1973 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1973

| rankdivision = small college

| poll = AP

| rank = y

| attend = y

| source = y

|September 8|at|Arkansas State||Kays Stadium|Jonesboro, AR|L 46–56|6,998|{{cite web |author= |title=Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report |url=https://stats.ncaa.org/team/30/stats/13634 |publisher=National Collegiate Athletic Association |access-date=October 9, 2022 }}

|September 22||{{cfb link|year=1973|team=Texas A&I Javelinas|title=Texas A&I}}||Shotwell Stadium|Abilene, TX|W 35–14||

|September 29|at|Southwest Texas State||Evans Field|San Marcos, TX|W 41–7||

|October 6||{{cfb link|year=1973|team=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks|title=Stephen F. Austin}}||Shotwell Stadium|Abilene, TX|W 57–50||{{cite news|title=ACC Defeats Lumberjacks|newspaper=The Kilgore News Herald|date=October 7, 1973|page=2A|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88995690/acc-defeats-lumberjacks/|via=Newspapers.com}}

|October 13|at|{{cfb link|year=1973|team=East Texas State Lions|title=East Texas State}}||Memorial Stadium|Commerce, TX|W 18–15||

|October 20||{{cfb link|year=1973|team=Sul Ross Lobos|title=Sul Ross}}||Shotwell Stadium|Abilene, TX|W 29–0||

|October 27|at|{{cfb link|year=1973|team=Angelo State Rams|title=Angelo State}}|||San Angelo, TX|W 27–0||

|November 3|at|{{cfb link|year=1973|team=Tarleton State Texans|title=Tarleton State}}||Memorial Stadium|Stephenville, TX|W 49–7||

|November 10||Sam Houston State||Shotwell Stadium|Abilene, TX|W 46–23||

|November 17||{{cfb link|year=1973|team=Howard Payne Yellow Jackets|title=Howard Payne}}|13|Shotwell Stadium|Abilene, TX|W 42–14||{{cite news|title=Abilene Christian Zaps Howard Payne By 42–14|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=November 18, 1973|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88994158/abilene-christian-zaps-howard-payne-by/|via=Newspapers.com}}

|December 1||No. 14 {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Langston Lions|title=Langston}}|8|Shotwell Stadium|Abilene, TX (NAIA Division I semifinal)|W 34–6|6,620|

|December 8|vs|No. 6 {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Elon Fightin' Christians|title=Elon}}|8|State Fair Stadium|Shreveport, LA (NAIA Division championship game—Champion Bowl)|W 42–14|4,162|

}}

ACC opened its season on September 8 with a 56–46 loss to Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The quarterbacks posted huge numbers: Arkansas State quarterback Steve Burks rushed for 179 yards and scored seven touchdowns, while ACC quarterback Clint Longley passed for 433 yards and six touchdowns, including a 92-yard touchdown pass to Richard Williams. Longley's 433 yards broke Abilene's single-game school record, and the 92-yard strike to Williams was the longest in school history.{{cite web|title=It Was Football?|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal|date=September 9, 1973|page=III-4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88996580/it-was-football/|via=Newspapers.com}}

On September 22, ACC defeated {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Texas A&I Javelinas|title=Texas A&I}}, 35–14. Quarterback Clint Longley threw three touchdown passes to Richard Williams, and Wilbert Montgomery had two rushing touchdowns in his second college game. Fullback Hubert Picket also rushed for 139 yards and a touchdown.{{cite news|title=Wildcats Trample Texas A&I 35–14|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|date=September 23, 1973|page=9B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88997208/wildcats-trample-texas-ai-35-14/|via=Newspapers.com}}

On September 29, quarterback Clint Longley broke his own school record with 444 passing yards in a 41–7 victory over Southwest Texas State. Longley connected with Richard Williams for a pair of 57-yard touchdown passes to Richard Williams.{{cite news|title=Abilene Beats Southwest, 41–7|newspaper=Longview News-Journal|date=September 30, 1973|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88997659/abilene-beats-southwest-41-7/|via=Newspapers.com}}

On October 6, the Wildcats played their highest scoring game of the season, defeating {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks|title=Stephen F. Austin}}, 57–50. Abilene trailed, 28–20, at halftime, but scored 37 points in the second half. In just his fourth college game, Wilbert Harrison totaled 146 rushing yards, 74 receiving yards, and a school-record six touchdowns. Quarterback Clint Longley completed 28 of 38 passes for 375 yards and two touchdowns.

On October 13, ACC faced its toughest test of the regular season, a road game against the defending 1972 NAIA national champion, {{cfb link|year=1973|team=East Texas State Lions|title=East Texas State}}. The Wildcats prevailed in a close game by an 18–15 score. ACC touchdowns were scored by Richard Williams (three-yard run), David Henson on a 20-yard pass from Clint Longley, and Wilbert Montgomery on a three-yard run in the third quarter.{{cite news|title=ET Dumped|newspaper=Denton Record-Chronicle|date=October 14, 1973|page=2C|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88998552/et-dumped/|via=Newspapers.com}}

On October 20, ACC shut out {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Sul Ross Lobos|title=Sul Ross}}, 29–0. Clint Longley passed for 224 yards, scored two rushing touchdowns and also threw a touchdown pass to David Henson. Richard Williams also scored on a 57-yard run.{{cite news|title=Longley Bombs Sul Ross, 29–0|newspaper=Victoria Advocate|date=October 21, 1973|page=2B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88998962/longley-bombs-sul-ross-29-0/|via=Newspapers.com}}

On October 27, ACC shut out its second consecutive opponent, defeating {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Angelo State Rams|title=Angelo State}}, 27–0. Wilbert Montgomery rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns. Clint Longley passed for 205 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Richard Williams.{{cite news|title=Abilene Christian Rips Angelo State|newspaper=The Odessa American|date=October 28, 1973|page=B1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88999309/abilene-christian-rips-angelo-state/|via=Newspapers.com}}

On November 3, the Wildcats defeated {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Tarleton State Texans|title=Tarleton State}}, 49–7. Wilbert Montgomery rushed for 168 yards and scored four touchdowns. Montgomery's four touchdowns broke the Lone Star Conference season scoring record. Clint Longley also passed for 302 yards and two touchdowns.{{cite news|title=ACC Trounces Texans|newspaper=Brownwood Bulletin|date=November 4, 1973|page=3B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88999671/acc-trounces-texans-49-7/|via=Newspapers.com}}

On November 10, ACC defeated Sam Houston State, 46–23. Wilbert Robinson rushed for 109 yards and scored five touchdowns (four rushing and one receiving). Robinson's 164 points to that point were four short of the all-time NAIA season scoring record.{{cite news|title=ACC bombs Sam Houston, 46–23|newspaper=Brownwood Bulletin|date=November 11, 1973|page=1B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89000040/acc-bombs-sam-houston-46-23/|via=Newspapers.com}}

On November 17, ACC faced {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Howard Payne Yellow Jackets|title=Howard Payne}}, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA, in a battle of undefeated teams, with the winner taking the Lone Star Conference championship. Abilene won by a 42–14 score. Wilbert Montgomery scored four touchdowns (three on the ground and the other on a 51-yard pass from Clint Longley.{{cite news|title=ACC Smashes Howard Payne|newspaper=The Odessa American|date=November 19, 1973|page=17|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88993780/acc-smashes-howard-payne/|via=Newspapers.com}}

ACC was invited to participate in the NAIA playoffs and met Oklahoma's {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Langston Lions|title=Langston Lions}} in a semifinal game played before a crowd of 6,620 at Abilene's Shotwell Stadium on December 1. Abilene dominated the game and won by a 34–6 score. Wilbert Montgomery ran 71 yards for a touchdown the first time he carried the ball. He finished the game with 168 rushing yards and four touchdowns against the Langston defense that was rated as the best in the NAIA.{{cite news|title=Langton Tumbles, 34–6|newspaper=The Daily Oklahoman|author=Bob Colon|date=December 2, 1973|pages=C1, C4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88992011/langston-tumbles/|via=Newspapers.com}}

The 1973 Champion Bowl was played to determine the NAIA Football National Championship. It was played on December 8 before 4,162 spectators at State Fair Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, and matched No. 1 {{cfb link|year=1973|team=Elon Fightin' Christians|title=Elon}} against No. 3 ACC. The two teams combined for a Champion Bowl record 951 yards of total offense (605 for Abilene Christian and 346 yards for Elon).{{cite news|title=ACC Overwhelms Elon, 42–14|newspaper=The Shreveport Times|date=December 9, 1973|page=2D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88991026/acc-overwhelms-elon-42-14/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Wilbert Montgomery was selected as the game's most valuable player, rushing for 149 yards, catching four passes for 79 yards, and scoring two touchdowns. His two touchdowns in the Champion Bowl brought his season total to 37 in 11 games.{{cite news|title=Freshman key to NAIA crown|newspaper=The Montana Standard|date=December 9, 1973|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89014993/freshman-key-to-naia-crown/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Abilene quarterback Clint Longley passed for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Richard Williams caught five passes for 119 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter.

On the Monday after the game, the team attended a rally to celebrate the national championship with students and administrators at ACC's Moody Coliseum. The 75-pound national championship trophy was unveiled at the rally.{{cite news|title=ACC Unveils Victory 'Hardware'|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|date=December 10, 1973|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89027991/acc-unveils-victory-hardware/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Two ACC players were recognized on the 1973 Little All-America college football team. Despite his not becoming a starter until the fourth game, and missing the fifth game due to injury, freshman running back Wilbert Montgomery won first-team honors, and junior quarterback Clint Longley won second-team honors.{{cite news|title=Johnsons Pace Little All-Stars|newspaper=The Daily Advertiser|date=December 6, 1973|page=34|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89015349/johnsons-pace-little-all-stars/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Longley and Montgomery both set multiple school records. Longley's records included 506 total yards and six touchdown passes against Arkansas State; 434 passing yards against Southwest Texas State; a 92-yard touchdown pass to Richard Williams against Arkansas State; and 2,719 passing yards and 23 touchdown passes in the regular season. Montgomery's records included six touchdowns against Stephen F. Austin and 31 regular-season touchdowns and 188 points (37 touchdowns and 222 points including post-season games).{{cite news|title=Wildcats Eye Top ACC Mark|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|date=November 19, 1973|page=E1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88993308/wildcats-eye-top-acc-mark/|via=Newspapers.com}} His totals broke the prior college football scoring record, including both the NAIA and the NCAA. The prior NCAA record, shared by Lydell Mitchell and Terry Metcalf, was 29 touchdowns in a season.

Five ACC players received first-team honors on the 1973 All-Lone Star Conference football team. In addition to Montgomery and Longley, the first-team honors went to sophomore wide receiver Greg Stirman, senior wide receiver Richard Williams, and senior defensive back Jan Brown. Three others received second-team honors: defensive down lineman Chip Martin; linebacker Charles Hinson; and defensive back Reggie Hunter.{{cite news|title='Cats Head All-LSC|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=November 29, 1973|page=49|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88986695/cats-head-all-lsc/|via=Newspapers.com}}

Coach Bullington was named Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year award and finished third in the national voting for NAIA Coach of the Year award.{{cite news|title=Coach of the Year Is Speaker for Grid Fete|newspaper=The Gatesville Messenger and Star-Forum|date=January 31, 1974|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89028080/bullington/|via=Newspapers.com}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Abilene Christian Wildcats football navbox}}

{{NAIA football national champion navbox}}

{{Lone Star Conference football champions}}

Abilene Christian

Category:Abilene Christian Wildcats football seasons

Category:NAIA football national champions

Category:Lone Star Conference football champion seasons

Abilene Christian Wildcats football