1973 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team

American college football season August 2023 December 2025 1973 Abilene Christian Wildcats football Lone Star Conference LSC 11–1 9–0 Wally Bullington 6th Clint Longley Wilbert Montgomery Mike Layfield Steve Ricks Clint Longley Shotwell Stadium NAIA Division I national championLSC champion Champion Bowl W 42–14 vs. 1973 Elon Fightin' Christians Elon The 1973 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team was an American football team that represented Abilene Christian College (ACC) during the 1973 NAIA Division I football season. In their sixth season under head coach Wally Bullington, and their first season as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC), the Wildcats compiled an 11–1 record (9–0 against conference opponents), won the LSC championship, and outscored all opponents by a total of 466 to 206. They advanced to the NAIA playoff, defeating 1973 Langston Lions Langston (34–6) in the semifinals and 1973 Elon Fightin' Christians Elon (42–14) in the Champion Bowl to win the 1973 NAIA Division I football national championship.December 8, 1973 Abilene Christian University November 15, 2021 https://acusports.com/news/1973/12/8/76464 Freshman tailback Wilbert Montgomery set a new college football scoring record with 37 touchdowns and 222 points scored in 11 games, including two post-season games. Junior quarterback Clint Longley also set multiple school records, including 2,719 regular-season passing yards (3,167 including two post-season games) and 23 touchdown passes. Both received Little All-America honors. The team played home games at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene, Texas.Stadium a win-win for ACU, Abilene Abilene Reporter-News September 10, 2017 B2 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89016308/stadium/ Newspapers.comLSC's Showdown Austin American-Statesman November 12, 1973 30 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89015807/lscs-showdown/ Newspapers.com Schedule 1973 small college AP y y y September 8 at Arkansas State<ncg> Kays Stadium Jonesboro, AR L 46–56 6,998 Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report https://stats.ncaa.org/team/30/stats/13634 National Collegiate Athletic Association October 9, 2022 September 22 1973 Texas A&I Javelinas 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 1973 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Stephen F. Austin Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX W 57–50 ACC Defeats Lumberjacks The Kilgore News Herald October 7, 1973 2A https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88995690/acc-defeats-lumberjacks/ Newspapers.com October 13 at 1973 East Texas State Lions East Texas State Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX W 18–15 October 20 1973 Sul Ross Lobos Sul Ross Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX W 29–0 October 27 at 1973 Angelo State Rams Angelo State San Angelo, TX W 27–0 November 3 at 1973 Tarleton State Texans Tarleton State Memorial Stadium Stephenville, TX W 49–7 November 10 Sam Houston State Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX W 46–23 November 17 1973 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets Howard Payne 13 Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX W 42–14 Abilene Christian Zaps Howard Payne By 42–14 Lubbock Avalanche-Journal November 18, 1973 22 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88994158/abilene-christian-zaps-howard-payne-by/ Newspapers.com December 1 No. 14 1973 Langston Lions Langston<ncg> 8 Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX (NAIA Division I semifinal) W 34–6 6,620 December 8 vs No. 6 1973 Elon Fightin' Christians Elon<ncg> 8 State Fair Stadium Shreveport, LA (NAIA Division championship game—Champion Bowl) W 42–14 4,162 Regular season Arkansas State 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.It Was Football? The Commercial Appeal September 9, 1973 III-4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88996580/it-was-football/ Newspapers.com Texas A&I On September 22, ACC defeated 1973 Texas A&I Javelinas 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.Wildcats Trample Texas A&I 35–14 Fort Worth Star-Telegram September 23, 1973 9B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88997208/wildcats-trample-texas-ai-35-14/ Newspapers.com Southwest Texas State 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.Abilene Beats Southwest, 41–7 Longview News-Journal September 30, 1973 12 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88997659/abilene-beats-southwest-41-7/ Newspapers.com Stephen F. Austin On October 6, the Wildcats played their highest scoring game of the season, defeating 1973 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks 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. East Texas State On October 13, ACC faced its toughest test of the regular season, a road game against the defending 1972 NAIA national champion, 1973 East Texas State Lions 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.ET Dumped Denton Record-Chronicle October 14, 1973 2C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88998552/et-dumped/ Newspapers.com Sul Ross On October 20, ACC shut out 1973 Sul Ross Lobos 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.Longley Bombs Sul Ross, 29–0 Victoria Advocate October 21, 1973 2B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88998962/longley-bombs-sul-ross-29-0/ Newspapers.com Angelo State On October 27, ACC shut out its second consecutive opponent, defeating 1973 Angelo State Rams 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.Abilene Christian Rips Angelo State The Odessa American October 28, 1973 B1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88999309/abilene-christian-rips-angelo-state/ Newspapers.com Tarleton State On November 3, the Wildcats defeated 1973 Tarleton State Texans 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.ACC Trounces Texans Brownwood Bulletin November 4, 1973 3B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88999671/acc-trounces-texans-49-7/ Newspapers.com Sam Houston 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.ACC bombs Sam Houston, 46–23 Brownwood Bulletin November 11, 1973 1B https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89000040/acc-bombs-sam-houston-46-23/ Newspapers.com Howard Payne On November 17, ACC faced 1973 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets 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.ACC Smashes Howard Payne The Odessa American November 19, 1973 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88993780/acc-smashes-howard-payne/ Newspapers.com Post-season NAIA semifinal ACC was invited to participate in the NAIA playoffs and met Oklahoma's 1973 Langston Lions 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.Langton Tumbles, 34–6 The Daily Oklahoman Bob Colon December 2, 1973 C1, C4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88992011/langston-tumbles/ Newspapers.com NAIA National Championship game 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 1973 Elon Fightin' Christians 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).ACC Overwhelms Elon, 42–14 The Shreveport Times December 9, 1973 2D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88991026/acc-overwhelms-elon-42-14/ 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.Freshman key to NAIA crown The Montana Standard December 9, 1973 10 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89014993/freshman-key-to-naia-crown/ 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.ACC Unveils Victory 'Hardware' Abilene Reporter-News December 10, 1973 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89027991/acc-unveils-victory-hardware/ Newspapers.com Records and awards 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.Johnsons Pace Little All-Stars The Daily Advertiser December 6, 1973 34 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89015349/johnsons-pace-little-all-stars/ 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).Wildcats Eye Top ACC Mark Abilene Reporter-News November 19, 1973 E1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88993308/wildcats-eye-top-acc-mark/ 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.'Cats Head All-LSC Austin American-Statesman November 29, 1973 49 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/88986695/cats-head-all-lsc/ 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.Coach of the Year Is Speaker for Grid Fete The Gatesville Messenger and Star-Forum January 31, 1974 1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89028080/bullington/ Newspapers.com References Abilene Christian Category:Abilene Christian Wildcats football seasons Category:NAIA football national champions Category:Lone Star Conference football champion seasons Abilene Christian Wildcats football