# 2012 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

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
College recruiting information (2012) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight |
| Keith Barnett CB | Converse, Texas | Converse Judson High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Josh Bloom DT | Kingwood, Texas | Kingwood Park High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Tyler Chapa CB | San Antonio, Texas | Warren High School | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Robbie Goldschmidt LB | The Woodlands, Texas | The Woodlands High School | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Chukwuma Oputa LB | Dallas, Texas | Woodrow Wilson High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 230 lb (100 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Parker McKenzie QB | Spring Branch, Texas | Smithson Valley High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Chad Quisenberry TE | Wolfforth, Texas | Frenship High School | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Christian Rodriguez OL | Los Fresnos, Texas | Los Fresnos High School | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 270 lb (120 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Cade Stone QB | North Richland Hills, Texas | Fort Worth Christian High School | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Garrett Langthorp OL | Conroe, Texas | Blinn College | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Melvin Shead DL | Cayuga, Texas | Kilgore College | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Eric Frain CB | Union, New Jersey | Los Angeles Pierce College | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Nick Finney DL | Santa Fe Springs, California | Fullerton College | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 300 lb (140 kg) |
| Star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: |||||||

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | McMurry* | No. 10 | Shotwell StadiumAbilene, TX | | W 51–0 | 11,337 |
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 24 Texas A&M–Kingsville | No. 9 | Shotwell StadiumAbilene, TX (Action Sports Champions Classic) | KRBC-TV | L 13–16 | 7,435 |
| September 15 | 4:00 p.m. | vs. Tarleton State | No. 20 | AT&T StadiumArlington, TX | | W 34–31 | 19,134 |
| September 22 | 6:00 p.m. | at Angelo State | No. 19 | San Angelo StadiumSan Angelo, TX | | L 23–28 | 7,320 |
| September 27 | 6:36 p.m. | at Delta State* | | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | | W 34–28 | 5,123 |
| October 6 | 6:00 p.m. | Eastern New Mexico | | Shotwell StadiumAbilene, TX | | W 59–17 | 3,576 |
| October 13 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 20 West Texas A&M | | Kimbrough Memorial StadiumCanyon, TX | FoxSportsSouthwest.com | L 0–36 | 13,019 |
| October 20 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 12 Midwestern State | | Shotwell StadiumAbilene, TX | | L 31–35 | 7,212 |
| October 27 | 2:00 p.m. | at Texas A&M–Commerce | | Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX | | W 24–17 | 5,224 |
| November 3 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 13 West Alabama* | | Shotwell StadiumAbilene, TX | | W 22–16 | 3,517 |
| November 10 | 7:00 p.m. | at Incarnate Word | | Gayle and Tom Benson StadiumSan Antonio, TX | | W 24–12 | 2,649 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game |||||||||

## Game summaries
### McMurry

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| War Hawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| • Wildcats | 0 | 21 | 23 | 7 | 51 |
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 | Statistics |
| Abilene Christian | Passing | Mitchell Gale | 19/28, 290 yards, 1 TD |
| Abilene Christian | Rushing | Marcel Threat | 14 carries, 88 yards, 2 TD |
| Abilene Christian | Receiving | Taylor Gabriel | 7 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD |
| McMurry | Passing | Jake Mullin | 37/59, 288 yards, 0 TD |
| McMurry | Rushing | Chris Simpson | 8 carries, 35 yards, 0 TD |
| McMurry | Receiving | Eric Shaffer | 7 receptions, 55 yards |

### Texas A&M–Kingsville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Javelinas | 0 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
| Wildcats | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Texans | 14 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 31 |
| • Wildcats | 7 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 34 |
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

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 9 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 23 |
| • Rams | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
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.

## 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.