Stephen F. Austin
Sam Houston State
SFA Hammers Sam Houston State
10/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 24, 2009
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The 15th-ranked Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team rattled off 35 unanswered points to cruise to a 42-3 victory over rival Sam Houston State Saturday afternoon at Homer Bryce Stadium. The victory ended a five-game skid against the Bearkats, and extends the SFA win streak to six, as the `Jacks improved SFA to 6-1 on the season, and 3-0 in Southland Conference play. The six victories assure SFA of its first winning season since 2004.
The Lumberjacks dominated on both sides of the ball racking up 566 yards of total offense, while holding Sam Houston State to 186. The 42-point outburst is the most by an SFA squad since scoring 45 against the Bearkats in 1999. The three points surrendered by the defense are the fewest since the 1991 season.
Neither team was able to crack the scoreboard in the opening 15 minutes, but the Lumberjacks changed that 15 seconds into the second quarter. Junior Jeremy Moses found senior Aaron Rhea from 26 yards out for the first score of the game. The duo hooked up again 1:33 later on a 49-yard pass play, and the Lumberjacks never looked back.
Rhea finished the game with seven catches for a game-high 133 yards and the two scores. Senior Duane Brooks added eight catches for 45 yards and touchdown. Both Rhea and Brooks moved onto the school's all-time top 10 list for receptions.
Moses, who finished the game completing 27-of-38 passes for 372 yards and five touchdowns, connected with nine different receivers on the day. The school's all-time leader in completions and touchdown passes became only the second quarterback in school history to pass for 7,500 yards in a career (Todd Hammel, 1986-89).
The Lumberjacks also carried the ball 25 times for 132 yards. SFA was led by redshirt freshman Romonte Hampton who finished the game with nine rushes for 67 yards.
The Lumberjack defense was every bit as impressive as the SFA offense led by sophomore Devin Ducote's career-high 16 tackles. It marked the first time this season the Lumberjacks held their opponents to less than 200 yards of total offense, including only 84 yards through the air.
The SFA special teams also had a big day in the win. Sophomore punter Drew Nelson recorded the sixth-longest punt in SFA history when he booted a 72-yarder. He finished the day with a 52-yard average on four punts.
The Lumberjacks return to action Saturday when they travel to San Marcos, Texas, to take on defending Southland Conference champion Texas State. The game against the Bobcats is slated to begin at 2 p.m. from Bobcat Stadium.
-SFA-
