Homecoming 2017 Awaits SFA Saturday Inside Homer Bryce Stadium

Saturday, October 21

Nacogdoches, Texas

3:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

Houston Baptist

Homecoming 2017 Awaits SFA Saturday Inside Homer Bryce Stadium

10/18/2017 4:42:00 PM | Football

‘Jacks return to Homer Bryce Stadium for lone home game in the month of October, host Houston Baptist University for just the second time in program history

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

THE KICKOFF
After an extremely difficult four-week stretch, one that involved three-straight games against nationally-ranked opponents, the Stephen F. Austin football team returns to Nacogdoches and the comforts of Homer Bryce Stadium for Homecoming 2017, presented by Nacogdoches Memorial Health. The Lumberjacks will welcome Houston Baptist University for a 3 p.m. Southland Conference matchup that pits two teams looking to snap losing streaks. It will be the first home game for SFA since hosting No. 25 McNeese on Sept. 30. The homecoming contest is the lone game played in Nacogdoches in the month of October and marks the second to last home game of the season for the 'Jacks.

FOLLOWING THE LUMBERJACKS
Saturday's game versus Houston Baptist will be streamed live online at ESPN3, available at ESPN3.com or through the ESPN app on mobile devices. Rob Meyers, the voice of the Lumberjacks, will call the game along with color commentator Kevin Langford on Q107.7 FM, available online at Q1077.com as well as through the Lumberjack Sports Network on the TuneIn app. Live stats will be available at SFAJacks.com, complemented by Twitter updates from @SFA_Football.

ABOUT THE GAME
For just the second time in SFA's 91-year football history, Houston Baptist will visit Nacogdoches as the two teams will meet for the fourth time. After playing three consecutive games against nationally-ranked opponents for the first time since 2013, the 'Jacks will take on an opponent with a losing record for just the third time this season. SFA went 2-0 in the previous two contests - at home versus Incarnate Word (37-31) and at Abilene Christian (20-10). The last month has been the most challenging for the 'Jacks in many different aspects. With two long-distance road trips, two games against top-10 teams and a home game against a top-25 team, SFA is looking forward to hosting a non-ranked opponent on its home turf. The 'Jacks went 1-3 during that span but have now completed the most difficult part of their schedule. The four-game gauntlet got started with a 728-mile round trip to Abilene, Texas, followed by a home contest against 25th-ranked McNeese and the 92nd Battle of the Piney Woods at NRG Stadium in Houston versus No. 11 Sam Houston State, before wrapping up with a 642-mile round trip to Conway, Arkansas, to face the sixth-ranked Bears of Central Arkansas. The Huskies enter Saturday's Southland matchup on a four-game slide after winning their second game of the season. Nacogdoches Memorial Health will serve as the presenting game sponsor.

SFA ON HOMECOMIONG
Saturday, alumni, friends and family from all over the Lone Star State and nation-wide will flock to Nacogdoches and the campus of SFA for Homecoming 2017. The 'Jacks hold a 40-36-1 (.533) all-time record in homecoming games since the tradition began on Nov. 28, 1929, when SFA defeated Sam Houston State by a score of 14-12. In five of the last six homecoming games, the 'Jacks have emerged victorious with wins over McNeese, Nicholls twice, Southeastern Louisiana and Incarnate Word. SFA's lone blemish on homecoming since 2011 came last year when the 'Jacks dropped a 58-34 decision to Southeastern Louisiana. Houston Baptist will be making its debut as a homecoming opponent for SFA. The 'Jacks most frequent homecoming opponent has been Sam Houston State as SFA has faced the Bearkats a total of 18 times in homecoming contests.

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
2017: 1-5 overall, 0-4 Southland Conference (T10th)
Last Three Games: Loss vs. Southeastern Louisiana (56-10), Loss vs. No. 8 Central Arkansas (27-7), Loss at McNeese (27-12)
Head Coach: Vic Shealy (Richmond, 1984). Fifth season at Houston Baptist (12-34, .261); Ninth season overall (39-48-1, .449).
Key Offensive Players:
• #11 Bailey Zappe (Fr., QB): 98-of-175 (56.0%) for 948 yds., 1 TD, 60-yd. long, 158 yds. per game, 7 INTs
• #8 Terrance Peters (Sr., RB): 61 carries for 217 yds., 3.6 yds. per rush, 1 TD, 22-yd. long, 36.2 yds. per game
• #9 James Brown (Fr., RB): 50 carries for 209 yds., 4.2 yds. per rush, 1 TD, 34-yd. long, 34.8 yds. per game
• #7 Ethan Fry (Sr., WR): 25 catches for 275 yds., 11 yds. per catch, 1 TD, 45.8 yds. per game, 60-yd. long
• #17 Dennis Houston (Fr., WR): 23 catches for 247 yds., 10.7 yds. per catch, 41.2 yds. per game, 22-yd. long
Key Defensive Players:
• #40 Garrett Dolan (Sr., LB): 69 tackles (43 solo), 7.5 TFL for -12 yds., 4 QBH
• #22 Cody Moncure (Sr., LB): 49 tackles (27 solo), 1 pass breakup, 1 QBH
• #49 Andre Walker (So., DE): 32 tackles (18 solo), 8 TFL for -34 yds., 1 sack for -8 yds., 1 QBH, 1 safety
• #36 Terrell Brown (Sr., LB): 20 tackles (12 solo), 4.0 TFL for -13 yds., 1 interception for 13 yds., 1 QBH, 1 forced fumble
• #48 Johnavhon Graham (Jr., DE): 13 tackles (10 solo), 3.0 TFL for -16 yds., 3.0 sacks for -16 yds., 1 fumble recovery

OPPONENT SYNOPSIS
After opening the season with four-straight road games, Houston Baptist played at home back-to-back weeks to begin the month of October. Saturday, the Huskies will be playing on the road for the first time since their Sept. 23 game at McNeese. Much like SFA, Houston Baptist has recently gone through the heavy part of its 2017 schedule, however, the Huskies had their bye week in between. Traveling to Abilene, Texas, to take on the Wildcats first, Houston Baptist then went to McNeese the following week, before receiving its bye prior to hosting No. 8 Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana, who is receiving votes in both national polls. The Huskies have not seen the win column since week two of the season when they defeated Texas Southern out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference 24-17 on the road, it is Houston Baptist's lone win on the season. Led by fifth-year head coach Vic Shealy, the Huskies are in just their fifth year of football program existence after beginning play for the 2013-14 season. Through six games this year, Houston Baptist ranks last in the Southland in scoring at 11.2 points per game and in total offense, averaging 266.7 offensive yards per game. In fact, the Huskies have scored only 67 points in the six contests and notched just seven total touchdowns, one of those coming on an interception return. The Huskies' 85.3 rushing yards per game and 181.3 passing yards per game are both second-worst in the league. However, defensively, Houston Baptist has shined at times and owns the fourth-best total defense in the conference, holding opponents to 373 offensive yards per game. The Huskies are allowing opposing offenses to the third-lowest amount of passing yards per contest (204) in the Southland but are giving up 169 rushing yards per game. Against league opponents Houston Baptist has not been nearly as good on the defensive side of the ball, giving up 39.5 points per game as offenses have averaged just over 400 yards per outing against the Huskies. Averaging only eight points per contest in Southland play, Houston Baptist has managed just 232.8 yards of total offense per game in its previous four matchups. A senior-laden team that returned 17 starters from a year ago, the Huskies have one of the best defensive players in the entire nation in senior linebacker Garrett Dolan. An All-American and All-Southland First Team honoree in 2017, Dolan is averaging a league-best 11.5 total tackles and 7.2 solo stops per game to rank fifth and sixth nationally in each respective category. He has amassed 69 total tackles on the season, including making 43 solo stops and claiming seven and a half tackles for loss for negative 12 yards.

SERIES INFORMATION
SFA has won two of its first three meetings with Houston Baptist, including the first two games in the series. The 'Jacks first-ever meeting with the Huskies took place on Oct. 18, 2014, in Houston as SFA posted a 59-27 win. The following season, SFA routed Houston Baptist 55-20 on Nov. 14, 2015, in Nacogdoches. Last year was the Lumberjacks' lone defeat in the series as the Huskies recorded a one-touchdown, 31-24 win on their home turf. SFA has averaged 46 points in the three games, compared to 23.7 by Houston Baptist.

SFA ON OCT. 21
The 'Jacks have played a total of 11 times on Oct. 21 and have gone 5-6 in those games. SFA has not played on the date in 11 years with its last contest on Oct. 21 taking place in 2006 when the 'Jacks were handed a 20-17 home loss by McNeese. Posting a 5-6 record in Oct. 21 games played on the road, SFA has yet to win on the date in Nacogdoches in its previous three tries. The 'Jacks were defeated in 1967 by Howard Payne (6-3) and lost a 21-9 contest against East Texas State, now Texas A&M-Commerce, in 1972. The first-ever game SFA played on Oct. 21 took place in 1933 when the 'Jacks traveled to Trinity University and were handed a 13-0 loss. Saturday, SFA will be seeking its first Oct. 21 win since defeating Nicholls 27-20 on the road in 2000.

BIG PLAY ALIZE
All sophomore safety Alize Ward (San Diego, Calif.) seems to do is make big plays in critical moments of games. This past weekend in the narrow loss at sixth-ranked Central Arkansas, Ward had another momentum-changing play at a crucial time in the game. With the score tied at 17 heading into the fourth quarter and the Bears driving for what appeared to be an inevitable go-ahead touchdown, Ward came up with an interception in the back of the end zone to stop Central Arkansas inside SFA's five-yard line. The pick was Ward's fourth of the season, which is tied for the most by any player in the Southland this season. Two weeks ago, Ward picked off reigning Walter Payton Award winner Jeremiah Briscoe in the second quarter against Sam Houston State, returning the interception 52 yards to set up the Lumberjack's first scoring drive of the game. Earlier this season, he made national headlines as his 70-yard, game-winning pick-six with no time on the clock versus Incarnate Word gave the 'Jacks their first win of the 2017 season. The play appeared as the No. 3 play on ESPN SportCenter's Top 10 plays of the night. Ward's 62 total tackles this season rank second in the conference as his 8.9 tackles per game are fourth-best. He has also played a key role on special teams as SFA's lead kickoff return man. Through seven games, Ward has totaled 583 kickoff return yards and is averaging 25.3 yards per return. Chasing the all-time program record for kickoff return yards in a season (1,038), set by Gralyn Crawford in 2010, Ward has registered 100+ kickoff return yards in three separate games this fall.

THIRD-MOST SOUTHLAND VICTORIES
With Ward's heroics at the end of SFA's 37-31 comeback win over Incarnate Word on Sept. 16, the 'Jacks became just the third Southland team to notch 100 conference wins all-time. Ward's game-winning pick-six as time expired gave SFA its 100th Southland victory in program history as the 'Jacks now own an all-time intra-Southland record of 101-98-3 since joining the league in 1987. The only other teams to achieve the feat are McNeese (184) and Sam Houston State (116). With 97 Southland victories, Northwestern State has a chance this season to become the fourth conference school to reach the mark.

LAST TIME OUT: NO. 6 CENTRAL ARKANSAS 24, SFA 20
A late fourth-quarter touchdown with 90 seconds left propelled sixth-ranked Central Arkansas to a 24-20 win over visiting SFA Saturday night inside Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas. The Bears got a 17-yard touchdown pass on a fade route from starting quarterback Hayden Hildebrand to Roman Gordon after the 'Jacks had taken a 20-17 lead off of a 24-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Storm Ruiz (League City, Texas). After being deadlocked at 17-17 for nearly 19:30 of play, SFA broke the tie when it went 55 yards on 11 plays in 4:15 midway through the fourth quarter. The drive ended on Ruiz' field goal that gave the 'Jacks a 20-17 advantage with just over three minutes to go. The three-point lead would not hold as Central Arkansas got a 61-yard return from Cedric Battle on the ensuing kickoff, giving the Bears the ball at the SFA 38. Central Arkansas needed just three plays to get the ball in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown, taking up 1:21 of clock in the process. Despite claiming three interceptions and not committing any turnovers, the 'Jacks were outgained 450 to 319 in total offensive yards, including 290 to 150 through the air. SFA owned a +9 advantage in rushing yards, outgaining the Bears 169 to 160 on the ground for the most gained in a game this season. Sophomore quarterback Jake Blumrick (Pearland, Texas) finished 19-of-36 for 150 yards, while Hildebrand went 25-of-35 for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back Kijana Amous (Mansfield, Texas) ran for a career-high 142 yards on 19 carries as junior Texas A&M transfer wide receiver Terian Goree (Carthage, Texas) tallied a career-high 62 receiving yards on six receptions. Defensively, freshman safety Trenton Gordon (Rowlett, Texas) led the 'Jacks with nine tackles, including seven solo stops. Senior defensive end John Franklin (Greenville, Texas) posted six total tackles and had four solo stops, including a tackle for loss. The top defensive front in the Southland and one of the best in the nation got to the Lumberjacks' Blumrick in the backfield a total of seven times for a loss of 42 yards. The Bears' defense accumulated 61 yards on 13 tackles for loss and had 11 pass breakups. Amous had a 40-yard run in the third quarter for SFA's longest rushing play of the season. His 142 rushing yards on the night were the most by a Lumberjack since SFA's Loren Easly claimed 169 on Oct. 15, 2016, versus Southeastern Louisiana. Prior to facing the 'Jacks, Central Arkansas had not committed a turnover in its previous three games but SFA's defense came up with three takeaways. Furthermore, the Bears' Hildebrand, who was recently named to the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award Watch List, had only thrown two interceptions all season before the 'Jacks picked him off three different times Saturday.

COACH CONQUE FOURTH ALL-TIME IN SOUTHLAND VICTORIES
Head coach Clint Conque is climbing the all-time career Southland victories top-10 list as he now has a total of 48 Southland wins after the 20-10 triumph at Abilene Christian on Sept. 23. He holds a career record of 48-32 (.600) in Southland contests since 2007, including going 33-16 in the league while at the helm of Central Arkansas from 2007-13. Conque is just one game shy of third place on the all-time Southland wins list as former Northwestern State head coach Sam Goodwin occupies the spot with a 49-32-2 career record.

FRANKLIN MOVING UP THE CAREER LISTS
Senior defensive end John Franklin registered half a sack in the win at Abilene Christian on Sept. 23, moving him into the all-time top-10 list for career sacks in program history. He now has 15.5 sacks for his career and sits tied for ninth with Ishmiah Miles and James Kern. Additionally, Franklin collected 1.5 tackles for loss in the victory over the Wildcats to move into eighth on SFA's all-time career top-l0 list for tackles for loss. After a tackle for loss last weekend against No. 6 Central Arkansas, Franklin now has tallied a total of 31 TFL for his career, just one shy of moving into a tie for sixth place on the all-time career tackles for loss top-10 list.

-SFA-