SFA Seeks To Win Back Chief Caddo Saturday
11/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Stephen F. Austin (7-4, 4-3 SLC) vs. Northwestern State (6-5, 4-3 SLC)
Saturday, November 22nd • 2:00 p.m.
Homer Bryce Stadium • Nacogdoches, Texas
Video: SFA All-Access
Radio: Q107.7 FM (listen online at Q1077.com)
Live Stats: SFAJacks.com
Twitter Updates: @SFA_Football
SFA Game Notes
OPENING KICK
Stephen F. Austin closes out the 2014 regular season by renewing its annual rivalry with border neighbor Northwestern State at Homer Bryce Stadium. Opening kick against the Demons is set for 2 p.m. as the two rivals will stage the 49th Battle for Chief Caddo.
LUMBERJACKS ON THE WEB
SFA fans unable to make it to Homer Bryce Stadium for this weekend’s rivalry game against Northwestern State can still stay up to date on every Lumberjack play. Live video of the game can be seen by logging on to SFA All-Access for a free, HD stream of the game. Fans can also listen to their Lumberjacks as Rob Meyers will have the call on Q107.7 FM as well as online at Q1077.com. Live stats will be available online at SFAJacks.com with in-game Twitter updates @SFA_Football.
GAMEDAY FORECAST
Saturday’s forecast is looking to be warm but wet for the annual Battle for Chief Caddo. Temperatures are suppose to be significantly higher than last week, sitting in the low 70s, but rain chances remain high as the forecast is calling for rain and thunderstorms. Winds could also be a factor, hovering around 10 mph with gusts up to 15-20 mph.
HISTORY OF THE CHIEF
Since 1961, SFA and Northwestern State have staged an annual challenge for Chief Caddo, the largest traveling trophy in all of college sports. Standing seven feet, six inches tall and weighing over 320 pounds, the statue was decided upon by both schools paying tribute to the legendary chief whose tribes were responsible for settling the locations that are currently known as Nacogdoches and Natchitoches. In the 48 Chief games, the Demons hold a 29-18-1 (.615) edge in the series and currently hold Chief Caddo following last season’s 40-27 win in Natchitoches, marking the first time the Chief had left Nacogdoches since 2008.
#GusForPayton
Senior RB Gus Johnson was named to the 2014 Walter Payton Award Watch List on September 30th and has continued to show why he is among the top players in the country. Entering this week’s game against Northwestern State, Johnson leads the nation with 21 rushing touchdowns while ranking third nationally in both yards per carry (6.82) and scoring (11.5 ppg), eighth in rushing yards (1,440) and ninth in rushing yards per game (130.9), leading the Southland Conference in each category. He has surpassed the 100-yard mark eight times this season with two 200-yard performances and has scored at least three touchdowns on three separate occasions, rewriting both the SFA and Southland Conference record books in the process.
SCOUTING THE DEMONS
2014: 6-5 overall, 4-3 in Southland Conference play
Last Three Games: W vs. Nicholls (48-21), W at Abilene Christian (34-10), L vs. McNeese State (35-28)
Head Coach: Jay Thomas. Second season at Northwestern State (12-11, .521), eighth season overall (39-46, .459)
Key Offensive Players:
• #8 Zach Adkins (Sr., QB): 236-of-351 (67.2%), 2,538 yds., 28 TDs, 13 INTs; 99 rushes for 151 yds., 4 TDs
• #31 Garrett Atzenweiler (Sr., RB): 151 rushes for 687 yds., 8 TDs
• #25 De’Mard Llorens (So., RB): 76 rushes for 388 yds., 3 TDs
• #7 Ed Eagan (Jr., WR): 66 catches for 837 yds., 6 TDS; 1,988 all-purpose yards (1,015 kick return yds., 136 punt return yds.)
• #11 Tuff McClain (So., WR): 34 catches for 423 yds., 4 TDs
Key Defensive Players:
• #9 Marion Chapman (Sr., LB): 114 tackles (68 solo), 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks
• #52 Tyler Roussel (Sr., LB): 89 tackles (62 solo), 4.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks
• #3 Adam Jones (So., S): 66 tackles (46 solo), 5.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 5 INTs
• #6 Chase Collins (Jr., S): 60 tackles (38 solo), 3.0 TFL, 1 INT
• #53 WaDerrious Sellers (Sr., LB): 58 tackles (33 solo), 7.0 TFL
Synopsis: Northwestern State enters today’s game with a 6-5 overall record and is tied with SFA for fourth in the SLC standings at 4-3 in conference play. The Demons are averaging 32.8 points and 409.3 yards per game with the majority of the offense coming through the air (234.6 ypg) behind the arm of QB Zach Adkins and WR Ed Eagan. Northwestern State averages 174.6 yards per game on the ground as well. Defensively the Demons are giving up 31.9 yards and 401.3 yards per game, including 197.0 yards per game rushing, which should hopefully favor the Lumberjack rushing attack. Northwestern State is one of the conference’s toughest teams against the pass, allowing just 204.3 yards per game, led by LB Marion Chapman.
SERIES HISTORY
SFA’s second-longest active rivalry in program history, the Lumberjacks and Demons meet for the 71st time Saturday as Northwestern State holds a 43-24-3 (.636) lead in the all-time series. The series began in 1924 as the two teams have faced each other annually since 1969 with Chief Caddo being introduced in 1961, adding more intensity to the rivalry. The Demons won last year’s battle 40-27 in Natchitoches, marking the first win for Northwestern State since 2008 and snapping a four-game winning streak for SFA. The Lumberjacks are 8-12 all-time against the Demons at Homer Bryce Stadium as the two teams have split the last 10 meetings.
LUMBERJACKS DROP HEARTBREAKER TO ABILENE CHRISTIAN, 37-35
Trailing 34-28 heading to the fourth quarter, SFA had its chances late in the game against SLC newcomer Abilene Christian, but key mistakes proved costly as the Lumberjacks fell 37-35 at Homer Bryce Stadium. Despite the loss, there were a pair of stellar performances for the Lumberjacks as RB Gus Johnson rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 1,440 yards on the year and moving into a tie with Larry Centers for the SFA single-season rushing record. QB Zach Conque also had an impressive outing for the Lumberjacks, completing 21-of-31 for 255 yards and a pair of 39-yard touchdowns to DJ Ward and Tyler Boyd. Conque also rushed for 115 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown, giving him 370 yards of total offense with three scores against Abilene Christian.
JOHNSON POISED TO STAND ALONE
Senior RB Gus Johnson had another solid outing against Abilene Christian, rushing for 158 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats. The effort gives Johnson 1,440 rushing yards in 2014, which is tied for Larry Centers for the single-season rushing record in program history (Centers ran for 1,440 yards in 15 games in 1989). Johnson now sits at 3,664 career rushing yards, meaning that if he runs for 108 yards today against Northwestern State, he will stand alone as the top rusher in SFA program history, surpassing Leonard Harris’ program-record 3,771 rushing yards. Johnson notched his 50th career touchdown Saturday, making him just the third player in program history to tally 300 career points, joining Chuck Rawlison (1988-91) and current teammate Jordan Wiggs.
CONQUE MAKING A NAME FOR HIMSELF
QB Zach Conque continues to embrace his role as SFA’s primary signal caller, putting together his best game as a Lumberjack against Abilene Christian. Conque completed 21 of his 31 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats while also rushing 20 times for 115 yards and a score. With one game remaining, Conque has accumulated 2,380 passing yards with 13 touchdowns while also rushing for 557 yards and 13 touchdowns as well. He already holds the record for career rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks, sitting tied for fifth in season rushing scores, while his 2,380 passing yards in 2014 is on the verge of cracking the SFA single-season top-10, sitting 28 yards back of Zeke Dixon’s 2,407 yards in 2005.
WARD, BOYD MOVE UP RECEIVING CHARTS
The senior WR duo of DJ Ward and Tyler Boyd have caused consistent headaches for defenses for the past four seasons as the two have made their marks on the SFA receiving record book. With one game remaining in the regular season, Ward had caught 162 passes for 2,087 yards and 14 touchdowns, sitting sixth all-time in career receptions and eighth in career receiving yards. Boyd is at 152 receptions for 1,986 yards and 12 touchdowns, sitting tied for ninth in career receptions and 10th in receiving yards, needing just 14 yards to become the 10th member of the SFA 2,000-yard receiving club.
MILES ETCHES HIS NAME INTO RECORD BOOK
Senior DE Ishmiah Miles has been a constant for the Lumberjack defensive unit as a four-year starter at defensive end. With one regular season game remaining in his SFA career, Miles has made his impact felt in the Lumberjack record book, sitting sixth all-time in program history in tackles for loss (31.0) and is tied for ninth all-time in career sacks (15.0). The Sachse native’s performance has caught the attention of national scouts as well as Miles earned an invitation to the FCS Senior Bowl being played next month.
SENIORS TAKE FINAL BOW
In addition to Saturday’s game against Northwestern State marking the annual Battle for Chief Caddo, it marks the final regular season game for 17 Lumberjack seniors: DB Nick Bryant (Beaumont), WR Tyler Boyd (Daingerfield),FB Chase Curry (Corpus Christi), LB Eroni Foifua (American Samoa), LB Collin Garrett (Beaumont), LB Marvin Gray (Tyler), TE Danan Henderson (Hallsville), RB Gus Johnson (Gilmer), DL Ashante Joseph (Houston), CB Keavon Madison (Houston), DE Ishmiah Miles (Sachse), WR Marquis Mosley (Tyler), CB Maurice Poullard (Houston), S Trey Vallier (Henderson),WR DJ Ward (The Woodlands), K Jordan Wiggs (Grand Prairie), LB Rodney Young (Spring)
JOHNSON, WIGGS AMONG SLC ALL-TIME GREATS
Not only have RB Gus Johnson and K Jordan Wiggs rewritten the SFA record books, the duo have also had an impact on the Southland Conference record book as well. Johnson ranks among the top-10 in three different categories, including fourth all-time in rushing touchdowns (49) and seventh in rushing yards (3,664). His 1,440 rushing yards in 2014 is tied for 10th all-time in conference history while his 21 touchdowns is tied for third all-time. Wiggs, SFA’s all-time point leader, sits fourth all-time in SLC history in points with 339 while currently sitting as the conference’s all-time leader in PATs attempted (184) and PATs made (177). Wiggs is also third all-time in field goal percentage (72.00%) and fifth in field goals made (54).
LUMBERJACKS MAKING NATIONAL NOISE
Heading into the home stretch of the 2014 season, SFA continues to rank among the nation’s best in a handful of statistical categories. As a team, the Lumberjacks rank sixth in first downs (274), 12th in completion percentage (66.1%), 13th in sacks (2.91), 15th in total offense (477.0 ypg) and 19th in scoring offense (35.3 ppg). Individually, in addition to the exploits of RB Gus Johnson, who ranks among the top-10 in five different statistical categories and is 22nd in all purpose yards (139.90), LB Chance Barney is tied for fourth in fumbles recovered (three), DB Keavon Madison is 12th in passes defended (1.3), QB Zach Conque is 13th in points responsible for (164.0), 16th in rushing touchdowns (13) and 18th in completion percentage (64.6%) with DE Shayvion Hatten ranking 14th in blocked kicks (two).
PURPLE vs. PURPLE
Saturday’s game against Northwestern State marks the fifth time this season SFA will go head-to-head against an opponent that also sports purple as its primary color. The Lumberjacks have faced three purple Wildcats this season (Kansas State, Weber State and Abilene Christian) with Central Arkansas rounding out SFA’s purple opponents.
BUBBLE WATCH
While playing to reclaim Chief Caddo and sending the seniors out on a positive note make Saturday’s game against Northwestern State important, SFA will also be playing to possibly extend their 2014 season. A win against the Demons would keep the Lumberjacks’ slim playoff hopes alive as SFA would boast an 8-4 record and have an impressive resume, including wins over a pair of top-10 teams (Southeastern Louisiana and McNeese State) and the best road record in the Southland Conference (3-1). SFA doesn’t control its own destiny as the Lumberjacks would likely need some help from other bubble teams across the country to make the field of 24. The 2014 FCS Playoff Selection Show will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday morning airing on ESPNU.
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-SFA-
