2013 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

The 2013 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University in the 2013 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Wildcats played their first transition season of at the FCS level. However, they were not considered a FCS team for scheduling purposes until 2014. They were led by second-year head coach Ken Collums.[1] Home games were played at Shotwell Stadium. This was a transition season for the Wildcats. As a transitioning school from D2 to D1, the Wildcats were ineligible for the FCS Playoffs and the D2 playoffs. They played a mixed schedule of schools from the FBS, FCS, NAIA, and D-II. The Wildcats joined the Southland Conference for football in the 2014 season, and it counted as the 2nd year in a 4-year transition into the Division I level that will make them eligible for the FCS Playoffs in 2017–18.[2] They finished the season 6–5.

2013 Abilene Christian Wildcats football
Conference	Independent
2013 record	6–5
Head coach	Ken Collums (2nd season)
Offensive coordinator	Nathan Young (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Darian Dulin (2nd season)
Home stadium	Shotwell Stadium (Capacity: 15,075)

2013 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Old Dominion			–						8	–	4
Abilene Christian			–						6	–	5
Incarnate Word			–						6	–	5
Monmouth			–						6	–	6
Charlotte			–						5	–	6
Houston Baptist			–						3	–	4
Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word ineligible for FCS playoffs as part of reclassification from Division II Charlotte and Old Dominion ineligible for FCS playoffs as part of FBS transition Houston Baptist ineligible for FCS playoffs due to playing only a partial exhibition schedule

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 pm	Concordia (AL)	Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX	KTES*	W 84–6	6,031
September 7	6:00 pm	McMurry	Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX	KTES*	W 60–17	7,091
September 14	6:00 pm	New Mexico Highlands	Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX	KTES*	W 52–28	7,114
September 21	6:00 pm	at Illinois State	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	REDBIRDHD.TV	L 17–31	11,029
September 28	4:00 pm	vs. Tarleton State	Toyota Stadium Frisco, TX	KTES*	L 34–41 ^2OT	5,500
October 5	2:00 pm	at Pittsburg State	Carnie Smith Stadium Pittsburg, KS	CAPSTV*	L 20–28	10,981
October 12	7:30 pm	at Houston Baptist	BBVA Compass Stadium Houston, TX	CSNH	W 69–12	3,935
October 19	2:00 pm	Incarnate Word	Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX	KTES*	W 40–6	8,119
October 26	7:00 pm	at New Mexico State	Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM	ESPN3	L 29–34	15,628
November 9	2:00 pm	at Incarnate Word	Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium San Antonio, TX	UIW TV	L 31–34	3,517
November 16	1:00 pm	at Prairie View A&M	Edward L. Blackshear Field Prairie View, TX	Prairie View Showcase	W 65–45	3,156

y-* Games aired on a Tape Delay Basis

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Alma mater
Ken Collums	Head coach	Central Arkansas
Darian Dulin	Defensive coordinator	Sam Houston State
Nathan Young	Offensive coordinator	Abilene Christian
Sam Collins	Offensive line	Abilene Christian
Kendrick Holloway	Wide receivers	Abilene Christian
Andrae Rowe	Defensive line	Kansas State
Mark Ribaudo	Linebackers	Arizona
Steven Thrash	Tight ends	Texas Lutheran
Nick Smith	Cornerbacks	Abilene Christian
Source:[3]

Game summaries

Concordia (AL)

Concordia College at Abilene Christian

1 2 3 4 Total Hornets 0 0 6 0 6 • Wildcats 27 34 23 0 84 Date: August 31 Location: Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX Game start: 7:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:05 Game attendance: 6,031 Game weather: 98 °F (37 °C), Sunny, winds SSE @ 7mph Referee: Kevin Hassell TV announcers (KTES): Grant Boone, Lance Fleming, and Matt Sloan Sources:[4]

Scoring summary 1 13:42 ACU Charcan West 22-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 7–0 1 6:53 ACU Jamie Walker 15-yard touchdown reception from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 14–0 1 4:37 ACU Drew Peters 30-yard touchdown reception from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 21–0 1 0:00 ACU Demarcus Thompson 4-yard touchdown reception from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick no good ACU 27–0 2 12:13 ACU Darian Hogg 88-yard touchdown reception from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 34–0 2 8:09 ACU Jamie Walker 7-yard touchdown reception from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 41–0 2 4:29 ACU Demarcus Thompson 34-yard touchdown reception from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 48–0 2 1:26 ACU Darrell Cantu-Harkless 3-yard touchdown rush, Nik Grau kick no good ACU 54–0 2 0:44 ACU Darrell Cantu-Harkless 54-yard touchdown rush, Nik Grau kick good ACU 61–0 3 14:17 ACU Cameron Mayfield intercepted by Tyler Chapa, returned 31-yards for touchdown, Nik Grau kick good ACU 68–0 3 11:30 ACU Darian Hogg 17-yard touchdown reception from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 75–0 3 8:26 ACU Jeremiah Williams 4-yard touchdown rush, Nick Grau kick good ACU 82–0 3 5:43 CONC David Hampton 21-yard touchdown reception from Cameron Mayfield, William Sanders kick blocked ACU 82–6 3 5:43 ACU Jesse Harper returns blocked PAT for 2-points ACU 84–6

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McMurry

McMurry at Abilene Christian

1 2 3 4 Total War Hawks 3 0 14 0 17 • Wildcats 7 25 21 7 60 Date: September 7 Location: Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX Game start: 6:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 2:48 Game attendance: 7,091 Game weather: 92 °F (33 °C), Sunny, winds SE @ 11mph Referee: Ross Smith TV announcers (KTES): Grant Boone, Lance Fleming, and Matt Sloan Sources:[5]

Scoring summary 1 13:42 ACU Jamie Walker 3-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 7–0 1 3:32 MCM Ian McCarthy 23-yard Field Goal ACU 7–3 2 13:52 ACU Charcan West 14-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 14–3 2 8:50 ACU Charcan West 8-yard touchdown run, Thor Woerner run good ACU 22–3 2 4:49 ACU Nik Grau 36-yard Field Goal ACU 25–3 2 0:53 ACU Noah Cheshier 1-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 32–3 3 12:46 MCM Paxton Grayer 29-yard touchdown run, Ian McCarthy kick good ACU 32–10 3 12:42 MCM Jacob Perez fumble recovery for a touchdown, Ian McCarthy kick good ACU 32–17 3 7:01 ACU Charcan West 34-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 39–17 3 4:15 ACU John David Baker 23-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 46–17 3 1:37 ACU Charcan West 7-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 53–17 4 8:45 ACU Noah Cheshier 6-yard touchdown pass from Malcolm Ruben, Nik Grau kick good ACU 60–17

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New Mexico Highlands

New Mexico Highlands at Abilene Christian

1 2 3 4 Total Cowboys 7 0 7 14 28 • Wildcats 10 14 28 0 52 Date: September 14 Location: Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX Game start: 6:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:19 Game attendance: 7,114 Game weather: 89 °F (32 °C), Sunny, winds SE @ 11mph Referee: Steve Hardin TV announcers (KTES): Grant Boone, Lance Fleming, and Matt Sloan Sources:[6]

Scoring summary 1 12:47 ACU Nik Grau 35-yard Field Goal ACU 3–0 1 6:36 ACU Darian Hogg 87-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 10–0 1 0:00 NMHU Michael Harrison 14-yard touchdown pass from Emmanuel Lewis, Zach Tapia kick good ACU 10–7 2 0:35 ACU Vincente Cantu-Harkless 8-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 17–7 2 0:09 ACU Taylor Gabriel 6-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 24–7 3 13:21 ACU Charcan West 1-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 31–7 3 12:37 ACU Nick Fenney 18-yard fumble return for a touchdown, Nik Grau kick good ACU 38–7 3 6:34 NMHU Michael Harrison 18-yard touchdown pass from Emmanuel Lewis, Zach Tapia kick good ACU 38–14 3 6:20 ACU Taylor Gabriel 75-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 45–14 3 0:55 ACU Taylor Gabriel 8-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 52–14 4 10:11 NMHU NaDerris Ward 14-yard fumble return for a touchdown, Zach Tapia kick good ACU 52–21 4 1:16 NMHU Lajuantae Hicks 24-yard touchdown pass from Lance Orender, Zach Tapia kick good ACU 52–28

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Illinois State

Abilene Christian at Illinois State

1 2 3 4 Total Wildcats 0 10 7 0 17 • Red Birds 7 17 0 7 31 Date: September 21 Location: Hancock Stadium Normal, IL Game start: 6:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 2:54 Game attendance: 11,029 Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C), Sunny & clear, winds NW @ 11mph Referee: Kerry Ripley TV announcers (REDBIRDHD.TV): Dick Luedke, Ted Schmitz & Craig Bertsche Sources:

Scoring summary 1 11:26 ILS Collin Keoshian 10-yard touchdown run, Nick Aussieker kick good ILS 7–0 2 14:01 ILS Nick Aussieker 35-yard Field Goal ILS 10–0 2 10:38 ACU Darian Hogg 23-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ILS 10–7 2 3:52 ACU Nik Grau 27-yard Field Goal Tied 10–10 2 1:48 ILS Camero Meredith 19-yard touchdown pass from Blake Winkler, Nick Aussieker kick good ILS 17–10 2 0:00 ILS Anthony Warrum 62-yard punt return for a touchdown, Nick Aussieker kick good ILS 24–10 3 3:26 ACU Darian Hogg 8-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ILS 24–17 4 7:37 ILS Collin Keoshian 3-yard touchdown run, Nick Aussieker kick good ILS 31–17

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Tarleton State

Abilene Christian vs. Tarleton State

1 2 3 4 OT 2OT Total Wildcats 0 10 7 14 3 0 34 • Texans 14 7 7 3 3 7 41 Date: September 28 Location: Toyota Stadium Frisco, TX Game start: 4:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 3:33 Game attendance: 5,500 Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C), Overcast, winds S @ 4mph Referee: C. Castleberry TV announcers (KTES): Grant Boone, Lance Fleming & Matt Sloan Sources:

Scoring summary 1 2:21 TSU Bubba Tandy 26-yard touchdown pass from Jake Fensky, Blake Barnes kick good kick good TSU 7–0 1 1:11 TSU Desmond Jackson 51-yard Interception returned for a touchdown, Blake Barnes kick good TSU 14–0 2 10:55 ACU Nik Grau 36-yard Field Goal TSU 14–3 2 4:25 ACU Jonathan Parker 3-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good TSU 14–10 2 0:31 TSU Jerome Regal 6-yard touchdown run, Blake Barnes kick good TSU 21–10 3 6:00 ACU Charcan West 1-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good TSU 21–17 3 1:49 TSU Jeken Frye 5-yard touchdown pass from Jake Fensky, Blake Barnes kick good TSU 28–17 4 12:57 ACU John David Baker 10-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good TSU 28–24 4 11:39 ACU Charcan West 2-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 31–28 4 0:04 TSU Blake Barnes 29-yard Field Goal Tied 31–31 OT ACU Nik Grau 17-yard Field Goal ACU 34–31 OT TSU Blake Barnes 34-yard Field Goal Tied 34–34 2OT TSU Jerome Regal 10-yard touchdown run, Brandon Barnes kick good TSU 41–34

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Pittsburg State

Abilene Christian at Pittsburg State

1 2 3 4 Total Wildcats 7 7 0 6 20 • Gorillas 7 10 11 0 28 Date: October 5 Location: Carnie Smith Stadium Pittsburg, KS Game start: 2:00 PM CST Elapsed time: 2:52 Game attendance: 10,981 Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C), Overcast, winds NW @ 5mph Referee: Dwight Neibling TV announcers (CAPSTV): Eddie Lomshek, Aaron McConnell & Trent Johnson Sources:

Scoring summary 1 8:52 ACU Tyler Chapa 32-yard Interception returned for a touchdown, Nik Grau kick good kick good ACU 7–0 1 3:51 PSU Jeff Seybold 3-yard touchdown run, Connor Frazell kick good Tied 7–7 2 9:46 PSU Connor Frazell 28-yard Field Goal PSU 10–7 2 4:21 PSU Jeff Seybold 7-yard touchdown run, Connor Frazell kick good PSU 17–7 2 0:11 ACU Taylor Gabriel 3-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good PSU 17–14 3 8:58 PSU Connor Frazell 29-yard Field Goal PSU 20–14 3 6:35 PSU Jeff seybold 8-yard touchdown run, Anthony Abenoja run for 2 PSU 28–14 4 2:31 ACU Darrell Cantu-Harkless 7-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, John David Baker rush failed PSU 28–20

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Houston Baptist

Abilene Christian at Houston Baptist

1 2 3 4 Total • Wildcats 20 21 21 7 69 Huskies 5 7 0 0 12 Date: October 12 Location: BBVA Compass Stadium Houston, TX Game start: 7:37 PM CST Elapsed time: 2:59 Game attendance: 3,935 Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C), Overcast, winds S @ 4mph Referee: Ross Smith TV announcers (CSNH): Brett Dolan, ND Kalu & Bart Enis Sources:

Scoring summary 1 11:22 ACU Darrell Cantu-Harkless 14-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 7–0 1 7:59 HBU Travis Shinn 22-yard Field Goal ACU 7–3 1 4:33 ACU Darrell Cantu-Harkless 1-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 14–3 1 0:21 ACU Taylor Gabriel 9-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Thor Woerner rush fumbled ACU 20–3 1 0:21 HBU Cody Moncure PAT return ACU 20–5 2 10:07 ACU John David Baker 7-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 27–5 2 5:00 HBU Craig Bell 32-yard touchdown run, Travis Shinn kick good ACU 27–12 2 1:16 ACU Noah Cheshier 3-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 34–12 2 0:37 ACU Taylor Gabriel 71-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 41–12 3 12:45 ACU Cade Dtone 5-yard touchdown run, Nik Grau kick good ACU 48–12 3 7:59 ACU Taylor Gabriel 20-yard touchdown pass from John David Baker, Nik Grau kick good ACU 55–12 3 0:51 ACU Adrian Duncan 7-yard touchdown run, Ben Hynds kick good ACU 62–12 4 8:15 ACU Adrian Duncan 2-yard touchdown run, Ben Hynds kick good ACU 69–12

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Incarnate Word

Incarnate Word at Abilene Christian

1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 6 0 0 0 6 • Wildcats 13 17 3 7 40 Date: October 19 Location: Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX Game attendance: 8,119 TV announcers (KTES): Grant Boone, Lance Fleming, and Matt Sloan Sources:

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New Mexico State

Abilene Christian at New Mexico State

1 2 3 4 Total Wildcats 3 19 0 7 29 • Aggies 7 14 0 13 34 Date: October 26 Location: Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM Game start: 6:07 PM MDT Elapsed time: 3:22 Game attendance: 15,628 TV announcers (ESPN3): Jay Sanderson & Danny Knee Sources:

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Incarnate Word

Abilene Christian at Incarnate Word

1 2 3 4 Total Wildcats 0 0 0 0 0 Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 Date: November 9 Location: Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium San Antonio, TX Sources:

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Prairie View A&M

Abilene Christian at Prairie View A&M

1 2 3 4 Total • Wildcats 21 14 10 20 65 Panthers 10 14 7 14 45 Date: November 16 Location: Edward L. Blackshear Field Prairie View, TX Sources:

Broadcasts

All Abilene Christian games were broadcast on KTLT, also known as Sports Radio 98.1 The Ticket, and in Dallas on KBXD as part of the Abilene Christian Wildcats Cumulus radio network.

Audio and video of all home games is being offered live through Stretch Internet via ACU TV. Audio of all road games is also available through ACU TV. Locally Wildcats home games are shown on KTES This TV tape delayed Tuesday nights.

References

1. Waller, Sam (December 27, 2011). "New ACU coach Collums wants to educate players on, off the field". Abilene Reporter. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
2. Richards, Joey (August 20, 2012). "Abilene Christian offered Southland Conference/ Division I membership". Abilene Reporter.
3. "Abilene Christian Men's Football Staff". ACU Athletics.
4. "Concordia Hornets at Abilene Christian Wildcats (August 31, 2013)". Statbroadcast.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
5. "McMurry War Hawks at Abilene Christian Wildcats (September 7, 2013)". Statbroadcast.com. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
6. "New Mexico Highlands Cowboys at Abilene Christian Wildcats (September 14, 2013)". Statbroadcast.com. Retrieved September 14, 2013.