SFA Faces Tough Challenge At No. 6 McNeese State
11/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Stephen F. Austin (6-3, 3-2 SLC) at No. 6 McNeese State (6-2, 4-1 SLC)
Saturday, November 8th • 6 p.m.
Cowboy Stadium • McNeese State
Video: Cowboy Insider
Radio: Q107.7 FM (listen online at Q1077.com)
Live Stats: McNeeseSports.com
Twitter Updates: @SFA_Football
SFA Game Notes 
OPENING KICK
Stephen F. Austin heads on the road for the final time this season, making the trek to Lake Charles, La., for a showdown with sixth-ranked McNeese State. Opening kick against the Cowboys is set for 6 p.m. at Cowboy Stadium as SFA will be facing its second top-10 opponent in the last three weeks.
LUMBERJACKS ON THE WEB
SFA fans unable to make it to Lake Charles for this weekend’s game against McNeese State can still stay up to date on every Lumberjack play. Live video of the game can be seen by logging on to Cowboys Insider at McNeeseSports.com. 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 McNeeseSports.com with in-game Twitter updates @SFA_Football.
#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 McNeese State, Johnson leads the nation with 19 rushing touchdowns while ranking second nationally in both yards per carry (7.72) and scoring (12.7 ppg), third in rushing yards (1,250) and fifth in rushing yards per game (138.9), leading the Southland Conference in each category. He has surpassed the 100-yard mark seven times this season with two 200-yard performances and has scored at least three touchdowns on three separate occasions. The Gilmer native has rushed for an SLC-best 1,250 yards this season, making him just the second rusher in SFA history to notch back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, while upping his career rushing total to 3,474 moving into seventh place all-time in Southland Conference history.
SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
2014: 6-2 overall, 4-1 in Southland Conference play. Ranked sixth in both the FCS coaches and media polls this week
Last Three Games: W at Northwestern State (34-28), W at Incarnate Word (41-21), W vs. Abilene Christian (31-20)
Head Coach: Matt Viator. Eighth season as head coach (68-29, .701)
Key Offensive Players:
• #4 Daniel Sams (Jr., QB): 46-of-96 (47.9%) for 624 yds., 7 TDs, 3 INTs; 97 rushes for 663 yds. (6.8 avg.), 2 TDs
• #26 Ryan Ross (Fr., RB): 73 rushes for 417 yds (5.7 avg.)., 7 TDs
• #28 Derrick Milton (Jr., RB): 68 rushes for 383 yds. (5.6 avg.), 6 TDs
• #29 Kelvin Bennett (Jr., WR): 72 rushes for 332 yds. (4.6 avg.), 2 TDs
• #5 Jereon McGilvery (Sr., WR): 18 catches for 310 yds. (17.2 avg.), 1 TD
Key Defensive Players:
• #6 Brent Spikes (Jr., DB): 56 tackles (30 solo), 2.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 4 INTs
• #21 Aaron Sam (Sr., DB): 42 tackles (26 solo), 3 INTs, 3 PBUs
• #10 Bo Brown (Jr., LB): 30 tackles (11 solo), 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack, 2 PBUs, 2 QBHs
• #43 Brian Hine (Jr., DL): 26 tackles (10 solo), 7.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 3 QBHs
• #75 Kevin Dorn (Sr., DT): 26 tackles (9 solo), 8.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 6 QBHs
Synopsis: McNeese State enters Saturday’s game on a three-game Southland Conference winning streak and are one of three teams tied for the conference lead at 4-1. The Cowboys rely heavily on their power rushing attack, averaging 255.0 yards per game as McNeese has five players who have over 50 carries on the season. The Cowboys are averaging 38.4 points per game and have the ability to pass the ball as well, averaging 165.8 yards per game. Defensively, McNeese has one of the top defenses in the conference, allowing just 20.5 points per game while allowing just 109.5 rushing yards per game, which will be one of the key matchups of Saturday’s game. The Cowboys are also allowing just 208.2 yards per game passing, ranking 1st in the SLC in all three defensive categories (total, rushing and passing).
SERIES INFORMATION
Saturday’s game against McNeese State marks the 34th all-time meeting between the two schools as the Cowboys hold an 18-13-2 (.576) edge in the all-time series, which dates back to 1951. McNeese State has won the last two games, including last season’s 69-38 rout of the Lumberjacks at Homer Bryce Stadium. SFA’s last win in the series came in 2011 when the Lumberjacks defeated the Cowboys 31-17 in Nacogdoches and the last win for SFA in Lake Charles came in 2010 when the ‘Jacks knocked off the Cowboys 32-27. Historically, SFA has struggled in Lake Charles, posting a 4-11-1 (.281) record at Cowboy Stadium, but the series has been relatively even through the last 10 games with McNeese winning six times to SFA’s four.
LUMBERJACKS FALL TO BEARKATS 42-28 IN BATTLE OF PINEY WOODS SHOWDOWN
Big plays by the Sam Houston State offensive attack and 21 point in the span of six minutes proved to be too much as Stephen F. Austin fell to its long-time rival 42-28 in the 89th installment of the Battle of the Piney Woods at NRG Stadium in Houston. SFA and SHSU battled back and forth in the first half as a Lumberjack touchdown by Gus Johnson late in the first half tied the game at 14-14. But the Bearkats notched a touchdown in the waning seconds of the first half, then scored two more within the opening five minutes of the second half to build a 35-14 lead and never looked back. SFA was able to claw to within two scores at 42-28 with under two minutes remaining before recovering an onside kick, but the rally fell short. Johnson continued his stellar season with 148 rushing yards and a touchdown while Zach Conque threw for 266 yards and ran for 98 more with a pair of touchdowns.
JOHNSON CLOSING IN ON ALL-TIME SFA RUSHING MARK
Senior RB Gus Johnson continues to inch closer to become the all-time leading rusher in SFA program history. With his 148 yards against Sam Houston State Saturday, Johnson upped his career total to 3,474 yards, leaving him just 298 yards shy of surpassing Leonard Harris (1992-95) as SFA’s all-time leading rusher. With three games remaining in the 2014 season, Johnson would need to average essentially 100 yards per game to accomplish the feat as the senior is currently averaging 138.9 yards per game. His 1,250 rushing yards in 2014 also ranks fourth all-time in program history for a single season as he needs just 191 to surpass Larry Centers’ single-season mark of 1,440 in 1989. The Gilmer native also rushed for another touchdown against the Bearkats, giving him 19 for the season and 47 for his career as his 114 points in 2014 is now the SFA single-season record for points in a season, surpassing the 111 points recorded by Chuck Rawlison in 1989 and Evan Engwall in 2009.
CONQUE RUSHES INTO LUMBERJACK RECORD BOOK
Sophomore QB Zach Conque continues to settle into his role as SFA’s new signal caller, proving a threat not just with his arm, but with his legs as well. Conque just missed his first career 100-yard rushing game, scrambling for 98 yards against Sam Houston State, while adding a pair of rushing touchdowns to up his season total to 12, which is the fifth-best single-season performance in SFA history and tops by a quarterback. Conque is already on the verge of breaking into the program top-10 for career rushing touchdowns as he has rushed for 411 yards and 12 touchdowns on the season while throwing for 1,924 yards and eight scores in the air, accounting for 2,335 yards and 20 touchdowns in his first season at SFA.
WARD RECORDS CAREER PERFORMANCE AGAINST BEARKATS
Senior WR DJ Ward notched the top receiving performance of his career Saturday against Sam Houston State, pulling down 12 catches for 80 yards on the afternoon. The 12 catches exceeds his previous career-best of 11 receptions against Lamar in 2012 as he upped his career reception total to 156, passing Floyd Dixon (1982-85) and former teammate Mike Brooks (2010-13) to move into eighth all-time in program history. In addition, Ward became just the 10th player in program history to exceed 2,000 career yards, sitting at 2,002 with 12 touchdowns.
GARRETT CONTINUES TO PACE LUMBERJACK DEFENSIVE UNIT
Senior LB Collin Garrett posted another solid outing against Sam Houston State Saturday, leading SFA with eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup against the Bearkats. Garrett remains the Southland Conference leader in both total tackles (86) and tackles per game (9.6) as he continues to inch closer to joining the SFA record books. With three regular season games remaining in his career, Garrett has notched 270 career tackles while already sitting eighth all-time in career assisted tackles (151), surpassing Cory Barlow (2006-09) and Jeremy Davis (2001-04). Garrett has also recorded 19.5 tackles for loss with five interceptions as a ‘jack.
MILES KNOCKING ON DOOR OF SFA RECORD BOOK
Senior DE Ishmiah Miles has been a four-year starter for SFA, saving his best season for last. Through nine games of 2014, Miles leads the Lumberjacks with 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, complemented by his 35 tackles. For his career, Miles now has 30.0 tackles for loss, ranking sixth all-time in program history since SFA made the transition to a Division I program. In addition, his 14.0 career sacks is just on the outside of cracking the Lumberjack all-time top-10 as four players are currently tied for ninth at 15.0 career sacks. The Sachse native eclipsed the 100-tackle mark earlier this season, sitting at 119 for his career.
LUMBERJACKS AGAINST THE TOP-10
Saturday’s game against McNeese State marks familiar territory for SFA as the Lumberjack will be facing a top-10 opponent for the 44th time since making the jump to the FCS level. The ‘Jacks are 17-25-1 (.407) against top-10 foes with the highest-ranked victory coming against top-ranked North Texas in 1988, toppling the Mean Green 17-10. SFA has been dangerous against top-10 foes in the last two seasons, defeating second-ranked Montana State 52-38 in 2013 before upending eighth-ranked Southeastern Louisiana 27-17 earlier this season at Homer Bryce Stadium.
JOHNSON, WIGGS AMONG SLC ALL-TIME GREATS
RB Gus Johnson and K Jordan Wiggs have not only established themselves as all-time SFA greats, but are among the Southland Conference all-time leaders as well. Johnson ranks among the top-10 in three different categories, including fourth all-time in rushing touchdowns (47) and seventh in rushing yards (3,474). Wiggs, SFA’s all-time point leader, moved into fourth all-time in SLC history in points with 327 while currently sitting as the conference’s all-time leader in field goal percentage at 73.61%. He also ranks first all-time in SLC history in PATs attempted (175), second in PATs made (168) and fifth in field goals made (53).
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 ninth in first downs (225), 10th in total offense (491.4 ypg), 16th in completion percentage (64.1%), 17th in third down defense (31.3%) and 18th in rushing offense (221.7 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 (151.89), CB Keavon Madison ranks seventh nationally in passes defended (1.6) with QB Zach Conque sitting 14th in rushing touchdowns (12) and 20th in points responsible for (122)
STARTING FAST
One of the keys to SFA’s success thus far in 2014 has been its ability to start fast. The Lumberjacks have outscored their opponents 87-30 in the first quarter this season, recording the first points in seven of their nine games this season. SFA has notched 12 touchdowns in the first quarter this season, seven of which have come courtesy of Gus Johnson. Zach Conque has helped account for four others, tossing touchdown passes to Jayson Clements and Aaron Thomas while rushing for a pair himself, with Trey Vallier recording a defensive touchdown last week against Sam Houston State. The first quarter could pack quite a bit of fireworks Saturday as McNeese State is also efficient in the first quarter, outscoring its opponents 93-31.
GAME #900
Saturday’s game against Sam Houston State marked a significant milestone in SFA football history as the Lumberjacks played in the 900th game in program history. SFA has compiled an all-time program record of 384-486-30 (.433), competing at the NAIA, Division II and Division I levels. The Lumberjacks have won six conference titles during that span while posting an 8-6 overall record in postseason appearances.
LUMBERJACKS IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
Despite the 42-28 loss to Sam Houston State, which dropped SFA from the top-25 polls, the Lumberjacks still received quite a few votes in both the FCS media and coaches polls. The 'Jacks received 15 votes in the coaches poll this week, sitting at 29th overall, while receiving 42 votes in the media poll, which would unofficially rank SFA 36th. The Lumberjacks are one of four Southland Conference teams appearing in both polls with McNeese State (sixth) and Southeastern Louisiana (14th) among the top-25 and Sam Houston State receiving votes in both.
LOOKING AHEAD
Stephen F. Austin gets set to close out the 2014 season with a pair of home games at Homer Bryce Stadium. The first of those games features a date with Southland Conference newcomer Abilene Christian, the first meeting between the two schools since 1999 as the two use to meet annually as a members of the Lone Star Conference. Opening kick against the Wildcats is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, November 15 in Nacogdoches.
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