Stephen F. Austin
Central Arkansas
'Jacks Fall to Central Arkansas
9/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 23, 2006
NACOGDOCHES - The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team gained more than 500 yards of total offense but it wasn't enough as SFA lost to Central Arkansas, 37-35, Saturday night at Homer Bryce Stadium. The setback drops SFA to 0-4 on the season.
The Lumberjack offense seemed to be clicking on all cylinders behind quarterback Danny Southall, who finished the night completing 21-of-34 (62 percent) passes for a career-high 388 yards and three touchdowns. Southall connected with seven different receivers, including sophomore Dominique Edison who hauled in four passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns.
The Lumberjacks cracked the scoreboard on their first drive of the game as Southall guided the team on a six-play, 93-yard drive culminating in a 51-yard touchdown pass to Tyrell Williams. SFA completely dominated the offensive side of the ball in the opening half taking a 26-14 lead into halftime. SFA owned a 12:04 advantage in time of possession heading into the locker room, but the Bears stole the momentum in the third quarter.
UCA opened the third quarter with a nine-play, 80-yard drive that ended in Ross Brown nine-yard touchdown run, to pull the Bears within five points, 26-21. Brown finished the game with 19 carries for 130 yards.
After an hour-long delay due to lightning in the area, UCA was back on the prowl. The Bears tacked on a 41-yard field goal in the third to pull within two points, before SFA was able to respond.
Edison scored the second of his two touchdowns when he scored on an 80-yard strike from Southall, to give SFA a nine-point lead, 33-24. The touchdown came with 6:45 remaining, but that would be the final offensive point the 'Jacks would score.
The Bears responded with two consecutive touchdown drives to reclaim a four-point advantage, 37-33. The Lumberjacks got the ball back with just under three minutes remaining and looked to be driving for the game-winning score. Southall connected with junior Nick Rhodes down to the UCA 19 yard line for an SFA first down. But as Rhodes was trying to fight for extra yards, the ball was stripped from behind and UCA recovered.
The final tally was put on the board when Bears' punter Paul James took a safety to try and run out the clock.
Junior wide receiver Tyrell Williams also had a big night for the 'Jacks catching seven passes for 108 yards, while Rhodes caught six passes for 86 yards. Junior Louie Runnels led the ground game with 13 carries for 57 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Damian Perkins recorded his second consecutive performance leading the team with 12 tackles, including three for losses, and a sack. Senior Keldrick Holman added nine tackles and an interception, which he returned for 33 yards.
The Lumberjacks return to action Saturday, Sept. 30, when they host North Dakota State. The game against the Bison is slated to begin at 6 p.m., from Homer Bryce Stadium.
-SFA-
