Photo by: Ben Solomon
ACU Football Game Notes (vs. Stephen F. Austin)
10/19/2020 3:02:00 PM | Football
Abilene Christian (0-2) Football Game Notes
vs. Stephen F. Austin (2-3)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020
Location: Arlington, Texas (Globe Life Field)
Tickets: Rangers.com/Football
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. CT
Watch: ESPN3 (John Liddle, Shea Walker, Madi Morris)
Listen: 98.1 FM - The Ticket
Live Stats: SidearmStats
ADAM DORREL PRESS CONFERENCE
JACKED TO BE BACK
- Abilene Christian resumes its 2020 fall season Oct. 24 vs. Stephen F. Austin following last Saturday’s cancellation of the Wildcats’ homecoming game vs. West Texas A&M. This was ACU’s first fall without a Homecoming Game since 1945 (World War II).
- ACU’s game in the Metroplex is its first neutral-site game since 2014 when the Wildcats defeated Central Arkansas, 52-35, at Plano’s Clark Stadium. ACU also played at the Cotton Bowl in 2009 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce (W, 20-14) and in back-to-back years at AT&T Stadium. The Wildcats lost 23-17 to North Alabama in 2011 at the Dallas Cowboys’ home field, but edged Tarleton State, 34-31, the following year. In 2013, Tarleton State beat the Wildcats, 41-34 in overtime at Frisco’s Toyota Stadium.
- ACU leads its all-time series with SFA, 11-9, following last October’s double-overtime thriller won by the Wildcats, 31-24. The two teams played for 13 consecutive seasons from 1973 to 1985, and once again in 1999, before resuming their annual series when ACU joined the Southland Conference in 2014. Each side has three wins against the other in Southland competition.
We regret for our fans that we have to reschedule the game, but this was not unexpected. We knew we might have a few challenges when we decided to play this fall. With some of our student-athletes testing positive for COVID-19, we know it’s in everyone’s best interest. This shows our testing protocols are working as they should.ACU president Dr. Phil Schubert
PRAYING FOR SEMA’J
- Abilene Christian University football player Sema’J Davis was involved in a traffic accident on Thursday, Oct. 8 in Abilene less than a mile from campus when the vehicle he was driving was struck by another car. He was airlifted from Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Our prayers are with his family, friends, the ACU athletic department and the entire ACU community at this time.
- A link to the Davis family's GoFundMe.com page can be found here.
- Sema’j is still in critical condition as of Oct. 19, but he is remaining stable and is making daily progressions. He underwent a successful surgery to repair the broken femur.
- The family posted this update on Oct. 21. “Not one day without positive progressions. Praise the Lord! Minute by minute, moment by moment, Jesus is showing himself strong in Sema'j. It's a Good Day for a Miracle. Only Believe!”
- The Davis family is feeling the power of the prayers being said for their family and there are no words to express how deeply appreciative they are for all of the love and support they are receiving during this time.
Sema'J Davis is congratulated by teammate T.J. Tumbleson during a 2019 game.
WEST POINT BRIEFING
- Of Army’s first four opponents this season, ACU had the most rushing yards (86), passing yards (302), passing touchdowns (3) and tackles (86).
- This was the Wildcats’ first game without a turnover since the Oct. 19, 2019 game vs. Stephen F. Austin.
- ACU has scored in 25 consecutive games.
- Army - a rushing team - completed 4-of-7 passes for 52 yards, all of which are opponent season lows during the Wildcats’ DI era (2013-present). However, in 2007, Easter New Mexico attempted only one pass vs. the Wildcats (incomplete), while rushing the ball 67 times in a 45-20 loss to ACU. By comparison, Army ran the ball 60 times Saturday.
- Kobe Clark enjoyed the first two touchdown game of his career in his 2020 season debut. He is the first Wildcat with two TD receptions in a single game since 2018. That year, two TD games were claimed by Josh Fink (Angelo State), Tracy James (Northwestern State) and Torin Justice (Southeastern Louisiana).
- Peyton Mansell, whose parents Mike and Kim were student-athletes at West Point, completed 23-of-37 passes for 279 and three touchdowns in his ‘Homecoming’ game. One of those touchdowns was a 61-yard strike to tight end Branden Hohenstein, which was the longest reception of his collegiate career. Hohenstein has three career touchdowns with the Wildcats.
- The 61-yard connection between Mansell and Hohenstein was ACU’s first completion of more than 60 yards since the 2019 season opener at North Texas (Anthony to Fink for 64 yards).
- Through two games this season, Mansell has completed passes of 35 or more yards to five different receivers: Remington Lutz (35), L.J. McConnell (43), Kobe Clark (45), Taelyn Williams (49) and Branden Hohenstein (61). Clark’s 45-yard reception at Army was a single-game career high.
- L.J. McConnell’s 55-yard rush was the longest from scrimmage by an ACU wide receiver during the DI era, and with 11 receptions vs. the Black Knights he became ACU’s sixth DI wideout with a 10+ plus catch game, joining Taylor Gabriel, Josh Fink, Kobe Clark, Darian Hogg and Justin Miller.
- McConnell led all Wildcats with 160 all-purpose yards.
- Freshman Stone Earle made his debut at quarterback late in the fourth quarter and completed both passes for 23 yards. He and Mansell went 8-for-8 in the final quarter for 176 passing yards.
- Notable defensive single-game highs at Army:
Jordan Paup - 8 tackles
Tory Hargrove - 7 tackles
Chike Nwankwo - 7 tackles
Jairan Parker - 7 tackles
Hunter Kier - 6 tackles
Quent Titre - 6 tackles.
Kadron Johnson - 4 tackles and first career sack as a Wildcat
The Wildcats' trip to New York was their first to the northeast since 1995 (New Haven, Connecticut)
WAGONS EAST!
- Abilene Christian’s game at West Point is its first vs. Army and second vs. a service academy. The Wildcats dropped their 2016 season opener at Air Force, 37-21.
- Army is ACU’s first FBS opponent from the east coast, and one of two on this year’s schedule along with Virginia (Nov. 21). This is ACU’s first game in The Empire State as the Wildcats’ most recent appearance in the northeast was a 1995 game at New Haven (L, 7-33).
- According to research by former ACU sports information director and professor emeritus Dr. Charlie Marler, sprinter James Segrest was the first Wildcat athlete to set foot on the grounds of West Point. He was on the USA team that ran against Russia in Moscow in 1958. He and the team gathered at West Point, were quartered there and worked out there in July 1958.
- A second note from Dr. Marler. The first invitational debate tournament of national scope was held at the West Point Military Academy, New York, in 1947. It eventually became the foremost national debate tournament under the direction of the American Forensic Association, and later tournaments were conducted at sites other than West Point.
ACU teams who competed in the national championship tournaments and their coaches were:
Host: United States Military Academy
Harold and Paul Forshey (1955), coach Rex Kyker
Joe Schubert and Milton Copeland (1956), coach Ed Brown
Milton Copelannd and Paul Forshey (1957), coach Ed Brown
Don Beck and Allen Isbell (1958), coach Ed Brown
Lynn Coleman and Bob Baker (1961), coach Ed Brown
Larry Bradshaw and John Ferguson (1965), coach Ed Brown
Host: Gonzaga University
Randy Moody and David Wright (1985), coach Joe Cardot
Host: Miami University
Wallace Hampton and Chris Heard (1989), coach Joe Cardot
Host: Southwest Missouri State
Elizabeth Alvarez and Ben Stevens (2002), coach Sally Gary
Host: Gonzaga University
Andrea Schweikard and Brandon Lemley (2005), coach Sally Gary
WEST POINT CONNECTION
- ACU QB Peyton Mansell’s mother and father, Kim and Mike, met at West Point, where Kim (Hanson) played basketball and Mike played hockey.
- Both Kim and Mike were pre-law majors at West Point and originally worked in military intelligence.
- Mother, Kim, was a four-year letter winner at West Point. She was her team's captain and MVP following the 1995-96 season after averaging 10.2 points per game. The year prior she averaged 5.6 rebounds per game. She also recorded 15 steals through four meetings with Navy and finished her career with a 74.0 free-throw percentage.
- Father, Mike, played for Army Hockey from 1992-93 through 95-96. Through 108 games, he scored 80 points on 10 goals and 70 assists.
- Uncle, Robert, was a forward for the Black Knights from 1990-91 to 1992-93.
Quarterback Peyton Mansell's parents, Kim and Mike, are both U.S.M.A. alumni.
UTEP DUBSTEP
- Abilene Christian lost its season opener at UTEP, 17-13, on Sept. 19. It was the first meeting between the two schools since 1959.
- The game was remarkbly even from a statistical perspective. Below is a quick comparison:
ACU | Stat | UTEP |
15 | First Downs | 17 |
308 | Total Off. | 293 |
204 | Passing | 195 |
104 | Rushing | 98 |
30:02 | Possession | 29:58 |
- The Wildcats’ defense set several game records vs. an FBS opponent (since 2013), including fewest all-purpose yards (317) and attempts (51), lowest average gain per play (5.0) and per rush (2.9), fewest passing yards (195) and total offense yards gained (293). UTEP’s 317 all-purpose yards were the fourth-fewest allowed by the Wildcats since jumping into the DI ranks in 2013, ahead of only 2017 Houston Baptist (243), 2019 Arizona Christian (235) and 2014 Incarnate Word (224).
- Freshman Jermiah Dobbins scored his first collegiate touchdown on only his second touch of the first quarter at the 9:03 mark.
- For the second straight game vs. an FBS opponent, the Wildcats have had three players post a single run of 10 or more yards. Tyrese White (10), Jermiah Dobbins (11) and Peyton Mansell (12) accomplished this feat vs UTEP, while White (13), Sema’J Davis (10) and Kobe Clark (10) did so last November at Mississippi State.
- Receivers Remington Lutz (35), L.J. McConnell and Taelyn Williams (49) each had at least one reception of 35 yards or more. They are the first Wildcat trio to catch a deep pass (35+ yards) since Sept. 27, 2014 when Cade Stone (39), Demarcus Thompson (36) and Jonathan Epps (59) all did similarly at Houston Baptist.
- Jordan Brooks-Wess’ 27-yard punt return was the longest by a Wildcat since Justin Miller’s 33-yarder vs. Houston Baptist on Sept. 17, 2016.
- Byron Robinson’s seven tackles were a career single-game high.
- The all-time series between the Wildcats and Miners is tied at 3-3.
- Five of the six games have been played in El Paso. ACU also won a 20-13 game during the 1951 season in Midland, Texas.
OL PARMELLY RECOGNIZED AS FCS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- Senior offensive lineman Kade Parmelly was recognized as the FCS Player of the Week for Sept. 15. The league’s twitter page revealed three clues about Parmelly pertaining to his academic awards, on field-performance and community service before showcasing his introductory video. Parmelly completed his undergraduate degree (kinesiology) in just three years. He also is a Dean’s List Award recipient and a two-time Southland Football All-Academic Team member.
Get to know the #FCS Player of the Week??@ACUFootball's Kade Parmelly excels on the field and in the classroom!!
— FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) September 17, 2020
Completing his undergraduate degree in just three years, he was also a Dean's List Award recipient and a two-time Southland Football All-Academic Team member!! pic.twitter.com/TztRJ4Xvj5
CAPTAINS LOG
- Abilene Christian football Monday (Sept. 14) selected seven team captains: junior quarterbacks Peyton Mansell and Sema’J Davis, and seniors Jack Gibbens (LB), Kade Parmelly (OL), Koy Richardson (CB), Byron Robinson (S) and Nico Russolillo (OL).
- Abilene’s Parmelly and Gibbens - a native of Bulverde, Texas - are both second-year team captains who’ve been with the team since 2017.
The Wildcats chose seven of their teammates to serve as captains. Kade Parmelly and Jack Gibbens are both second-year captains.
AN ‘A’ FOR ACADEMICS
- Senior linebacker Jack Gibbens (pictured)is Abilene Christian’s nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is presented by the National Football Foundation. He was announced as a semifinalist for the award on Oct. 1.
- The award is given to the American college football player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance. It is considered by many to be the “Academic Heisman.”
- Senior offensive lineman Kade Parmelly this summer was awarded the 2020 F.L. McDonald Postgraduate Scholarships by Southland Conference Commissioner Tom Burnett.
- Parmelly excelled in the classroom and compiled a 3.96 GPA as he completed his undergraduate degree in kinesiology in three years. He was a recipient of the Dean’s List Award every semester at ACU and a two-time Southland Football All-Academic Team member.
- ACU Football has posted a term GPA above a 3.0 the last three semesters, and finished the 2019-20 academic year with a 3.07.
- ACU finished the 2019 season with TWO CoSIDA Academic All-America (Josh Fink, Jack Gibbens), FOUR Academic All-District selections, TWO FCS ADA Academic All-Stars, and FIVE Southland Conference All-Academic Honorees. Thirteen players posted a 4.0 and 75 had a 3.0+ GPA in the fall 2019 term.
Team captain Jack Gibbens receives encouragement and direction from head coach Adam Dorrel
EIGHT IS ENOUGH?
- ACU will play an eight-game schedule this fall, which starts Sept. 19 at UTEP and concludes Nov. 21 at Virginia, a longtime mainstay of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
- The additional games on this year’s slate means the Wildcats will not compete in the spring.
PRESEASON HONOREES
- Seniors Jack Gibbens (LB) and Nico Russolillo (OL) joined ACU’S list of preseason selections as both were named to Phil Steele’s 2020 Preseason All-Southland Conference Second Team.
- ACU’s three Southland-chosen preseason honorees: Branden Hohenstein (First Team TE), Billy McCrary (Second Team RB) and Kade Parmelly (Second Team OL) also were selected by the staff at Phil Steele.
STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY
- Junior Anthony Egbo this summer accepted an invitation to join the university’s first-ever Diversity Council, which will be co-chaired by ACU President Dr. Phil Schubert and ACU’s chief diversity officer Dr. Stephanie Hamm.
- The goal of this group is to foster a more racially and culturally supportive and diverse environment at ACU. Egbo will be one of five students serving on the council.
Wildcat Stadium is slated to serve as host to three home football games this fall.
DON’T TRUST THE POLLS
- There were no surprises in the Southland Conference’s annual release of its preseason poll, which is determined by the league’s 11 head coaches and sports information directors.
- The rankings closely followed last year’s standings with Central Arkansas topping the list with 190 points and 12 first-place votes. The defending champion Bears tied Nicholls for the league’s best record at 7-2, but the Colonels slipped to third with Sam Houston State tallying 170 points (4).
- Nicholls scooped up the remaining six first-place votes in finishing a point (169) behind Sam Houston State. The Colonels will be the Wildcats’ homecoming opponent this season on Oct. 17.
- Southeastern Louisiana, which celebrated a playoff win last fall over Villanova, was pegged fourth with 157 points.
- The Wildcats played in six one-possession conference games in compiling a 4-5 record vs. the Southland (232 points for, 233 points against) last fall, and they start the year ranked seventh with 101 points. They were topped by McNeese (113 points) and UIW (104).
2020 Southland Conference Preseason Poll
1. Central Arkansas (12) - 190
2. Sam Houston State (4) - 170
3. Nicholls (6) - 169
4. Southeastern Louisiana - 157
5. McNeese -113
6. UIW - 104
7. Abilene Christian - 101
8. Stephen F. Austin - 60
9. Houston Baptist - 59
10. Northwestern State - 49
11. Lamar - 38
Teams competing this fall in bold
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