SFA, UNI Tangle in FCS Opening Round
11/26/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
2014 FCS Football Championships First Round
Stephen F. Austin (8-4, 5-3 SLC) at No. 10 Northern Iowa (8-4, 6-2 MVC)
Saturday, November 29 • 7 p.m.
UNI Dome • Cedar Falls, Iowa
Video: ESPN3 (also available on ESPN GamePlan)
Radio: Q107.7 FM (listen online at Q1077.com)
Live Stats: UNIPanthers.com
Twitter Updates: @SFA_Football
SFA Game Notes 
OPENING KICK
After finishing the regular season with an 8-4 mark, Stephen F. Austin was one of 24 teams receiving a bid to compete in the 2014 FCS Football Championships. The Lumberjacks make the trek to Cedar Falls, Iowa, taking on 10th-ranked Northern Iowa Saturday, November 29th, in the opening round of the 2014 FCS playoffs. Opening kick against the Panthers is set for 7 p.m. at the UNI Dome.
LUMBERJACKS ON THE WEB
SFA fans unable to make it to Cedar Falls for this weekend's FCS first round game against Northern Iowa can still stay up to date on every Lumberjack play. ESPN3 will carry the game live, giving Lumberjack fans around the world the opportunity to watch SFA in the postseason. 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 UNIPanthers.com with in-game Twitter updates @SFA_Football.
SFA POSTSEASON HISTORY
Stephen F. Austin will be making its eighth postseason appearance in program history and its seventh appearance in the NCAA FCS playoffs since making the transition to Division I in 1984. The Lumberjacks have compiled a 7-6 (.538) mark in the playoffs, including a run to the national championship game in 1989. SFA advanced to the semifinals in 1995, the quarterfinals in 1988 and the second round in 2009, making appearances in 1993 and 2010 as well. For head coach Clint Conque, he will be making his third Division I playoff appearance after guiding Central Arkansas to the FCS Championships in 2011 and 2012.
#GusForPayton
Senior RB Gus Johnson has been named a finalist for the 2014 Walter Payton Award, announced by The Sports Network FCS. SFA's all-time leading rusher with 3,825 career yards, Johnson leads the nation with 22 rushing touchdowns while ranking third nationally in both yards per carry (6.78) and scoring (11.0 ppg), fourth in rushing yards (1,601) and seventh in rushing yards per game (133.4), leading the Southland Conference in each category. He has surpassed the 100-yard mark nine 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. His 1,601 yards on the season is a new Lumberjack program record as Johnson became just the second player in SLC history to reach 1,600 yards in a season (SHSU's Timothy Flanders did it twice as the Bearkats reached the national championship game in both seasons).
CONQUE NAMED FINALIST FOR EDDIE ROBINSON COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
Head coach Clint Conque has been announced as one of 20 finalists for the 2014 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, announced last week by The Sports Network FCS. It marks the fourth time Conque has been a finalist for the award, being named the 2008 NCAA FCS Regional Coach of the Year. Conque has helped lead SFA to a five-win improvement in his first season in Nacogdoches, leading the Lumberjacks to an 8-4 mark and an NCAA FCS playoff appearance in 2014 after the `Jacks finished 3-9 in 2013. Under Conque's tutelage, SFA ranks among the top-20 in a handful of statistical categories while he has helped RB Gus Johnson to his most productive season as a Lumberjack as the senior has been named a Walter Payton Award Finalist.
WIGGS NAMED CONFERENCE, NATIONAL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
K Jordan Wiggs has been named Special Teams Player of the Week by both the Southland Conference and The Sports Network FCS following his nine-point performance against Northwestern State as he helped SFA reclaim Chief Caddo. Wiggs opened up the game with a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter, then added three extra points as SFA took a 24-14 lead in the fourth quarter. With the game tied 24-24, Wiggs notched the biggest kick of his career, drilling a season-long 41-yard field goal as time expired to lift SFA to the victory against their border rivals. It is the second weekly honor of Wiggs' career as he becomes the fifth different Lumberjack to earn Southland Conference weekly honors in 2014 and the third to rake in national honors, joining Gus Johnson and Zach Conque.
JOHNSON, CONQUES PULL IN SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE MAJOR AWARDS
Three SFA Lumberjacks pulled in Southland Conference major awards for the 2014 season, highlighted by RB Gus Johnson being named the Conference's Player of the Year. QB Zach Conque was named the SLC's Newcomer of the Year while head coach Clint Conque was recognized as the conference's Coach of the Year. 13 Lumberjacks were named All-SLC selections with Johnson, OL Byron Willians and LB Collin Garrett earning first team honors as Johnson pulled in the third All-SLC honor of his career (second first team honor). 10 `Jacks were named honorable mention selections, comprised of Conque, WR Tyler Boyd, OL Terran Vaughn and Anthony Pullins, DL Lance Skyler, Donald Bryant and Ishmiah Miles, DB Keavon Madison and Patrick Martin and PR Aaron Thomas.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
2014: 8-4 overall, 6-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Ranked 10th in this week's FCS coaches and media polls
Last Three Games: W vs. Missouri State (38-24), W at #22 Southern Illinois (40-21), W vs. #1 North Dakota State (23-3)
Head Coach: Mark Farley. 14th season at Northern Iowa (119-55, .684)
Key Offensive Players:
• #3 Brion Carnes (Sr., QB): 82-of-168 (48.8%), 941 yds., 5 TDs, 5 INTs; 69 rushes for 269 yds., 3 TDs
• #7 David Johnson (Sr., RB): 246 rushes for 1,353 yds., 13 TDs; 31 catches for 422 yds., 1 TD
• #5 Darrian Miller (Jr., RB): 81 rushes for 277 yds., 3 TDs
• #89 Brett LeMaster (Sr. WR): 34 catches for 399 yds., 2 TDs
• #18 Kevin Vereen (Sr., WR): 28 catches for 531 yds., 6 TDs
Key Defensive Players:
• #46 Jake Farley (Sr., LB): 100 tackles (51 solo), 5.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT, 6 PBU
• #49 Brett McMakin (So., DL): 91 tackles (61 solo), 11.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks, 1 INT, 5 PBU
• #37 Max Busher (Sr., LB): 87 tackles (32 solo), 5.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 3 INTs, 4 PBU
• #98 Xavier Williams (Sr., DL): 83 tackles (33 solo), 12.0 TFL, 8.0 sacks, 3 PBU
• #94 Isaac Ales (Jr., DL): 43 tackles (27 solo), 14.5 TFL, 8.0 sacks, 1 PBU
Synopsis: One of the hottest teams in the country, Northern Iowa heads into Saturday's NCAA first round game on a five-game winning streak, including victories over top-ranked North Dakota State, sixth-ranked Illinois State and 22nd-ranked Southern Illinois. Offensively, UNI is averaging 32.2 points and 365.8 yards per game, using a balanced offensive attach which averages 170.0 yards rushing and 195.8 yards passing per game. Where the Panthers have made their mark is on the defensive side of the ball as UNI is second nationally in sacks per game (3.92), fourth in third down conversion defense (26.2%), seventh in rushing defense (103.0 ypg) and 10th in both total defense (301.6 ypg) and tackles for loss per game (8.6). Northern Iowa is allowing just 19.0 points and 301.6 yards per game, which will provide a significant challenge for the SFA offensive unit which ranks 13th in total offense (480.6 ypg) and 19th in rushing offense (217.2 ppg).
SERIES HISTORY
SFA and Northern Iowa meet for the 10th time Saturday evening and the first time in the NCAA playoffs. The Panthers hold a 6-3 (.667) edge in the all-time series, including a 34-23 victory over the Lumberjacks at Homer Bryce Stadium in 2011 in the last meeting between the two teams. SFA won the first meeting between the two schools, a 26-7 decision in Nacogdoches in 1995, before UNI reeled off five-straight wins between 1996 and 2003. The `Jacks are 2-3 all-time at the UNI Dome, having won two-straight over the Panthers on their home field - a 24-21 victory in 2004 and a 22-20 decision in 2010.
JOHNSON STANDS ALONE AS SFA'S ALL-TIME RUSHING KING
With his 168-yard performance against Northwestern State Saturday, RB Gus Johnson became SFA's all-time rushing king. Johnson upped his career total to 3,825 yards, surpassing Leonard Harris' 3,771 career rushing yards from 1992-95 and moving into fifth-place all-time in Southland Conference history. With his first carry, the Gilmer native also became the Lumberjacks' single-season rushing leader, sitting at 1,601 yards in 2014. He became just the second player in SLC history to rush for 1,600 yards in a season, joining Sam Houston State's Timothy Flanders who accomplished the feat twice (2011 and 2012). Heading into Saturday's game at Northern Iowa, Johnson needs just 44 yards to surpass Flanders as the SLC's single-season rushing leader as the senior has notched 21 100-yard rushing games in his storied career.
JOHNSONS SQUARE OFF IN PAYTON AWARD FINALIST BATTLE
Saturday's game will feature not only a pair of 2014 Walter Payton Award finalists, but it will be a battle between a pair of players who share both the same last name and the same position. SFA's Gus Johnson, the Southland Conference Player of the Year, has rushed for 1,601 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season, setting the SFA single-season rushing mark against Northwestern State. UNI's David Johnson has rushed for 1,353 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year while also catching 31 passes for 422 yards and a score, giving him 1,775 yards of total offense with 14 touchdowns on the season.
SFA AGAINST THE TOP-10
Saturday's game against Northern Iowa marks the third game this season for SFA against a team ranked in the top-10, but don't expect the Lumberjacks to be overwhelmed. SFA is 2-0 this season against top-10 foes, besting eighth-ranked Southeastern Louisiana 27-17 on Oct. 25 before toppling sixth-ranked McNeese State 31-16 on Nov. 8 in Lake Charles. Since making the transition to Division I, SFA is 18-25-1 (.420) against top-10 opponents, having won three of its last four matchups.
BOYD NOTCHES SIXTH 100-YARD GAME
WR Tyler Boyd made sure his final game at Homer Bryce Stadium was a memorable one. The Daingerfield native caught six passes for 103 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception to put SFA on top 24-14 in the fourth quarter. It was the sixth 100-yard receiving game of Boyd's career as he is tied with fellow senior DJ Ward for the most 100-yard receiving games among active players. Boyd also became just the 11th player in program history to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark, sitting ninth all-time in program history with 2,089 yards on 158 receptions (eighth).
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.
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 tying for third all-time in rushing touchdowns (50), fourth in total touchdowns (51) and fifth in rushing yards (3,825). His 1,601 rushing yards in 2014 is third all-time in conference history while his 22 touchdowns is second all-time. Wiggs, SFA's all-time point leader, sits fourth all-time in SLC history in points with 348 while currently sitting as the conference's all-time leader in PATs attempted (187) and PATs made (180). Wiggs is also third all-time in field goal percentage (72.73%) and tied for fourth in field goals made (56).
LUMBERJACKS MAKING NATIONAL NOISE
With the 2014 regular season done, SFA continues to rank among the national leaders in a handful of statistical categories. SFA ranks seventh in first downs (298), ninth in completion percentage (66.4%), 13th in both total offense (480.6 ypg) and sacks (2.83) and 19th in rushing offense (217.2 ypg). Individually, in addition to the exploits of RB Gus Johnson, who ranks among the top-10 in five different statistical categories and is 16th in all purpose yards (144.80), LB Chance Barney is tied for sixth in fumbles recovered (three), DB Keavon Madison is 13th in passes defended (1.3) and QB Zach Conque is 13th in completion percentage (65.2%), 14th in points responsible for (176), 18th in both total offense (273.2) and rushing touchdowns (13) and 19th in passing yards (2,650).
PURPLE vs. PURPLE, TAKE SIX
The year of the purple continues as Saturday's game against Northern Iowa marks the sixth time this season SFA will go head-to-head against an opponent that also sports purple as its primary color. The Lumberjacks are 2-3 against purple opponents on the year, besting Weber State and Northwestern State while falling to Kansas State, Central Arkansas and Abilene Christian.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON - TIMES TWO
One of the more intriguing storylines heading into Saturday's game will the battle of father and son versus father and son. Both SFA head coach Clint Conque and UNI head coach Mark Farley have sons who will be on the field as the duo will square off against each other each time the Lumberjacks have the ball. SFA QB Zach Conque, the SLC Newcomer of the Year, will be looking straight at UNI LB Jake Farley, who leads the Panthers in tackles in 2014.
For the complete game notes, click the PDF link above
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