ACU's Gale And Lineberry Invited To Bowl Games
By: ACU Athletics
Updated: November 28, 2012
ABILENE - Abilene Christian's all-time leading passer Mitchell Gale and top field goal kicker Morgan Lineberry have been invited to represent the Wildcats at a pair of bowl games to be played this winter.
Lineberry will be traveling to Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Dec. 15 for the third-annual FCS Senior Scout Bowl, while Gale will be part of the action at the Texas Vs. The Nation All-Star Game. Kickoff at Eagle Stadium in Allen, Texas is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m.
A native of Alva, Okla., Gale finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading passer in program and Lone Star Conference history, finishing with 12,109 career yards - 97 more than the quarterback who played the four years before he arrived at ACU, Billy Malone. Gale also surpassed Malone's career record of 12,080 total yards and tied his program mark with 30 victories.
Gale tossed the three longest touchdown passes of his career during the 2012 season, starting with a game-winning 85-yard strike to Darian Hogg in a 24-17 come-from-behind victory at Texas A&M-Commerce. He then tossed strikes of 87 and 80 yards in ACU's 24-12 win at Incarnate Word. Gale's 97th and final TD was a bullet that Hogg caught on a crossing route and took down the left sideline for 80 yards.
"Mitchell was the face of our program and just an awesome all-around player and person," said head coach Ken Collums. "He was an operator out there, someone who could get it done the way you wanted it done ... and not only could he throw the ball, but he's super intelligent as well. After every play he could tell you exactly what happened and where things broke down. He was always on top of things."
A Dallas native and 2009 graduate of Lakehill Prep Academy, Lineberry left ACU as its all-time leader in field goals made with 50 and its third-leading point scorer with 290 points. Only ACU Hall of Fame running back Wilbert Montgomery (422) and kicker Matt Adams (339) scored more points as a Wildcat than Lineberry.
Lineberry also holds the school record for field goals in a season with 21 in 2001 and he's the only kicker in program history to make four field goals of 50 yards or more in a career.
"We were blessed to have Morgan here at ACU," said Collums. "He is as quality a person as he is a kicker and could make all the kicks required during the course of a game. Morgan also has been a consistent leader for our program on the field, in the locker room and across campus."
The Wildcats finished their 2012 season earlier this month with a 7-4 record, giving the program its 25th season of at least seven wins and seventh straight (2006-12).
Lineberry will be traveling to Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Dec. 15 for the third-annual FCS Senior Scout Bowl, while Gale will be part of the action at the Texas Vs. The Nation All-Star Game. Kickoff at Eagle Stadium in Allen, Texas is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m.
A native of Alva, Okla., Gale finished his collegiate career as the all-time leading passer in program and Lone Star Conference history, finishing with 12,109 career yards - 97 more than the quarterback who played the four years before he arrived at ACU, Billy Malone. Gale also surpassed Malone's career record of 12,080 total yards and tied his program mark with 30 victories.
Gale tossed the three longest touchdown passes of his career during the 2012 season, starting with a game-winning 85-yard strike to Darian Hogg in a 24-17 come-from-behind victory at Texas A&M-Commerce. He then tossed strikes of 87 and 80 yards in ACU's 24-12 win at Incarnate Word. Gale's 97th and final TD was a bullet that Hogg caught on a crossing route and took down the left sideline for 80 yards.
"Mitchell was the face of our program and just an awesome all-around player and person," said head coach Ken Collums. "He was an operator out there, someone who could get it done the way you wanted it done ... and not only could he throw the ball, but he's super intelligent as well. After every play he could tell you exactly what happened and where things broke down. He was always on top of things."
A Dallas native and 2009 graduate of Lakehill Prep Academy, Lineberry left ACU as its all-time leader in field goals made with 50 and its third-leading point scorer with 290 points. Only ACU Hall of Fame running back Wilbert Montgomery (422) and kicker Matt Adams (339) scored more points as a Wildcat than Lineberry.
Lineberry also holds the school record for field goals in a season with 21 in 2001 and he's the only kicker in program history to make four field goals of 50 yards or more in a career.
"We were blessed to have Morgan here at ACU," said Collums. "He is as quality a person as he is a kicker and could make all the kicks required during the course of a game. Morgan also has been a consistent leader for our program on the field, in the locker room and across campus."
The Wildcats finished their 2012 season earlier this month with a 7-4 record, giving the program its 25th season of at least seven wins and seventh straight (2006-12).
