Charcandrik West – Junior
  • 27 Travis Tarver II– Freshman

Wide receiver

  • 1 Cade Stone – Freshman
  • 4 Taylor Gabriel – Junior
  • 6 DeMarcus Thompson – Sophomore
  • 16 Drew Peters – Sophomore
  • 23 Jace Hudson – Freshman
  • 38 Darrel Cantu-Harkless – Junior
  • 47 Darian Hogg – Junior
  • 82 Monte Green-Avery – Freshman
  • 83 Temi Ogunleye – Freshman

Tight End

  • 19 Jonahtan Parker – Sophomore
  • 86 Noah Chesier – Sophomore
  • 87 Zack Agnew – Sophomore
  • 88 Jamie Walker – Freshman
  

Offensive line

  • 58 Reid Ware – Junior
  • 61 Josh Perez – Junior
  • 64 Garrett Langthorp – Junior
  • 66 Ben Kittley – Freshman
  • 70 Blake Spears – Junior
  • 74 Tyler McIntosh – Sophomore
  • 76 Colton Carnes – Sophomore
  • 78 Logan Hoppenrath – Sophomore
  • 79 Maxfield Priestley – Freshman

Defensive line

  • 15 Ryan Smith – Senior
  • 33 Rob Boyd – Sophomore
  • 54 Kolby Rowe – Sophomore
  • 55 Candon Canady – Junior
  • 73 Ashton Thomas – Sophomore
  • 95 Nick Finney – Junior
  • 95 Juan Hull II – Freshman
  • 99 Brandon Dornak – Sophomore

Deep Snapper

  • 40 Brent Schroder – Junior

Kickers

  • 81 Spencer Covey – Senior
  • 85 Morgan Lineberry – Senior
  

Linebacker

  • 2 Chris Summers – Sophomore
  • 5 Nick Richardson – Sophomore
  • 9 Thor Woerner – Junior
  • 14 Jesse Harper – Junior
  • 20 Justin Stephens – Sophomore
  • 22 Elton Crochran – Freshman
  • 36 Cy Wilson – Freshman
  • 41 Blake Rudd – Sophomore
  • 42 David Guinn – Freshman
  • 45 Chuck Oputa – Freshman
  • 46 Torren Davis – Freshman
  • 51 Avery Alegeh – Freshman

Defensive Back

  • 3 Justin Steward – Sophomore
  • 7 L.B. Suggs – Senior
  • 18 Vicente Cantu-Harkless – Sophomore
  • 21 Angel Lopes – Sophomore
  • 24 Eric Frain – Junior
  • 25 Mike Wallage – Senior
  • 29 Tyler Chapa – Freshman
  • 30 Keith Barnett – Sophomore
  • 31 Steven Ford – Senior
  • 32 Lynn Grady – Sophomore
  • 34 Caleb Withrow – Junior
  • 43 Dax Riley – Sophomore

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 16:00 p.m.McMurry*No. 13
W 51–011,337[11]
September 76:00 p.m.No. 24 Texas A&M–KingsvilleNo. 9
  • Shotwell Stadium
  • Abilene, TX (Action Sports Champions Classic)
KRBC-TVL 13–167,435[12]
September 154:00 p.m.vs. Tarleton StateNo. 20
W 34–3119,134[13]
September 226:00 p.m.at Angelo StateNo. 19
L 23–287,320[14]
September 276:36 p.m.at Delta State*
W 34–285,123[15]
October 66:00 p.m.Eastern New Mexico
  • Shotwell Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
W 59–173,576[16]
October 136:00 p.m.at No. 20 West Texas A&M
FoxSportsSouthwest.comL 0–3613,019[17]
October 202:00 p.m.No. 12 Midwestern State
  • Shotwell Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
L 31–357,212[18]
October 272:00 p.m.at Texas A&M–Commerce
W 24–175,224[19]
November 312:00 p.m.No. 13 West Alabama*
  • Shotwell Stadium
  • Abilene, TX
W 22–163,517[20]
November 107:00 p.m.at Incarnate Word
W 24–122,649[21]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

McMurry
McMurry at Abeline Christian
1 234Total
War Hawks 0 000 0
• Wildcats 0 21237 51
  • Date: September 1
  • Location: Shotwell Stadium
    Abilene, TX
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 2:57
  • Game attendance: 11,337
  • Game weather: 96 °F (36 °C), Wind: SSE 10mph, Sunny
  • Referee: Andy Dunkin; Darrell Boyd (Umpire); Joe Stahmer(Linesman); Carlos Owens (Line judge); Jerry Bissett (Back judge); M. Rodriguez (Field judge); Michael Graham (Side judge); Chris Macaluso (Scorer)

To open the season, ACU played the NCAA DII newcomer and cross town rival, McMurry Warhawks. It was the first game as head coach for Ken Collums who enter the season with the No.10 ranked team and one of the best offense in the nation.[23]

It took the Wildcats while to break the ice but middle of the second quarter ACU final reach the end zone and they didn't look back after that. IT turned out to be the most point score for ACU in the opening game since last time the team met in 1971. But it wasn't just the offense that showed up. Nick Richardson (DE) tied the school record with 6 sacks and it was the ACU first shutout since 2006. ACU is now 44-43-4 in first game of the season.[24][25]

Mitchell Gale was 19 out of 28 with 290 yards and one touchdown. Marcel Threat ran for 88 yards in 14 carries averaging 6.3 yards per carries and two touchdowns. Taylor Gabriel did catch 7 balls for 108 yards and one touchdown.

Texas A&M-Kingsville
Texas A&M-Kingsville at Abilene Christian
1 234Total
• Javelinas 0 1033 16
Wildcats 6 007 13
  • Date: September 8
  • Location: Shotwell Stadium
    Abilene, TX
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:13
  • Game attendance: 7,435
  • Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C), Wind: NNE 14mph, Mostly Sunny
  • Referee: Dwayne McKee; Stephen Borgman (Umpire); Brad Morrow (Linesman); Edgar Reed (Line judge); Keith Schoby (Back judge); Charles Colston (Field judge); Cory Hord (Side judge); Chris Macaluso (Scorer)
  • Television network: KRBC-TV

Both team enter the game ranked, ACU 9th and Texas A&M-Kingsville 24th, and with 1–0 record. ACU had won 8 straight against Javelinas. The Wildcats were without starting outside linebacker Chris Summers who suffered a right knee injury against McMurry and was out for the season.[27]

Mitchell Gale arguably had his worst game in his college career with only 13 completed passes out of 31 for only 137 yards and his 23-game streak with a least one touchdown throw was snapped. A touchdown and three filed goals was enough for Texas A&M-Kingsville to come away from Shotwell Stadium with a victory. This was the first time the Wildcats lost a home game in the regular season since 2009.[28][29]

Darr. Cantu-Harkless rann for 70 yards in only 4 carries while catching 4 passes for 36 yards.[30]

Tarleton State
Tarleton State vs Abilene Christian
1 234Total
Texans 14 6011 31
• Wildcats 7 31410 34
  • Date: September 15
  • Location: Cowboys Stadium
    Arlington, TX
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:03
  • Game attendance: 19,134
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), Wind: None, Indoors
  • Referee: Dan Rankin; Erick Chapman (Umpire); Brad Morrow (Linesman); Eric Camouche (Line judge); Matt Horn (Back judge); Rory Bernard (Field judge); Jesse Mendoza (Side judge); Daniel Young (Scorer)

ACU had won six of the last eight meetings between the teams. The Wildcats enter the game 0–1 in the conference and 1-1 overall while Tarleton was still unbeaten after a win on opening day against Midwest State.[32]

Despite being down 10 at half, the Wildcats clawed themselves back into the game and were able to take the lead late in the third quarter thanks to some great puntreturns and kept it for the rest of the game.[33] ACU became only fourth team from the state of Texas to have won both in the Cowboys Stadium and the Cotton bowl. ACU and Gale have the most passing yards of any college teams and players in the Cowboys Stadium and Taylor Gabriel is the leading college wide receiver in the stadium in points (24).[34]

Mitchell Gale was 27 out of 42 for 279 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mitchell Gale rushed for 38 yards in 11 carries and Darian Hogg did catch 8 balls for 67 yards.

Angelo State
Abilene Christian at Angelo State
1 234Total
Wildcats 9 0014 23
• Rams 7 777 28
  • Date: September 22
  • Location: San Angelo Stadium
    San Angelo, TX
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:10
  • Game attendance: 7,320
  • Game weather: 93 °F (34 °C), Wind: SE 5, Clear skies
  • Referee: Dwayne Mckee; Stephen Borgman (Umpire); Brad Morrow (Linesman); Cody Hord (Line judge); Matt Horn (Back judge); Rory Bernard (Field judge); Jesse Mendoza (Side judge); ASU Athletics (Scorer)

The first true road trip waited No.19 ACU (2-1) when they visited Angelo State in San Angelo, Texas. ACU had won 9 out 10 last meetings against the Rams.[36]

Abilene Christian was held to only 9 rushing yards the whole game while giving up 7 sacks in the 23–28 loss to Angelo State.[37]

Weekly awards

Week 1 defensive player of the week: Nick Richardson. He had six sacks against McMurry.

Week 1 honorably mention: Mitchell Gale completed 68 percent of his passes for 290 yards.[38]

Week 3 offensive player of the week: Taylor Gabriel (WR) who had 5 catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns.

Week 3 honorably mention: L.B. Suggs tipped the ball that ended in the first half preventing Tarleton State being more than 10 points up at the half. He had also a game high 11 tackles.[39]

References
  1. "Wildcats announce tough 2012 football schedule".
  2. "The Scoop on Stats – Week 11". Football Scoop.
  3. "The Scoop on Stats: Best of the Best (Special Teams and Wrap Up)". Football Scoop.
  4. "Thomsen headed to Arizona State".
  5. "Wildcats nab 13 players on national signing day".
  6. "Wildcats to begin season ranked No. 10 in D2 by AFCA".
  7. "Gale named pre-season MVP by magazine; Wildcats ranked No. 13".
  8. "Sports Roundup". ACU Today Fall 2012: 64. Dec 12, 2012.
  9. "Collums revamps defensive staff".
  10. "Sunday January 8, 2012". Football Scoop.
  11. "McMurry vs Abilene Christian (Sep 01, 2012)".
  12. "Texas A&M-Kingsville vs Abilene Christian (Sep 08, 2012)".
  13. "TARLETON vs Abilene Christian (Sep 15, 2012)".
  14. "Abilene Christian vs Angelo State (Sep 22, 2012)".
  15. "Abilene Christian vs Delta State Univ. (Sep 27, 2012)".
  16. "Eastern New Mexico vs Abilene Christian (Oct 06, 2012)".
  17. "Abilene Christian vs West Texas A&M (Oct 13, 2012)".
  18. "Midwestern State vs Abilene Christian (Oct 20, 2012)".
  19. "Abilene Christian vs A&M-Commerce (Oct 27, 2012)".
  20. "West Alabama vs Abilene Christian (Nov 03, 2012)".
  21. "Abilene Christian vs Incarnate Word (Nov 10, 2012)".
  22. "McMurry vs Abilene Christian (Sep 01, 2012)". Lone Star Conference.
  23. "No. 10 Wildcats ready to get 2012 season underway".
  24. "LSC Football Weekly Release (Week 1)". September 4, 2012.
  25. "Richardson's 6 sacks lead Wildcats to 51-0 win over McMurry".
  26. "Texas A&M-Kingsville vs Abilene Christian (Sep 08, 2012)". Lone Star Conference.
  27. "Wildcats, Javelinas set to meet for last time as LSC opponents". ACU sports.
  28. "#24 Javelinas shut down #9 ACU to take 16-13 win at Shotwell". ACU Sport.
  29. "2012 Football Weekly Releases. Week 2". Lone Star Conference.
  30. "Texas A&M-Kingsville vs Abilene Christian (Sep 08, 2012)". Lone Star Conference.
  31. "Tarleton State vs Abilene Christian (Sep 15, 2012)". Lone Star Conference.
  32. "Wildcats will have to re-group after loss to Kingsville; Texans up next".
  33. "No. 20 Wildcats storm back in second half to top Tarleton State, 34-31".
  34. "2012 Football Weekly Releases,, Week 3". Lone Star Conference.
  35. "Abilene Christian vs Angelo State (Sep 22, 2012)". Lone Star Conference.
  36. "#19 Wildcats, Rams set to tangle in key LSC contest in San Angelo".
  37. "2012 Football Weekly Releases. Week 4".
  38. "2012 Football Weekly Releases". Lone Star Conference.
  39. "2012 Football Weekly Releases,, Week 3". Lone Star Conference.
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