SFA Opens SLC Play Hosting UCA Saturday
9/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Stephen F. Austin (3-1) vs. Central Arkansas (2-3)
Saturday, October 4 • 6:04 p.m.
Homer Bryce Stadium • Nacogdoches, Texas
Video: ESPN3.com
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 concludes its four-game home stand by opening up Southland Conference play against Central Arkansas Saturday at Homer Bryce Stadium. The game, pitting head coach Clint Conque against his former team, marks the beginning of SFA’s 28th season as a member of the Southland Conference and will be broadcast on ESPN3.com, kicking off at 6:04 p.m.
LUMBERJACKS ON THE WEB
SFA fans unable to make it to Homer Bryce Stadium for this weekend’s SLC opener against Central Arkansas can still stay up to date on every Lumberjack play. ESPN3 will carry the game live with Lincoln Rose and Lemont Williams on the call as fans can watch the game wherever they may be by logging on to ESPN3.com. Fans can also listen online as Rob Meyers will have the call on Q107.7 FM as well as online at Q1077.com. Live stats will be available at SFAJacks.com with in-game Twitter updates @SFA_Football.
GAMEDAY FORECAST
The forecast for Saturday’s game against the Bears is calling for an almost perfect day for college football. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 80s with relatively low humidity and clear skies for the duration of the weekend. Neither winds nor precipitation should be a factor as there is less than a five percent chance of rain with winds out of the southeast at 4-7 mph.
FAMILIAR FACES
In addition to being the 2014 Southland Conference opener, the obvious storyline heading into Saturday’s game is head coach Clint Conque going head-to-head against his former team. Conque spent 14 seasons at Central Arkansas, compiling a 105-59 record and capturing a pair of SLC titles with the Bears. He made four postseason appearances during his time in Conway and ranks as the second-winningest college football coach in Arkansas history behind legendary Razorback coach Frank Broyles. Conque won’t be the only one looking across the field at familiar faces as offensive coordinator Matt Kubik, defensive coordinator Matt Williamson, run game coordinator Bill Best and co-special teams coordinator Jeremy Hammock also made the move to Nacogdoches after serving along side coach Conque at Central Arkansas.
LUMBERJACKS TEAM UP WITH ZETA TAU ALPHA FOR 2014 “PINK OUT”
Once again, the SFA football team will team up with Zeta Tau Alpa for “Pink Out” this Saturday, helping in the fight against breast cancer. The Lumberjacks will be wearing pink bracelets while the coaching staff will have pink ribbons as breast cancer survivors will be recognized at the game with one survivor being named SFA’s honorary captain for the night. Zeta Tau Alpha will also have volunteers throughout the night taking donations with 100 percent of the donations aiding in finding a cure for the disease.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
2014: 2-3 overall, 1-0 Southland Conference play
Last Three Games: W vs. Nicholls (52-18), L vs. Missouri State (33-31), L at Montana State (43-33)
Head Coach: Steve Campbell. First season at UCA (2-3, .400); 16th season overall (128-41, .757)
Key Offensive Players:
• #13 Ryan Howard (Sr., QB): 77-of-120 (64.2%) for 866 yds., 10 TDs, 4 INTs
• #21 Willie Matthews (Sr., RB): 79 rushes for 299 yds. (59.8 avg.), 6 TDs
• #38 Blake Veasley (Jr., RB): 39 rushes for 154 yds. (30.8 avg.), 3 TDs
• #5 Dezmin Lewis (Sr., WR): 25 catches for 396 yds. (79.2 avg.), 1 TD
• #88 Desmond Smith (So., WR): 24 catches for 244 yds. (48.8 avg.), 4 TDs
Key Defensive Players:
• #7 Bobby Watkins (So., DB): 32 tackles (19 solo), 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 1 FR
• #46 D.J. Holland (Jr., LB): 30 tackles (23 solo), 3.5 TFL, 1 PBU
• #43 Ricky Wyatt (Jr., LB): 28 tackles (15 solo), 3.5 TFL, 2 PBU
• #31 George Odum (R-Fr., DB): 28 tackles (14 solo), 4.0 TFL, 1 INT
• #90 Jonathan Woodard (Jr., DE): 26 tackles (13 solo), 8.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Synopsis: Central Arkansas enters Saturday’s game with a 2-3 overall record, coming off a 52-18 victory over Nicholls in its SLC opener. The Bears are continuing their reputation as one of the league’s top offensive teams, averaging 35.4 points per game in 2014, rushing for 152.0 ypg while passing for 277.2 ypg. UCA has three receivers with at least 20 receptions and over 200 receiving yards on the year, led by Dezmin Lewis’ 396 yards on 25 catches, which should prove a big challenge to the SFA secondary. Defensively, preseason SLC Defensive Player of the Year Jonathan Woodard hasn’t disappointed, leading UCA with 8.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The Bears have given up an average of 32.0 points per game in 2014 while allowing nearly 200 rushing yards and 296 passing yards per game, which should provide an interesting showdown as SFA ranks first in the SLC in total offense, second in passing offense and fourth in rushing offense.
SERIES HISTORY
SFA and Central Arkansas meet for the ninth time in program history with UCA holding a 3-5 edge in the all-time series dating back to 2006. The Bears won the 2013 meeting in Conway with a 66-31 decision over the Lumberjacks, thanks in part to 38 third-quarter points, including 24-straight over a six-minute span. SFA had won three of the previous four meetings, including victories in Conway in 2009 (33-30) and in Nacogdoches in 2010 (30-7) and 2012 (42-37). The Lumberjacks are 2-2 all-time against the Bears
at Homer Bryce Stadium.
LUMBERJACKS PAY BACK WILDCATS FOR THIRD-STRAIGHT WIN
Stephen F. Austin kept its home winning streak intact on September 20th as the Lumberjacks exacted some payback on Weber State, downing the Wildcats 35-20 at Homer Bryce Stadium. RB Gus Johnson and QB Zach Conque each rushed for a pair of touchdowns on the night as Johnson tallied 83 yards on 12 carries while Conque passed for 264 yards on the night. Defensively, SFA had a handful of playmakers against Weber State, led by LB Collin Garrett racking up 16 tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a quarterback hurry. CB Keavon Madison posted five tackles with a pair of interceptions and three pass breakups while DE Ishmiah Miles notched a pair of sacks to complement his five tackles. With the win, SFA extended its winning streak to three games, its longest streak since 2011, while improved to 3-1 to start the season for the first time since 2010.
JOHNSON RUSHING TOWARDS HISTORY
Senior RB Gus Johnson continues to move up the charts as one of the Lumberjacks’ all-time greats. Johnson rushed for 83 yards on 12 carries against Weber State, upping his career total to 2,716 yards and sitting just 40 yards shy of surpassing KaRon Coleman (1996-99) for fourth all-time in program history. Johnson also needs just 284 yards to become just the third 3,000-yard rusher in program history, joining Leonard Harris (1992-95) and Andy Hopkins (1967-70). The Gilmer native also found the endzone two more times against the Wildcats, punching in scores of 15 and 26 yards to up his career touchdown total to 38. That moves him into second-place all-time in career touchdowns, trailing just former teammate Cordell Roberson’s (2009-12) 39 scores.
JOHNSON ADDED TO WALTER PAYTON WATCH LIST
Senior RB Gus Johnson has been added to the 2014 Walter Payton Watch List, announced Tuesday by The Sports Network. Johnson ranks among the national leaders in touchdowns (first), scoring (third), yards per carry (fourth) and rushing yards per game (14th), averaging 123.0 yards per game and 8.5 yards per carry with nine touchdowns. Johnson was named The Sports Network FCS Offensive Player of the Week following his 252-yard, four-touchdown performance in the game against Incarnate Word and sits on the brink of joining an elite group of runners in Lumberjack program history. The Gilmer native is hoping to follow in the footsteps of his current position coach, Jeremy Moses, who captured the Walter Payton Award in 2010.
GARRETT NOTCHES HISTORIC NIGHT
Senior LB Collin Garrett had one of his best nights in a Lumberjack uniform against Weber State, finishing with a career-high 16 tackles against the Wildcats. Garrett had five solo stops, 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack against Weber State as he continues to serve as the anchor of the SFA defensive unit with a team-best 43 tackles in 2014. The Beaumont native now has 227 career tackles, including 104 solo stops, 18.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
WIGGS CLOSING IN ON ALL-TIME MARK
Senior kicker Jordan Wiggs continues to inch closer to becoming the all-time leading scorer in SFA program history. Wiggs notched three extra points in the victory over Weber State on September 20th, upping his career point total to 91 and sitting just nine points shy of matching Chuck Rawlison’s (1988-91) 300 career points. The Grand Prairie native has already made his mark in the SFA record books, sitting first all-time in career PATs (144), second in field goals made (49), third in field goal percentage (72.1) and fifth in PAT kick percentage (95.4).
MADISON EARNING HIS SPOT
Senior CB Keavon Madison has been one of the breakthrough performers on defense for SFA through the first four weeks of the 2014 season. The former walk-on had arguably his best game in a Lumberjack uniform against Weber State on September 20th, notching five solo tackles, three pass breakups and a pair of interceptions, and would have had a third if not for a roughing the passer penalty which negated the pick. The Houston native is currently the SLC leader and ranks fourth nationally in pass breakups per game (2.0), sitting at 14 tackles (11 solo), six pass breakups and the pair of interceptions thus far in 2014.
LUMBERJACKS MAKING NATIONAL NOISE
Through the first month of the 2014 season, SFA continues to rank among the national leaders in a handful of categories. The Lumberjacks currently sit fifth nationally in sacks per game (3.75), seventh in total offense (491.5), 10th in passing offense (294.5) and 13th in tackles for loss per game (9.0). Individually, RB Gus Johnson continues to lead the nation in touchdowns (nine) while ranking third in scoring (13.5 ppg), fourth in yards per carry (8.5) and 14th in rushing yards per game (123.0). Additionally, DB Keavon Madison is fourth in passes defended per game (2.0), WR Aaron Thomas is 10th in punt return average (15.6 ypr) and LB Collin Garrett is 12th nationally in tackles per game (10.8).
SFA BEGINS 28TH SLC CAMPAIGN SATURDAY
Saturday marks the beginning of SFA’s 28th season as a member of the Southland Conference, beginning competition in the league in 1987. During that span, the Lumberjacks have compiled an 86-83-3 (.509) record in SLC play while capturing conference titles in 1989, 1999, 2009 and 2010. SFA has been efficient in its conference openers since joining the Southland, compiling a 17-10 record (.630) in SLC openers including a 1-1 record against Central Arkansas.
LUMBERJACKS AT HOMER BRYCE STADIUM
Since Homer Bryce Stadium opened in 1973, SFA has enjoyed a great deal of success between the hills. The Lumberjacks have compiled a 146-95-2 (.605) record at home, notching a winning home record in 27 of the 41 seasons Homer Bryce Stadium has served as the ‘Jacks’ home field. SFA has been especially tough at home in recent years, posting a 26-6 (.813) record since the start of the 2009 season. The Lumberjacks have enjoyed six perfect home seasons at Homer Bryce (1979, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2009 and 2012) and are 4-1 (.800) at home in NCAA postseason games.
PURPLE vs. PURPLE
Saturday’s game against Central Arkansas marks the third of five games for SFA this season in which the Lumberjacks will face an opponent that also has purple as its primary color. Three of those purple opponents share the nickname of Wildcats (Kansas State, Weber State and Abilene Christian) while the ‘Jacks will also go head-to-head against Northwestern State.
LOOKING AHEAD
For the first time in six weeks, Stephen F. Austin will head back on the road, traveling to Thibodaux, La. for a Southland Conference showdown with Nicholls. The ‘Jacks continue to look for their first road win since 2011, a span of 12 games which is the longest road winless streak in program history. Kickoff against the Colonels is set for 6 p.m. at Guidry Stadium.
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