Lumberjack Football Goes to Plan B
4/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 16, 2009
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - With the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack football team approaching the end of their second week of spring ball, the coaches are preparing for its first planned scrimmage. Those plans have already been disrupted by Mother Nature as head coach J.C. Harper and his staff has been forced to move Friday evening's scrimmage to Friday morning. The scrimmage, which was originally scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m., will now take place Friday at 7:45 a.m.
Despite a relatively small 2008 senior class, the Lumberjacks are looking to fill some keyholes for the upcoming season. The Lumberjacks graduated two veteran receivers last season, including one of the nation's best in All-American Dominique Edison. Seniors Tyrell Williams and Edison have used up their eligibility, but the 'Jacks will have several options to turn to next season including seniors-to-be Contrevious Parks and Duane Brooks.
Brooks was the conference newcomer of the year in 2008 despite missing two games to injury. The lightning quick receiver led the team with 68 receptions in 2008. Brooks finished the year with 863 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
After splitting his time between offense and defense in 2007, Parks settled into his role as a receiver last season. The Killeen, Texas native hauled in 49 passes for 591 yards and six touchdowns during his junior campaign. Following the season Parks was honored for his work by earning honorable mention All-America honors.
SFA also brings back senior Aaron Rhea, junior Marcus Taylor and sophomore Brandon Scott who will add size, speed and depth to the 'Jacks' receiver stable. The trio hauled in 65 passes for 596 yards, and seven touchdowns last season and should get more touches in 2009.
Although SFA returns a record-setting quarterback in junior Jeremy Moses, Harper will be looking to solidify the backup spot heading into fall camp. Behind Moses, the Lumberjacks return sophomore Dalton Williams, a 6-4, 210-pound product from Coppell, and 2009 signee Brady Attaway (6-2/200 lbs.). Williams returns for his sophomore season after completing 59.4 percent of his passes for 123 yards in limited playing time last season. He is battling Attaway who comes to SFA after a standout prep career at Whitehouse High School. One of the top 150 quarterback prospects in the 2009 class according to scout.com, Attaway completed 61 percent of his passes for 8,086 yards and 80 touchdowns in high school.
The 'Jacks will also be looking to replace kicker Cory Long. Even though SFA graduates its third all-time leading scorer, the 'Jacks appear to have some strong candidates heading into the 2009 season. Sophomore Drew Nelson came to Nacogdoches as a kicker and punter and proved he had a strong leg earning honorable mention all-conference honors as a punter in his true freshman season. The Lumberjacks signed two standout kickers in February in Evan Engwall and Thomas Henshaw. Both considered two of the tops in the nation, the Lumberjacks coaching staff may be looking for either Engwall or Henshaw to win the kicking duties this season so Nelson can focus on punting fulltime.
-SFA-
