SFA Unveils 2018 Football Schedule
1/18/2018 12:00:00 PM | Football
‘Jacks to face six teams from the Lone Star State for second consecutive season, play eight games on Texas soil, two in Louisiana and one in Mississippi
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The 2018 Stephen F. Austin football schedule was announced Tuesday morning and for the second consecutive season the Lumberjacks are set to take on six teams from the Lone Star State. Eight of SFA's 11 games this fall will be played on Texas soil, five of which will be held at Homer Bryce Stadium, with the 'Jacks taking on the Southeastern Conference's Mississippi State and NCAA Division II Tarleton State in non-conference action.
"It's certainly an exciting and challenging schedule," commented head coach Clint Conque. "Once again, a heavy Texas home and away slate. The schedule gives our young men motivation as we embark on an eight-week offseason and gear up for spring drills in March."
SFA went 4-1 against in-state FCS opponents in 2017, marking the first time since 1989 the 'Jacks have claimed four victories over FCS Texas opponents in the same season. It was also the first time since 1995 SFA had recorded four wins over Lone Star State schools in a single season.
The 'Jacks return a total of 23 starters from last season, including 11 with starting experience on the offensive side of the ball, nine on defense and three specialists. A total of 45 letter winners from 2017 return in 2018, four of which were named All-Southland Conference this past fall. In December, SFA signed 11 newcomers during the Lumberjacks' early signing period, four midyear junior college transfers and seven high schoolers.
SFA opens up its 2018 campaign in Starkville, Mississippi, on Saturday, Sept. 1, taking on the Bulldogs of Mississippi State. It will be the Lumberjacks' first ever contest played inside Davis Wade Stadium and the first trip to the Magnolia State for SFA since 1991 (at Jackson State). The game will mark just the fourth time the 'Jacks have taken on a current SEC opponent. Texas A&M is the only other current SEC team SFA has faced but has not played the Aggies since Texas A&M joined the SEC. Mississippi State ended the 2017 season No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 and No. 20 in the Amway Coaches poll after defeating Louisville 31-27 to claim the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Lumberjacks' home opener will be Saturday, Sept. 8 when SFA hosts Tarleton State for a 6 p.m. kickoff inside Homer Bryce. It will be the 13th meeting between the 'Jacks and Texans but the first since 2007. SFA holds a 9-3 advantage in the series, including a 3-1 mark in Nacogdoches.
UIW begins the Lumberjacks' nine-game Southland slate as SFA will travel to San Antonio to face the Cardinals in week three of the season on Saturday, Sept. 15. It will mark just the second trip to Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium for the 'Jacks with SFA holding a perfect 4-0 record against UIW. The 'Jacks will then return to the comforts of Homer Bryce the following weekend, taking on Abilene Christian in a 6 p.m. tilt Saturday, Sept. 22. The game against the Wildcats will be hosted during SFA's Parent's Weekend.
Making their first trip to the Pelican State of the season, the 'Jacks take on McNeese in Lake Charles, Louisiana, on Saturday, Sept. 29. SFA has won each of its last two games inside Cowboy Stadium, including upsetting then 13th-ranked McNeese 31-28 during the Lumberjacks' last visit to Lake Charles in 2016. Despite being left out of the FCS playoffs, the Cowboys ended 2017 ranked 18th in the final FCS Coaches Poll and 22nd in the STATS FCS Top 25 media poll.
The 93rd Battle of the Piney Woods awaits SFA in week six of the season as the 'Jacks take on Sam Houston State Saturday, Oct. 6, inside NRG Stadium in Houston. The Battle of the Piney Woods dates back to 1923 and is the fourth-longest active rivalry in the state of Texas. Presented by H-E-B, the 93rd Battle of the Piney Woods will mark the ninth-consecutive year the two teams have met inside NRG Stadium. SFA will be looking to snap a seven-game losing streak in the historic rivalry. Sam Houston State reached the 2017 FCS national semifinals before bowing out to FCS national champion North Dakota State. The Bearkats ended the season ranked No. 3 in the final FCS Coaches Poll and fourth in the STATS FCS Top 25 media poll.
Defending Southland champion Central Arkansas will come to town on Saturday, Oct. 13, with the 'Jacks hosting the Bears for a 3 p.m. kickoff in Nacogdoches. It will mark the fifth time coach Conque matches up against his former team. Central Arkansas was knocked out of the first round of the 2017 FCS playoffs but ended the regular season ranked third nationally according to the STATS FCS Top 25 media poll and finished eighth in the final FCS Coaches Poll. SFA returns to Houston the following weekend to play Houston Baptist at Husky Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 20. The 'Jacks have split both of their previous road bouts with the Huskies.
Saturday, Oct. 27, will be SFA's homecoming date, with the Cardinals of Lamar visiting Homer Bryce for a 3 p.m. contest. It will also be Football Reunion Weekend for all former Lumberjack football players as SFA celebrates and honors the 30th anniversary of the 1988 team that went 10-3 and advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals. The 'Jacks will be hosting Lamar for the first time since 2012. SFA has won six of its last seven meetings with the Cardinals.
For the second-straight year, the 'Jacks will have their bye week late in the season with SFA getting Saturday, Nov. 3, off from game action.
After playing inside the state of Texas for the entirety of October, the 'Jacks return to Louisiana for a second time on Saturday, Nov. 10, to face Nicholls in Thibodaux. Coach Conque, an All-American linebacker as a Colonel, will return to his alma mater for the third time as SFA's lead man. Nicholls reached the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2005 this past season and finished ranked 23rd in the final FCS Coaches Poll and 25th in the STATS FCS Top 25 media poll.
The 53rd Battle for Chief Caddo will be played on a Thursday night for the Lumberjacks' regular season finale. SFA hosts Northwestern State on senior night Thursday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m. as the Demons and 'Jacks clash for the largest traveling trophy in all of college sports. The game will mark the 75th time the two border rivals have met and the 34th-consecutive year SFA and Northwestern State have played in the final contest of the regular season. The 'Jacks will be attempting to take back the Chief Caddo trophy after retaining possession of it in six of the last nine years. SFA has won each of the last four meetings in Nacogdoches dating back to 2010.
Tickets for the 2018 football season go on sale Monday, April 2.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the offseason this spring.
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