Lumberjacks Making Most of Bye Week
10/22/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Following it's come-from-behind victory over 21st-ranked Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin is in the midst of its bye week as the Lumberjacks prepare for the stretch run of the season. Sitting at 2-5 on the year and 2-3 in Southland Conference play, head coach Clint Conque admits the team isn't where it wants to be, but knows the season is far from over.
"We still have a lot to play for," Conque said. "We have Homecoming next week, then a trip to Conway (Arkansas) to play a tough Central Arkansas team, then we have Senior Day, then the Battle for Chief Caddo. Sure, we're disappointed by the way the first half of the season played out, but the season isn't over by any means."
SFA began to right the ship in the past two week, notching back-to-back comeback wins against Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana. Trailing by 14 points in the second half, the Lumberjacks rallied to defeat the Colonels 28-24, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 26 seconds remaining.
The following week, the `Jacks trailed 21st-ranked Southeastern Louisiana 20-0 in the second quarter before staging another comeback, defeating the Lions 28-27 by punching in the game-winning score with 38 seconds left. It marks the first time since SFA became a Division I program the Lumberjacks have recorded two comebacks of 14 points or more in the same season as the `Jacks have lead for a combined 64 seconds in its two victories.
A number of players notched impressive performances in the win over Lions, including junior QB Hunter Taylor. Entering the game in the second quarter, Taylor passed for a career-high 214 yards and three touchdowns, helping spearhead the SFA comeback. The junior then engineered a 16-play, 72-yard drive over the final five minutes, capped by the go-ahead touchdown with 38 seconds to go.
Defensively, sophomore John Franklin had his best game in an SFA uniform, finishing with four tackles for loss, including three sacks. Two of Franklin's sacks came in key situations in the fourth quarter, one ended a drive on third down and the other coming with 14 seconds left, helping stall the Lion drive. For his efforts, Franklin was named a Hero Sports FCS Defensive Stud of the Week (link here).
As has been Conque's philosophy during his coaching career, the bye week has been utilized to focus on the health and future of the program. Practices are designed for SFA's underclassmen and redshirt players, giving them extended reps while the upperclassmen get an opportunity to rest and heal.
"It's just a critical week for us as far as the growth of the program, and certainly for the growth of some of our individual players," Conque said. "I look forward to attacking the week, get a lot done both on and off the field, and hopefully make it a productive week."
Part of the bye week includes preparations for SFA's next opponent as the Lumberjacks will play host to Incarnate Word on Saturday, October 31st. The Cardinals will serve as SFA's 76th Homecoming opponent, kicking off at 3 p.m. at Homer Bryce Stadium.
Head Coach Clint Conque's Press Transcript
On the victory over Southeastern Louisiana:
"Obviously it was a good win for us. They were certainly a quality opponent and talented football team and I'm really proud of our team. It was a long trip - probably our toughest trip in regards to the logistics of getting there, particularly going through Baton Rouge the weekend of LSU and Florida as well as Southern University's Homecoming. But I'm really proud of our players and how they handled it. They showed some maturity and perseverance. Certainly anytime you can win on the road against an opponent like Southeastern Louisiana, it's a huge shot in the arm. I'm really pleased how we didn't come unraveled. It would be really easy to come unraveled when you're down 20-0 in a hostile environment on their Homecoming in a tough place to play. Our players really responded and I thought we played tough, situational football. Obviously Hunter Taylor coming in sparked us and gave us a shot in the arm in middle relief. Their blitzes confused us early, so we changed up the game plan and went to a quick passing game. I think we rushed for close to 300 yards for three consecutive weeks and they were determined not to let us run the football this week. De'Quann Ruffini came of age and made some tremendous catches for us and Joshawa West was able to sneak out a couple of big runs that really were a part of a critical drive before the half that resulted in a late touchdown. I'm proud of our coaching staff, too, because we made a couple of adjustments on defense and really in the second half contained them outside of one long run. I think we played really clean, having just four penalties compared to their 11 or 12, and won the turnover battle two to one. We were good on third down, good in the red zone, and had another fourth quarter drive that was well executed. We had to convert five different third downs on that drive, including three third and shorts, so it was a good win. Now we need to get healthy and get ready for the last push of the season."
On the team learning how to win:
"You need to learn how to win, and I think we're starting to figure that out. We've lost so many close ones that I think we're learning what it takes. I think it says a lot when you can go on lengthy fourth quarter drives and execute. Last week (against Nicholls) we went 84 yards on 13 plays, scoring in the last minute, and this week (against Southeastern Louisiana) it was 16 plays and 72 yards. We had no turnovers, no penalties and we executed on third down. Hopefully that builds a lot of confidence not just with our offense, but in all three phases. We had to secure a punt return, with our fourth-string punt returner no less, and we had to make a big stop on defense with under a minute to go."
On the decision to go with Hunter Taylor in the second quarter:
"Zach (Conque) was a little frustrated. He had a fumble on a sack in the first quarter that didn't sit well with him and they showed some exotic blitz packages that confused us. Hunter is a gun slinger and we decided to go to amore of a quick passing game. We almost completely abandoned the run, which is a scary situation to be in, but they weren't going to let us run for any substantial yards with either our running backs or quarterback. Hunter came in and gave us a shot in the arm. Our receivers caught the ball well and broke some tackles to give us some momentum. That will bode well for our team and bode well for Hunter and the confidence he gained from it. Certainly Zach came in and made some crucial plays on the last drive as well, and then our defense came up big in the second half. It was a great team win that all three phases contributed to."
On what will be accomplished during the bye week:
"This is probably one of my favorite weeks during the season, outside from the competition aspect. It gives us a chance to get healthy both physically and academically. We get back in the weight room where we can push ourselves and then it gives us an opportunity where we can work with our younger players -- our redshirt players and some guys on the scout team that have not been getting as many snaps. We're going to need them to step up as we go down the last stretch of the season and into the future of the program, so their development is critical. We'll do a little bit of game planning for Incarnate Word as well as some recruiting. It's just a critical week for us as far as the growth of the program, and certainly for the growth of some of our individual players," Conque said. "I look forward to attacking the week, get a lot done both on and off the field, and hopefully make it a productive week."
-SFA-
