Stephen F. Austin
Abilene Christian
SFA Drops 35-32 Thriller at ACU
9/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Abilene Christian 35, Stephen F. Austin 32
Shotwell Stadium | Abilene, Texas
Records: SFA (0-4, 0-2 SLC); ACU (2-1, 2-0 SLC)
Up Next: vs. Sam Houston State | Saturday, Oct. 3 | 3 p.m.
ABILENE, Texas – Stephen F. Austin used a 26-7 rally to take a 32-27 fourth quarter lead, but a late Abilene Christian touchdown and a thwarted final scoring attempt did in the Lumberjacks as SFA falls 35-32 to the Wildcats at Shotwell stadium. The ‘Jacks fall to 0-4 on the season and 0-2 in Southland Conference play.
Trailing 20-6 late in the first half, SFA rallied to take a 32-27 lead. Abilene Christian reclaimed the lead 35-32 with just over under six minutes to play and had a chance to seal the game, facing a third and one with just over two minutes to play. But SFA’s defense held serve, giving the ‘Jacks the ball back at its own 15 with 2:14 to go.
SFA was able to move down the field, getting into Wildcat territory with less than a minute to play, but Zach Conque’s fourth down pass to Robert Sylvester at the goal line was knocked away, giving the victory to ACU.
Offensively, SFA had one of its best showings of the year, racking up 577 yards on the afternoon, including 305 yards on the ground, while holding ACU to 425 total yards. Joshawa West was the bright spot of the day for the ‘Jacks, rushing for 133 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown, his second career 100-yard rushing performance, while catching five passes for 50 yards for 183 yards of total offense.
Conque completed 22 of his 40 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 86 yards and a touchdown, giving him his 16th career rushing touchdown and moving into sole possession of ninth all-time in SFA program history.
Justice Liggins added 74 yards on three receptions and a touchdown for the Lumberjacks with Aaron Piper recording four catches for 34 yards and a score. Robert Sylvester had the other receiving touchdown for the ‘Jacks, hauling in two catches for 55 yards.
Playing its first game in Abilene since 1984, SFA and ACU, former Lone Star Conference rivals, met for an 11 a.m. kick, marking the earliest start time since 1998 for the ‘Jacks and only the second sub-noon kick for SFA since making the jump to Division I in 1984.
After allowing an ACU touchdown on its first drive, covering 64 yards on seven plays, SFA’s offense came out firing, thanks to a pair of lengthy runs by Joshawa West to get the ‘Jacks inside the 10-yard line. Facing third and inches on the goal line, a bad snap went over Loren Easly’s head, which was recovered by Easly at the nine, then Nick Bruno’s field goal attempt was blocked as SFA came away with no points on his first possession.
ACU struck again, covering 79 yards on 10 plays to take a 13-0 lead on the ‘Jacks, but SFA’s running attack answered on the ensuing possession. Behind extended runs from both West and Fred Ford, SFA faced a first and goal inside the 10. On third down, Conque finally punched it in from one yard out, cutting the deficit to 13-6 following a missed extra point to end the first.
Both defenses began to settle into a groove in the second quarter as SFA and ACU exchanged possessions early. ACU found the endzone again with 5:32 remaining in the half as Parker McKenzie connected with Cedric Gilbert along the near sideline as Gilbert avoided a tackle and raced 55 yards to give the Wildcats the 20-6 lead.
After making a defensive stop with 1:35 left, SFA was hoping to make a dent in the scoreboard before halftime. Those hopes looked dash as the punt was mishandled by Aaron Thomas and finally recovered by the ‘Jacks at its own three yard line. But Conque led SFA 97 yards over the final 95 seconds, including a 35-yard scramble on a broken play, capped by a 13-yard touchdown strike to Aaron Piper as time expired.
Mason Juhl, playing his first game in three weeks, made the ensuing extra point, which was negated by a holding penalty on the Lumberjacks. Attempting a 30-yard extra point, Juhl pulled it wide right, giving ACU the 20-12 halftime lead.
Early in the third, ACU extended its lead to 27-12 following a 61-yard run up the middle for De’Andre Brown, coming one play after a big sack from George Stone. SFA answered on their ensuing drive as SFA covered 71 yards on nine plays, capped by a 38-yard touchdown catch and run by Justice Liggins, pulling the ‘Jacks back to within eight at 27-19 with 5:41 left in the third.
SFA then struck again early in the fourth, covering 67 yards in nine plays with West finding the endzone from 21 yards out, trimming the ACU deficit to one at 27-26 with 13:17 remaining. The ‘Jacks defense then set up the offense with prime field position, thanks to an interception by Germod Williams, which was capped by a 44-yard touchdown pass from Conque to a wide open Robert Sylvester. The two-point conversion failed, but SFA still held its first lead of the game at 32-27 with 10:48 to play.
Abilene Christian responded with a touchdown on its next drive, aided by a big third down conversion and an SFA personal foul penalty, then added the two-point conversion to take the 35-32 lead with 5:59 to play, which would prove to be the final.
The road doesn’t get any easier for SFA as the Lumberjacks now head to Houston for the annual Battle of the Piney Woods against rival Sam Houston State at NRG Stadium. Kickoff against the Bearkats is scheduled for 3 p.m. Saturday, October 3rd, airing on ESPN3.
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