Stephen F. Austin
Abilene Christian
SFA Drops 37-35 Heartbreaker To ACU
11/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin had its chances late in the fourth quarter, but timely errors proved costly as the Lumberjacks dropped a heartbreaking 37-35 decision to Abilene Christian at Homer Bryce Stadium.
SFA falls to 7-4 on the season and 4-3 in Southland Conference play. ACU finished its first official season in the Southland season 6-6 overall and 4-4 in conference action.
Trailing 34-28 heading into the fourth quarter, SFA reclaimed the lead off a 31-yard rush by Gus Johnson with 14:52 remaining, taking a 35-34 advantage. Later in the quarter, SFA appeared to have ACU stopped on a fourth and 11 in Lumberjack territory, but a pass interference penalty kept the Wildcat drive alive as ACU converted a 31-yard field goal with 5:48 to play to take the 37-35 lead.
SFA put together an extended drive on its final possession, covering 81 yards on 13 plays and chewing 4:24 off the clock, setting up a 27-yard field goal attempt with 1:19 remaining. But the kick from Jordan Wiggs was wide left and ACU ran out the clock, preserving its first win over SFA since 1985.
SFA racked up 538 yards of total offense on the night, highlighted by another stellar performance by QB Zach Conque. The sophomore completed 21 of his 31 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing 20 times for 115 yards and a score.
Johnson ran for 158 yards on 27 carries with a pair of touchdowns on the night, upping his season total to 1,440 and sitting tied with Larry Centers for the single season rushing mark, matching Centers’ 1989 season. He also upped his career rushing total to 3,664 yards, leaving him 108 yards shy of surpassing Leonard Harris as SFA’s all-time leading rusher.
Tyler Boyd led the Lumberjack receivers with six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown as Aaron Thomas also hauled in six passes for 60 yards on the night. DJ Ward had two catches for 50 yards and a touchdown as well.
But the SFA defensive unit struggled to contain Abilene Christian running back De’Andre Brown all evening as he rushed for 256 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wildcats. Parker McKenzie threw for 267 yards as ACU finished with 532 yards of total offense.
SFA notched the first points of the game for the ninth time this season as Johnson recorded his 20th touchdown of the season off an eight yard rush with 8:32 left in the opening quarter. That score was quickly answered by ACU as Brown scrambled 66 yards for the score less than a minute later, setting the tone for the evening.
After an ACU field goal put the Wildcats up 10-7 after one, SFA answered with a 39-yard touchdown strike from Conque to Ward, capping an 89-yard drive and giving the ‘Jacks the lead 14-10.
ACU answered with a touchdown strike of its own, reclaiming the lead at 17-14, which was answered by a 30-yard scoring rush by Conque as the Lumberjacks took a 21-17 lead midway through the second quarter. The Wildcats would notch the final nine points of the half, however, using a Brown touchdown and a 27-yard field goal as time expired to take the 26-21 lead into the half.
The Lumberjacks recorded the first tally of the second half as Conque and Boyd connected on a 39-yard touchdown pass, putting SFA on top 28-26. ACU then countered with Brown’s third touchdown of the night late in the third quarter, capping a 99-yard scoring drive, to take the 34-28 lead and setting up the dramatic fourth quarter.
The loss all but eliminates SFA from the Southland Conference title chance and puts the Lumberjacks postseason hopes on life support. SFA will have one final chance to state its case next week in the 2014 regular season finale when the ‘Jacks host rival Northwestern State in the Battle for Chief Caddo. Kickoff against the Demons is set for 3 p.m. at Homer Bryce Stadium.
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