'83 Team Remembers Big Game
10/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 22, 2008
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Members of the 1983 Lumberjack football team will be on campus Saturday for their 25-year reunion. Saturday's Homecoming game also marks the anniversary of one of the biggest wins in SFA program history.
The Lumberjacks hosted Texas State (then Southwest Texas) for homecoming during the 1983 season, and faced the two-time defending NCAA Division II National Champion. The Bobcats also entered the game riding a nation-long 22-game win streak.
Heading into the fourth quarter it appeared the 'Jacks were going to be Bobcat victory No. 23, but that was before SFA mounted one of the biggest fourth-quarter rallies in school history. Trailing 24-10, the Lumberjacks outscored the Bobcats 17-0 in the final 13 minutes of the game.
After cutting the lead to 24-17 the Lumberjacks were back on the attack midway through the quarter. SFA quarterback Tod Weder capped a five-minute drive by finding Charlie Smith for a 20-yard game-tying score.
Five plays later the Lumberjack defense forced a fumble and gave the ball back to Weder, and the SFA offense, with little time remaining on the clock. Weder moved the 'Jacks down to the Bobcat 20-yard line with 44 seconds remaining. SFA kicker Rick Wilson stepped up to play the role of hero nailing a 37-yard field goal to ice the come-from-behind victory.
The game also included one of the more unique plays in school history. During the third quarter Weder was scrambling in the backfield trying to escape Bobcat defenders. Before he was about to be dropped for a loss he pitched the ball back to SFA offensive lineman Larry Milton who took it and rambled down the field 49 yards to the Bobcat seven. The play set up the Lumberjacks first score of the game.
The 1983 Lumberjack squad finished the season 7-4 overall, and 5-2 in conference play.
-SFA-
