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2020 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox NCAA team season

| mode = football

| year = 2020

| team = Abilene Christian Wildcats

| image = ACU Wildcats wordmark.svg

| image_size = 250

| conference = Southland Conference

| short_conf = Southland

| STATSRank =

| FCSCoachRank =

| record = 1–5

| conf_record = 0–1

| head_coach= Adam Dorrel

| hc_year = 4th

| off_coach= Josh Lamberson

| oc_year = 4th

| off_scheme = Single set back

| def_coach= Clint Brown

| dc_year = 2nd

| def_scheme = 4–3

| stadium= Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium

| champion =

| bowl =

| bowl_result =

}}

{{2020 Southland Conference football standings}}{{2020 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings}}

The 2020 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team represented Abilene Christian University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Wildcats were led by fourth-year head coach Adam Dorrel and played their home games at Anthony Field at Wildcat Stadium. The Wildcats finished the season with a 1–5 overall record.

Preseason

=Preseason poll=

The Southland Conference released their original preseason poll in July 2020. The Wildcats were picked to finish seventh in the conference, prior to their schedule split from the rest of the league.{{cite web |title=Nicholls Favored to Win Southland Football Spring Season |url=https://www.southland.org/news/2021/1/26/nicholls-favored-to-win-southland-football-spring-season.aspx |website=www.southland.org |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}} In addition, four Wildcats were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team{{cite web |title=Southland Announces 2020 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams |url=https://www.southland.org/news/2020/7/14/southland-announces-2020-preseason-all-conference-football-teams.aspx |website=www.southland.org |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}}

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Abilene Christian Wildcats|Predicted finish|Team|Votes (1st place)}}

align="center"

| 1

Central Arkansas*190 (12)
align="center"

| 2

Sam Houston State170 (4)
align="center"

| 3

Nicholls169 (6)
align="center"

| 4

Southeastern Louisiana157
align="center"

| 5

McNeese State113
align="center"

| 6

Incarnate Word104
align="center"

| 7

Abilene Christian*101
align="center"

| 8

Stephen F. Austin*60
align="center"

| 9

Houston Baptist*59
align="center"

| 10

Northwestern State49
align="center"

| 11

Lamar38

(*) These teams opted out of playing in the revised spring 2021 Southland schedule, and instead played as Independent in the fall of 2020.

=Preseason All–Southland Teams=

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

Offense

1st Team

  • Branden Hohenstein – Tight End/Halfback, SR

2nd Team

  • Bill McCrary – Running Back, SR
  • Kade Parmelly – Offensive Lineman, SR

{{col-break}}

Defense

1st Team

  • Kameron Hill – Defensive Lineman, SR

{{col-end}}

Schedule

Abilene Christian had a game scheduled against Texas A&M, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Talty |first1=John |title=SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season|url=https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2020/07/sec-moving-to-conference-only-2020-schedule.html|website=AL.com|accessdate=30 July 2020}}

{{CFB schedule

| opprank = y

| rankyear = 2020

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FCS

| poll = STATS

| timezone = Central

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 19

| time = 8:00 p.m.

| nonconf = y

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = UTEP

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Sun Bowl

| site_cityst = El Paso, TX

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 13–17

| attend = 6,056

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 3

| time = 12:30 p.m.

| nonconf = y

| w/l = l

| away = y

| opponent = Army

| site_stadium = Michie Stadium

| site_cityst = West Point, NY

| tv = CBSSN

| score = 23–55

| attend = 5,306

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{strikethrough|October 17}}

| time = {{strikethrough|6:00 p.m.}}

| nonconf = y

| w/l =

| homecoming = y

| opponent = {{strikethrough|West Texas A&M}}

| site_stadium = {{strikethrough|Wildcat Stadium}}

| site_cityst = {{strikethrough|Abilene, TX}}

| tv = {{strikethrough|ESPN+}}

| score = Canceled

| attend =

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 24

| time = 12:30 p.m.

| w/l = l

| neutral = y

| opponent = Stephen F. Austin

| site_stadium = Globe Life Field

| site_cityst = Arlington, TX

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 32–35

| overtime = OT

| attend = 5,211

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 31

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| nonconf = y

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Mercer

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Five Star Stadium

| site_cityst = Macon, GA

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 20–17

| attend = 2,372

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 7

| time = 3:00 p.m.

| nonconf = y

| w/l = l

| away =

| opponent = Angelo State

| site_stadium = Wildcat Stadium

| site_cityst = Abilene, TX

| tv = ESPN+

| score = 21–34

| attend = 4,787

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{strikethrough|November 14}}

| time = {{strikethrough|3:00 p.m.}}

| w/l =

| nonconf = y

| opponent = {{strikethrough|Arizona Christian}}

| site_stadium = {{strikethrough|Wildcat Stadium}}

| site_cityst = {{strikethrough|Abilene, TX}}

| tv = {{strikethrough|ESPN+}}

| score = Canceled

| attend =

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 21

| time = 3:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Virginia

| site_stadium = Scott Stadium

| site_cityst = Charlottesville, VA

| tv = ESPN3

| score = 15–55

| attend = 250

}}

}}

Source: {{cite web |title=2020 Abilene Christian Football Schedule|url=https://fbschedules.com/abilene-christian-football-schedule/|accessdate=February 16, 2020}}

Game summaries

=At UTEP=

{{AFB game box start

|Title=Abilene Christian at Texas–El Paso

|Visitor=Wildcats

|Host=Miners

|V1=7|V2=0|V3=3|V4=3

|H1=0|H2=10|H3=0|H4=7

|Date=September 19, 2020

|Location=Sun Bowl
El Paso, TX

|TimeZone=MDT

|StartTime=7:05 p.m.

|ElapsedTime=3 hours and 1 minute

|Attendance=6,056

|Weather=Temperature: {{Convert|81|°F|°C}} • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NE 8 MPH

|Referee=Anthony Perez

|TVAnnouncers=Erik Elken (play–by–play) and Trevor Vittatoe (analyst)

|TVStation=ESPN3

}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|FirstEntry=yes|Quarter=1|Time=09:03|Team=ACU|Event=Jermiah Dobbins 2–yard run (Blair Zepeda kick)
{{Small|(6 plays, 56 yards, 3:06)}}|Score=ACU 7–0}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=2|QuarterEntries=2|Time=08:31|Team=UTEP|Event=Gavin Baechle 27–yard field goal
{{Small|(10 plays, 58 yards, 4:21)}}|Score=ACU 7–3}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=06:18|Team=UTEP|Event=Joshua Fields 5–yard run (Gavin Baechle kick)
{{Small|(2 plays, 56 yards, 0:48)}}|Score=UTEP 10–7}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=3|Time=06:58|Team=ACU|Event=Blair Zepeda 29–yard field goal
{{Small|(10 plays, 66 yards, 5:45)}}|Score=TIE 10–10}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=4|QuarterEntries=2|Time=14:12|Team=UTEP|Event=Ronald Awatt 4–yard run (Gavin Baechle kick)
{{Small|(13 plays, 75 yards, 7:46)}}|Score=UTEP 17–10}}

{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry|Quarter=|Time=05:19|Team=ACU|Event=Blair Zepeda 39–yard field goal
{{Small|(6 plays, 45 yards, 3:33)}}|Score=UTEP 17–13|LastEntry=yes}}

{{AFB game box end}}

{{See also|2020 UTEP Miners football team}}

class="wikitable"
align="center"

! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Abilene Christian Wildcats}}|Pregame line!!style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Abilene Christian Wildcats}}|Over/under

align="center"

| UTEP –8.5

47.5{{cite web|title=Abilene Christian Wildcats vs UTEP Miners|url=https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/abilene-christian-utep-odds-september-19-2020-1292196|website=Odds Shark|access-date=November 13, 2020|language=en}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !! style="{{NCAA color cell|Abilene Christian Wildcats}}"|Abilene Christian!!style="{{NCAA color cell|UTEP Miners}}"|UTEP

First downs1517
Total yards308293
Rushing yards9998
Passing yards209195
Turnovers51
Time of possession30:0229:58

class="wikitable" style="float: left;"

! Team !! Category !! Player !! Statistics

rowspan=3 style="{{NCAA color cell|Abilene Christian Wildcats}}; text-align:center;"|Abilene ChristianPassingPeyton Mansell14/21, 202 yards
RushingTyrese White11 carries, 41 yards
ReceivingTaelyn Williams2 receptions, 77 yards
rowspan=3 style="{{NCAA color cell|UTEP Miners}}; text-align:center;"|UTEPPassingGavin Hardison15/25, 195 yards
RushingJoshua Fields17 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJacob Cowing8 receptions, 110 yards

{{Clear}}

=At Army=

{{See also|2020 Army Black Knights football team}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=#fff

|bg2=#eee

|titlestyle={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Abilene Christian Wildcats}}; ;text-align:center;

|state=collapsed

|title= Abilene Christian Wildcats at Army Black Knights

|date= October 3, 2020

|time= 1:30 p.m. EDT

|road=Wildcats

|R1=0 |R2=3 |R3=7 |R4=13

|home=Black Knights

|H1=7 |H2=16 |H3=15 |H4=17

|stadium= Michie Stadium, West Point, NY

|attendance= 5,306

|weather= Temperature: {{convert|62|F|C}} • Wind: W 7 mph • Weather: Sunny

|referee= Jerry McGinn

|TV= CBSSN

|TVAnnouncers= Ben Holden (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst) & Tina Cervasio (sideline)

|reference= [https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401240040 ESPN – Jones accounts for 3 TDs, Army beats Abilene Christian 55–23]{{cite web |title=Abilene Christian at Army – Game Summary – October 3, 2020 |url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401240040 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 3, 2020}} /// [https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/football/stats/2020/abilene-christian/boxscore/12221 Box Score, Abilene Christian at Army]{{cite web |title=Scoring Summary (Final) Abilene Christian at Army West Point (Oct 3, 2020 at West Point, N.Y.) |url=https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/football/stats/2020/abilene-christian/boxscore/12221 |publisher=USMA Athletic Department |date=October 3, 2020 |access-date=October 3, 2020}} /// [https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/goarmywestpoint.com/documents/2020/10/1/Army_Game_Notes_vs_ACU.pdf Pregame Notes]{{cite web |title=Abilene Christian at Army – Game Notes |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/goarmywestpoint.com/documents/2020/10/1/Army_Game_Notes_vs_ACU.pdf |publisher=USMA Athletic Department |date=October 1, 2020 |access-date=October 1, 2020}} /// [https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2020/10/3/football-army-bounces-back-with-big-win-over-acu.aspx Postgame Notes]{{cite web |title=Army Bounces Back with Big Win over ACU |url=https://goarmywestpoint.com/news/2020/10/3/football-army-bounces-back-with-big-win-over-acu.aspx |publisher=USMA Athletic Department |date=October 3, 2020 |access-date=October 3, 2020}}

|scoring=

;First Quarter

  • (08:20) ARMY TD – Sandon McCoy 1-yard rush, Landon Salyers kick
    Drive: 10 plays, 45 yards, 5:19; Army 7–0

;Second Quarter

  • (14:55) ARMY FG – Landon Salyers 43-yard field goal
    Drive: 6 plays, 39 yards, 3:37; Army 10–0
  • (12:37) ARMY TD – Jemel Jones 3-yard rush, Landon Salyers kick failed
    Drive: 2 plays, 16 yards, 0:16; Army 16–0
  • (10:15) ARMY TD – Jakobi Buchanan 3-yard rush, Landon Salyers kick
    Drive: 5 plays, 58 yards, 2:18; Army 23–0
  • (07:59) ACU FG – Blair Zepeda 31-yard field goal
    Drive: 6 plays, 62 yards, 2:08; Army 23–3

;Third Quarter

  • (13:27) ARMY TD – Michael Roberts 33-yard pass from Jemel Jones, Artice Hobbs IV rush
    Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:33; Army 31–3
  • (04:18) ACU TD – Kobe Clark 2-yard pass from Peyton Mansell, Blair Zepeda kick
    Drive: 9 plays, 61 yards, 4:04; Army 31–10
  • (02:56) ARMY TD – Jemel Jones 49-yard rush, Landon Salyers kick
    Drive: 3 plays, 68 yards, 1:15; Army 38–10

;Fourth Quarter

  • (11:12) ARMY FG – Quinn Maretzki 40-yard field goal
    Drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 4:25; Army 41–10
  • (08:29) ACU TD – Kobe Clark 45-yard pass from Peyton Mansell, Blair Zepeda kick
    Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:35; Army 41–17
  • (04:29) ARMY TD – Anthony Adkins 3-yard rush, Quinn Maretzki kick
    Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 3:58; Army 48–17
  • (03:01) ACU TD – Branden Hohenstein 61-yard pass from Peyton Mansell, Blair Zepeda kick failed
    Drive: 3 plays, 74 yards, 1:23; Army 48–23
  • (00:37) ARMY TD – Anthony Adkins 28-yard rush, Quinn Maretzki kick
    Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 2:24; Army 55–23

|stats=

;Passing

  • ACU – Peyton Mansell: 23/37, 279 yards, 3 TD
  • ARMY – Jemel Jones: 4/7, 52 yards, 1 TD

;Rushing

  • ACU – L.J. McConnell: 2 carries, 59 yards
  • ARMY – Jemel Jones: 14 carries, 138 yards, 2 TD

;Receiving

  • ACU – L.J. McConnell: 11 receptions, 101 yards
  • ARMY – Michael Roberts: 2 receptions, 38 yards, 1 TD

;Defense

  • ACU – Jordan Paup: 8 total tackles (3 solo, 5 assisted)
  • ARMY – Marquel Broughton: 8 total tackles (7 solo, 1 assisted), 1 forced fumble

}}

class="wikitable"

! Statistics !!style="{{NCAA color cell|Abilene Christian Wildcats}}; text-align:center;"|ACU !!style="{{NCAA color cell|Army Black Knights}}; text-align:center;"|ARMY

First downsalign=center|19align=center|24
3rd down efficiencyalign=center|1–10align=center|3–11
4th down efficiencyalign=center|1–3align=center|2–3
Plays–yardsalign=center|62–388align=center|67–493
Rushes–yardsalign=center|23–86align=center|60–441
Passing yardsalign=center|302align=center|52
Passing: Comp–Att–Intalign=center|25–39–0align=center|4–7–0
Penalties–yardsalign=center|6–48align=center|4–27
Turnoversalign=center|0align=center|0
Time of possessionalign=center|28:15align=center|31:45

=West Texas A&M=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road={{Strikethrough|Buffaloes}}

|R1=|R2=|R3=|R4=

|Home={{Strikethrough|Wildcats}}

|H1=|H2=|H3=|H4=

}}

{{see also|2020 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team}}

{{Clear}}

=Vs. Stephen F. Austin=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Wildcats

|R1=7|R2=7|R3=0|R4=15|R5=3

|Home=Lumberjacks

|H1=0|H2=7|H3=6|H4=16|H5=6

}}

{{see also|2020 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team}}

{{Clear}}

=At Mercer=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Wildcats

|R1=7|R2=0|R3=3|R4=10

|Home=Bears

|H1=0|H2=10|H3=7|H4=0

}}

{{see also|2020 Mercer Bears football team}}

{{Clear}}

=Angelo State=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Rams

|R1=14 |R2=14 |R3=0 |R4=6

|Home=Wildcats

|H1=0 |H2=7 |H3=14 |H4=0

}}

{{see also|Angelo State Rams football}}

{{Clear}}

=Arizona Christian=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road={{Strikethrough|Firestorm}}

|R1=|R2=|R3=|R4=

|Home={{Strikethrough|Wildcats}}

|H1=|H2=|H3=|H4=

}}

{{see also|Arizona Christian Firestorm football}}

{{Clear}}

=At Virginia=

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Wildcats

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=0 |R4=8

|Home=Cavaliers

|H1=14 |H2=14 |H3=14 |H4=13

}}

{{see also|2020 Virginia Cavaliers football team}}

{{Clear}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Abilene Christian Wildcats football navbox}}

Abilene Christian

Category:Abilene Christian Wildcats football seasons

Abilene Christian Wildcats football