Stephen F. Austin Hosts Southern Utah in 2017 Home Opener Saturday

Saturday, September 9

Nacogdoches, Texas

6:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

Southern Utah

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Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography

Stephen F. Austin Hosts Southern Utah in 2017 Home Opener Saturday

9/6/2017 9:20:00 AM | Football

The Lumberjack football team begins the home portion of their 2017 schedule Saturday when SFA welcomes Southern Utah to Homer Bryce Stadium

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

THE KICKOFF
Stephen F. Austin returns to Nacogdoches for its 2017 home opener Saturday, presented by BancorpSouth. The Lumberjacks host Southern Utah University out of the Big Sky Conference in a 6 p.m. kickoff from inside Homer Bryce Stadium. It will be SFA's final non-conference tilt before heading into Southland Conference play next weekend. Serving as the front end of back-to-back home games, Saturday's contest will be the first of three night games played inside Homer Bryce this season.

FOLLOWING THE LUMBERJACKS
Saturday's game against Southern Utah 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
Presented by Bancorp South, Saturday's game will be featured as a white out and will be both United Way Day and Hurricane Harvey Relief Day. With the people of southeast Texas heavy on everyone's hearts after the destruction left by Hurricane Harvey, the Stephen F. Austin athletics department will be conducting a supply drive to help those in need rebuild. Members of the Lumberjack baseball team, in addition to student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC) members, will be positioned at each gate collecting rebuilding items. Fans are encouraged to bring buckets either filled with interior cleanup items such as liquid household cleaners, dish soap, bleach, scrub brushes, cleaning wipes, sponges and disposable rags; or filled with exterior cleanup items such as crowbars, hammers, utility knives, work gloves, and dust masks to help aid with the recovery from the mass flooding.

MUSTANGS AND NOW THUNDERBIRDS
For the second time in as many weeks, SFA will take on a mascot with the same name as one of Ford Motor Company's cars. Last Saturday, the Lumberjacks traveled to Dallas to face the Mustangs of SMU and will now host the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah. SFA saw plenty of horsepower from the Mustangs this past weekend as SMU posted 58 points and racked up 465 yards of total offense, including scoring five touchdowns in the first half. Much like the outdated Ford Thunderbirds, the 'Jacks hope put the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah out of manufacturing offensive drives this Saturday.

SCOUTING THE THUNDERBIRDS
2017: 0-1 overall, 0-0 Big Sky Conference (T2nd)
Last Three Games: Loss at Oregon (77-21), Win at Northern Arizona (48-21) (2016), Loss at BYU (37-7)
Head Coach: Demario Warren (UC Davis, 2008). Second season at Southern Utah (6-6, .500); Second season overall (6-6, .500).
Key Offensive Players:
• #18 Landen Measom (Fr., WR): 5 catches for 106 yds., 1 TD, 64-yd. long
• #3 Tyler Patrick (Sr., QB): 18-of-34 (52.9%) for 197 yds., 1 TD, 2 INTs, 64-yd. long
• #23 James Felila (So., RB): 20 rushes for 60 yds., 1 TD
• #21 Janiero Green Jr. (So., RB): 5 rushes for 32 yds., 16-yd. long
• #6 Cameron Chambers (Sr., WR): 3 catches for 27 yds., 0 TDs
Key Defensive Players:
• #35 Chinedu Ahanonu (Jr., LB): 11 tackles (6 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup
• #30 Tyler Collet (Sr., S): 9 tackles (8 solo)
• #90 Anu Pole'o (Sr., DL): 7 tackles (4 solo), 2.0 TFL for 14 yds., 1.0 sack
• #34 Mike Needham (Sr., LB): 8 tackles (4 solo)
• #94 Taylor Nelson (Sr., LB): 5 tackles (3 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1 fumble recovery

OPPONENT SYNOPSIS
Led by second-year head coach Demario Warren, Southern Utah prides itself on defense. Eight of the Thunderbirds' 11 starters from a season ago have returned for a 2017 campaign. Much of Southern Utah's defensive line and linebacker corps is still intact from a year ago when the Thunderbirds ranked fifth in the Big Sky Conference in scoring defense and led the league with 20 interceptions. In 2016, Southern Utah made it an emphasis to get to the quarterback, ranking fifth in the conference with 26 total sacks for 178 yards lost. The Thunderbirds also ranked near the top of the Big Sky in opponent third and fourth-down conversion, holding their opponents to a 38.4% third-down conversion rate and a 45.8% fourth-down conversion mark. Not surprisingly, Southern Utah's defense had the second-best turnover margin in the league, coming away with 26 total takeaways while turning the ball over just 14 times for a +12 margin. With the fourth-best red zone defense in the Big Sky, the Thunderbirds kept opponents from scoring 20% of the time they got inside Southern Utah's 20-yard line.

Several of Southern Utah's front seven look to be quite dangerous for opposing offenses, including senior preseason All-Big Sky picks Robert Torgerson and Mike Needham. Torgerson did not play in the Thunderbirds' 2017 opener at the University of Oregon last Saturday but if healthy, can put up numbers like last year when he registered 12 tackles for loss and five sacks. A staple in the linebacker unit, Needham led the team in total tackles (75), interceptions (5) and deflected passes (13), not to mention collecting nine tackles for loss and three sacks. Torgerson and Needham are just two of five seniors on Southern Utah's front seven as the Thunderbirds boast plenty of experience at every level of the defense.

Perhaps the hardest player for SFA's offense to get around will be junior linebacker Chinedu Ahanonu, who is returning to the gridiron after serving on a two-year Latter-day Saints mission. In 2014, Ahanonu was nothing short of impressive as he led a talent-loaded team, which had two current NFL players in Miles Killebrew (Oakland Raiders) and James Cowser (Detroit Lions), with 152 total tackles, including 76 solo stops, 8.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, two picks and a sack. He was named All-Big Sky Second Team for the year. A senior-laden secondary for Southern Utah may be equally impressive as its front seven with 2016 All-Big Sky Third Team selection safety Kyle Hannermann leading the way. Safeties Tyler Collet and Mitch Dalley combined for 122 total tackles in 2016, while cornerback Jarmaine Doubs sealed a victory over Portland State a year ago with a 98-yard pick-six that set the program record for the longest interception return.

The Thunderbirds are just two years removed from capturing the 2015 Big Sky Conference title when they defeated Northern Arizona 49-41 for the "Grand Canyon Trophy". After claiming the league's automatic postseason bid, Southern Utah was defeated in a 42-39 shootout at Sam Houston State in the opening round of the 2015 FCS playoffs. In his first season at the helm of the Thunderbirds, coach Warren went 6-5 overall and posted a 5-3 mark in Big Sky play to tie for fourth in the final league standings.

Southern Utah opened up the 2017 season last Saturday at Oregon, falling 77-21 against the Pac-12 powerhouse. The Thunderbirds scored three touchdowns in the first half but were shutout in the third and fourth quarters. A nine play, 70-yard drive early in the first quarter was capped by a four-yard touchdown run by senior starting quarterback Patrick Tyler, giving Southern Utah its first score of the game. The Thunderbirds then added a second score with just under 2:30 to go in the second quarter when Tyler found freshman wide out Landen Measom for a 64-yard touchdown. Southern Utah's final score of the game came right before halftime when sophomore running back James Felila ended a short five-play, 24-yard drive with a four-yard rush into the end zone. Trailing 42-21 at the half, the Thunderbirds witnessed the Ducks score five touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters. Southern Utah was outgained 703 to 365 for the game as Oregon was able to put up 355 passing yards and gain 348 yards on the ground. Tyler finished the game going 25-of-48 for 266 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown. After receiving top-25 votes in the preseason STATS FCS media poll, Southern Utah did not receive any top-25 votes following its week one performance.

SERIES INFORMATION
Saturday will be the fifth meeting between the Lumberjacks and the Thunderbirds with SFA holding a 3-1 lead in the series. All four previous meetings took place between 2002-05 with two of those contests going down to the wire. The two schools first met on Oct. 5, 2002, in Nacogdoches as the 'Jacks claimed a dominant 52-6 victory. The following year was the lone win for Southern Utah in the series with the Thunderbirds narrowly edging SFA 22-21 in Cedar City on Sept. 13, 2003. After trailing the 'Jacks 21-7, Southern Utah came storming back and trimmed the margin to just one at 21-20 after scoring on a three-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds remaining. The Thunderbirds faked the extra point after the score and ran it in for a two-point conversion, gaining the 22-21 advantage. On Sept. 25, 2004, SFA welcomed Southern Utah back to Homer Bryce as the two teams found themselves in another heart stopper. Ryan Rossner's 53-yard field goal as time expired proved to be the game winner for the 'Jacks after the game had been tied up by the Thunderbirds at 21-21 with 39 seconds to go. The 24-21 win would be separated by a much larger margin the following year on Sept. 24, 2005, when SFA routed Southern Utah 40-17 back in Cedar City.

LAST TIME OUT: SMU 58, SFA 14
The SFA football team's 2017 campaign opened up with a 58-14 loss at SMU last Saturday night inside Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. Several early miscues on both the offensive and defensive ends led to a 21-point first quarter outburst by the host Mustangs. After going three and out on their opening drive to start the game, the 'Jacks witnessed a 12 play, 74 yard by the Mustangs that took just over four minutes of play. Resulting in a 13-yard touchdown pass from SMU's starting quarterback Ben Hicks to Heisman Trophy candidate Courtland Sutton, it would be the first of five consecutive Mustang touchdowns to start the game. Moments later, sophomore starting quarter Jake Blumrick (Pearland, Texas) had his pass intercepted by SMU's Jordan Wyatt for an 85-yard pick-six. SMU had no trouble running on the 'Jacks as the Mustangs got a 51-yard run from Braeden West on the first play of a 78-yard touchdown drive that involved all rushing plays. The drive came to an end with a one-yard score from D.J. Gillins, putting SMU ahead 28-0 with 13:30 left in the second quarter. The Mustangs took a 35-0 lead less than a minute later on the ensuing SFA possession when junior TCU transfer quarterback Foster Sawyer (Fort Worth, Texas) was sacked in his own end zone, causing a fumble that was recovered by SMU for a touchdown. The 'Jacks finally got on the scoreboard when senior running back Kijana Amous (Mansfield, Texas) broke free for a 23-yard scamper up the gut. The touchdown by Amous capped SFA's most successful drive of the night, going 75 yards in nine plays and using 3:55 of the clock. The Mustangs extended their lead even further in the third quarter, scoring on a Hicks' 35-yard touchdown pass to Trey Quinn. A pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter gave SMU its largest lead of the game at 58-7. Redshirt freshman Josh McGowen (McAllen, Texas) put SFA in great field position after taking a Mustangs' kickoff 71 yards to the SMU 23-yard line. Just two plays later, the 'Jacks scored their second touchdown of the night following a 17-yard reception by freshman Dylan Parker (Elysian Fields, Texas) and a six-yard catch-and-run score by junior Arkansas running back transfer Juan Day (Little Rock, Ark.). SFA was outgained 465 to 219 in total yards for the game, including 222 to 144 through the air and 243 to 75 on the ground. Penalties also cost the 'Jacks as SFA was flagged for 85 yards on 10 different calls. Sophomore safety Alize Ward (San Diego, Calif.) came just 16-yards short of the program's all-time single-game kickoff return yards record, earning 171 yards on six kickoffs including a 56-yard return in the first quarter. Ward also led the 'Jacks on defense, making eight total tackles. Blumrick completed 13 of his 27 pass attempts for 134 yards and a score, while sophomore wide receiver Tamrick Pace (Brownsboro, Texas) reeled in five catches for 51 yards. Amous finished the night with 38 yards on the ground and one of SFA's two touchdowns.

LAST TIME VS. SOUTHERN UTAH
After trailing by three, 10-7, in the first quarter the 'Jacks rallied to score 13 unanswered points and take a 20-10 lead in the third quarter. The winless Thunderbirds put up a strong fight in their homecoming to pull to within three points, 20-17, with 13:04 remaining in the game, but that's when the Lumberjack offense took control of the game. SFA got the ball back and mounted their longest scoring drive of the game. After forcing an SUU punt, senior quarterback Zeke Dixon guided the 'Jacks on an eight-play, 85-yard drive that culminated in a Louie Runnels' seven-yard touchdown run to give SFA a 26-17 advantage. Runnels finished the night with 12 carries for 67 yards and two touchdowns. All but six of Runnels' rushing yards came in the second half. After forcing the Thunderbirds to punt from their own 17-yard line, junior linebacker Kenneth Boley knifed through the line to block Brandon Perkins' punt. Boley then pounced on the ball in the end zone to give SFA a 33-17 lead. Runnels added the second of his two touchdowns with a one-yard plunge with 1:55 remaining in the contest. Dixon finished the game with a 16-of-33 performance, for 290 yards and two touchdowns. One of Dixon's TD passes was a 64-yard strike to sophomore wide out Tyrell Williams to give SFA its first lead of the game, 7-3, with 7:18 in the first quarter. The Dixon-to-Williams connection hooked up again late in the first half, when Dixon hit Williams for a 16-yard TD pass with only 46 seconds remaining in the half. Williams finished the game with four receptions for 107 yards. The Lumberjacks recorded 449 yards of total offense, while holding the inspired Thunderbirds to 317 yards and forcing them into five turnovers. Senior Ryan Luedecke led the Lumberjack defense with 11 tackles (four solo stops), two tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a pass deflection.

SPECIAL TEAMS ON POINT
The 'Jacks set an all-time program record this past Saturday despite the lopsided score in favor of SMU. SFA's 270 yards gained on nine kickoffs shatters the previous record of 230 set in 2008 against South Dakota State. The nine kickoff returns were also just one shy off the record of 10. Paired with Ward's near-record 171 kickoff return yards, McGowen registered 99 total kickoff return yards, including his game-long 71-yard run back. Other areas of special teams seemed well polished as SFA did not commit a penalty on a special teams play and junior kicker/punter Caleb Lewallen (Kingwood, Texas) notched eight punts for 313 yards (39.1 yds./avg.).

LUMBERJACKS BACK HOME
Since Homer Bryce Stadium opened in 1973, SFA has enjoyed a great deal of success in Nacogdoches. The 'Jacks have compiled a 154-101-2 (.603) record at home, earning their 150th win at Homer Bryce with the 55-21 victory over Incarnate Word on Oct. 31, 2015. SFA has earned a winning home record in 30 of the 44 seasons Homer Bryce Stadium has served as the home of the 'Jacks with the 3-2 mark in 2017 solidifying their eighth-straight home winning record, posting a 34-12 (.739) record at Homer Bryce during that span. SFA has enjoyed six perfect home seasons at Homer Bryce (1979, 1989, 1997, 1999, 2009 and 2012) and is 4-1 (.800) at home in NCAA postseason games.

COACH CROWTON CONNECTION
Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton will go up against his former team Saturday after having spent the 2014-15 school year at Southern Utah, also as offensive coordinator. Coach Crowton is also originally from the Beehive State, hailing from Orem, Utah, a town about three hours northeast of Southern Utah's campus in Cedar City.

-SFA-