The 2012 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 2012 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Ken Collums, the Wildcats compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, tying for fifth place in the LSC. The team played home games at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas.
Abilene Christian became just third program to have three consecutive 12,000-yard passers after Hawaii and Houston. The Wildcats had also the best punt returning in college football averaging 25.2 yards per return.
Preseason Abilene Christian was ranked No. 10 in the American Football Coaches' Association pre-season poll and No. 13 by Lindy's magazine. 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.
Transfers Will Latu, offensive lineman, transferred from Oklahoma.
Recruiting Abilene Christian signed 13 new players on national signing day
Schedule
Game summaries McMurry
Sources:
In the season, opener Abilene Christian played the NCAA Division II-newcomer and crosstown-rival McMurry Warhawks. It was the first game as head coach for Ken Collums. The wildcats enter the season ranked No. 10 ranked team while McMurry had one of the best offenses in NCAA Division III the previous season.
Defensive end Nick Richardson tied the school record with six sacks in Abilene Christian's first shutout since 2006.
Mitchell Gale completed 19 out of 28 passes for 290 yards and one touchdown. Marcel Threat ran for 88 yards on 14 carries, averaging 6.3 yards per carries, and scored two touchdowns. Taylor Gabriel caught seven passes for 108 yards and one touchdown.
Stats Statistics ACU MCMURRY Points 51 0 Total Plays 68 90 First downs 27 21 First downs from Rushing 11 2 First downs from Passing 13 15 First downs from Penalties 3 4 Total yards 461 301 Rushing yards 165 29 Passing yards 296 289 Rushing plays 39 29 Passing plays 29 61 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20-29-1 38-61-1 Time of possession 30:12 29:48 Average Punt 32 28.3 3rd down conversion 5/10 (50%) 3/19 (16%) 4th down conversion 2/11 (18%) 0/0 Sacks 10 1 Red zone 0-2 8-8 Team Category Player StatisticsAbilene Christian Passing Mitchell Gale 19/28, 290 yards, 1 TD Rushing Marcel Threat 14 carries, 88 yards, 2 TD Receiving Taylor Gabriel 7 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TDMcMurry Passing Jake Mullin 37/59, 288 yards, 0 TD Rushing Chris Simpson 8 carries, 35 yards, 0 TD Receiving Eric Shaffer 7 receptions, 55 yards
Texas A&M–Kingsville
Sources:
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.
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 field 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.
Darr. Cantu-Harkless rann for 70 yards in only 4 carries while catching 4 passes for 36 yards.
Tarleton State
Sources:
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.
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. 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).
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
Sources:
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.
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.
Personnel Coaching staff Abilene Christian Wildcats coachesHead coach Ken Collums 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
Roster 2012 Abilene Christian WildcatsQuarterback 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
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.
Week 3 offensive player of the week: Taylor Gabriel (WR), who had 5 catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns.
Week 3 honorable 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.
References