Saturday, October 20
Houston, Texas / Husky Stadium
6 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
at
Houston Baptist
Photo by: Hardy Meredith | SFA Photography
SFA Returns to Houston, Takes on Huskies Saturday for Southland Matchup on ESPN3
10/17/2018 10:24:00 AM | Football
‘Jacks to play in Houston for second time in three weeks, face Houston Baptist for fifth time in program history
Stephen F. Austin (1-5, 1-4 Southland) at Houston Baptist (1-5, 0-4 Southland)
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. | Husky Stadium | Houston, Texas
Watch – ESPN3 | Listen (Q107.7) – TuneIn App | Live Stats | Game Notes
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. | Husky Stadium | Houston, Texas
Watch – ESPN3 | Listen (Q107.7) – TuneIn App | Live Stats | Game Notes
THE KICKOFF
After three consecutive weekends playing one of the nation's top 25 teams, the Stephen F. Austin football team will trek to Houston for the second time in three weeks this Saturday, Oct. 13 to take on Houston Baptist University. The Lumberjacks, who are in search of their second Southland Conference victory of the season, are attempting to halt a three-game skid, while HBU enters the game losers of five straight. Kickoff from Husky Stadium is slated for 6 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE LUMBERJACKS
Saturday evening's game will be broadcast live everywhere on ESPN3, available via ESPN.com and the ESPN app. For the second-straight week, Tom Franklin will serve as the play-by-play announcer for the streaming broadcast of the game as Ken Moore provides analysis of the action. Rob Meyers, the voice of the Lumberjacks, will have the play-by-play call of the game on Q107.7 FM, complemented by color commentary from Brandon Bernard. The audio broadcast will also be available online at Q1077.com as well as through the Lumberjack Sports Network on the TuneIn app. Live stats will be available at HBUHuskies.com, complemented by Twitter updates from @SFA_Football.
'JACKS ON OCT. 20
For the 13th time in program history, SFA will be taking to the gridiron for competition on Oct. 20. The 'Jacks own a 4-8 (.333) record on the date with SFA's most recent Oct. 20 game taking place in 2012, a 44-10 rout of Nicholls inside Homer Bryce Stadium. In Oct. 20 road contests, the 'Jacks are 1-4 (.200) and possess a 3-4 (.429) record in Oct. 20 home affairs. Playing on the date just seven times since 1970, SFA has posted a 3-4 record in those contests. The Lumberjacks' first game on the date was held in 1928, a close 14-7 loss to North Texas State, now North Texas, in Nacogdoches.
RETURNING TO THE BAYOU CITY
For the second time in the month of October, SFA will be playing in the Bayou City. Saturday evening's tilt will mark just the third time in program history the 'Jacks have played multiple games in Houston in the same season and the 17th time overall SFA has played football within the Houston city limits. The 'Jacks faced Sam Houston State in the 89th Battle of the Piney Woods and Houston Baptist on the road in 2014 and did so once again in 2016, which included the 91st Battle of the Piney Woods. SFA has earned victories over the University of Houston (1948), Sam Houston State (2010) and Houston Baptist (2014) in the Bayou City.
NO MORE RAIN GAMES?
The 'Jacks have seen just one game without any rain this season, two weeks ago at the 93rd Battle of the Piney Woods indoors at NRG Stadium in Houston. Each of SFA's first four games this fall saw torrential downpours either right before or during the start of the game. Directly prior to kickoff of the Lumberjacks' season opener at Southeastern Conference stalwart Mississippi State, the skies opened up as a heavy rain storm moved over Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi. The following weekend, SFA had to cancel its first football game since 2001 following numerous lightning delays caused by thunderstorms in and around Nacogdoches. While in San Antonio, the University of the Incarnate Word's Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium saw off and on rain squalls leading up to kickoff that lingered throughout the contest between the 'Jacks and the Cardinals. Against Abilene Christian at home, Homer Bryce Stadium experienced heavy rain showers all the way up until about 45 minutes prior to kickoff as the turf held standing water for the entirety of the game. In Lake Charles, Louisiana, SFA battled McNeese in the pouring rain as the weather did not let up for all 60 minutes of game action. This past Saturday, the clouds darkened for the second half of play between the 'Jacks and the Bears of Central Arkansas as rain began to come down in Texas' oldest town during the fourth quarter. Saturday evening's forecast in Houston is calling for cloudy skies and a 40 percent chance of rain but just a 17 percent chance of precipitation at kickoff.
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES
2018: 1-5 overall, 0-4 Southland Conference (11th)
Last Three Games: Loss at Southeastern Louisiana (62-52), Loss at No. 18 Central Arkansas (66-35), Loss at SMU (63-27)
Head Coach: Vic Shealy (Richmond, 1984). Sixth season at HBU (13-44, .228); 10th season overall (40-58-1, .409)
Key Offensive Players:
• #4 Bailey Zappe (So., QB): 145-of-242 (59.9%) for 1,703 yds., 16 TDs, 80-yd. long, 283.8 yds. per game, 8 INTs
• #28 Dreshawn Minnieweather (So., RB): 54 carries for 359 yds., 6.6 yds. per rush, 4 TDs, 57-yd. long, 71.8 yds. per game
• #20 LaDarius Dickens (So., RB): 42 carries for 155 yds., 3.7 yds. per rush, 1 TD, 33-yd. long, 25.8 yds. per game
• #4 Bailey Zappe (So., QB): 60 carries for 102 yds., 1.7 yds. per rush, 29-yd. long, 17 yds. per game
• #8 Jarreth Sterns (Fr., WR): 33 catches for 339 yds., 10.3 yds. per catch, 3 TDs, 28-yd. long, 56.5 yds. per game
• #1 David Racine (Sr., WR): 15 catches for 294 yds., 19.6 yds. per catch, 3 TDs, 80-yd. long, 49 yds. per game
• #6 Nick Sexton (Jr., WR): 19 catches for 177 yds., 9.3 yds. per catch, 33-yd. long, 35.4 yds. per game
• #9 Gamar Girdy Brito (So., RB): 13 catches for 171 yds., 13.2 yds. per catch, 34-yd. long, 28.5 yds. per game
Key Defensive Players:
• #43 Langston Tunson (So., LB): 71 tackles (31 solo), 10.5 TFL for -30 yds., 3 sacks for -16 yds., 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery
• #9 Caleb Johnson (So, LB): 60 tackles (24 solo), 7.5 TFL for -22 yds., 1.5 sacks for -4 yds., 3 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 QBH
• #25 Kyle Bowling (Sr., LB): 48 tackles (19 solo), 3.5 TFL for -11 yds., 1 sack for -6 yds., 2 INTs, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble
• #1 Raphael Lewis (Sr., CB): 40 tackles (27 solo), 1 INT, 2 pass breakups
• #2 Patrick Wolfe (So., S): 33 tackles (15 solo), 1 TFL for -2 yds., 2 INTs, 2 pass breakups
• #5 Coi Miller (So., CB): 33 tackles (22 solo), 2 TFL for -6 yds., 4 pass breakups
• #4 Ethan Beek (So., CB): 29 tackles (15 solo), 1 TFL for -2 yds., 1 INT, 1 pass breakup
OPPONENT SYNOPSIS
Led by sixth-year head coach Vic Shealy, HBU's lone lead man since beginning its football program in 2012, the Huskies are off to a 1-5 start in their sixth season. After a 49-7 blowout of NCAA Division II Southwest Baptist University, HBU has dropped lopsided decisions to then 14th-ranked McNeese (51-34), ACU (38-13), SMU (63-27), then 18th-ranked UCA and Southeastern Louisiana (62-52). Saturday will be the Huskies' fourth home tilt of the season after beginning 2018 with three consecutive games at Husky Stadium, however, it will be HBU's first contest in Houston since Sept. 15 after playing on the road the previous three weekends. The Huskies have given up over 60 points in each of their last three games as opponents are averaging 47.8 points against HBU this season. With an 0-4 Southland record, the Huskies have given up at least 38 points in each of their four conference contests and have allowed a total of 217 points to be scored against their defense in league play. Contrarily, the HBU offense is averaging 33.5 points per game in Southland action and has scored 35 points or more in its previous two conference outings. The Huskies are tied for the league lead in scoring (35 PPG) this season and are fifth in conference games, but are last in the Southland in scoring defense both overall and in league play (54.2 PPG). Giving up 487.7 yards per game in 2018, HBU ranks eighth in the league in total defense as conference opponents are averaging 524.8 yards of offense against the Huskies, which ranks 10th in the Southland. HBU is putting up 427.2 yards of total offense each game, the third-most in the league this season, and is averaging the sixth-most offensive yards (446) in conference play. Anchored in sophomore starting quarterback Bailey Zappe, who ranks fourth in the Southland in passing yards per game (283.8) and is third in league action (318.2), the Huskies' passing offense ranks third both overall (306.3 YPG) and in conference play (334.8) in the Southland. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Langston Tunson's 71 total tackles are the second-most of any Southland defender this season, while his 14.2 tackles per game lead the 11-team league. Furthermore, Tunson has racked up 47 tackles in just three conference contests and leads all defenders in Southland play with a 15.7 per outing average. HBU also gets plenty of help on defense from senior cornerback Raphael Lewis, an All-Southland First Team pick and preseason All-Southland First Team selection, who has accounted for 40 total tackles, including 27 solo stops, an interception and two pass breakups this fall.
REMEMBERING GARRETT DOLAN
Former All-American linebacker Garrett Dolan, who was expected to graduate from HBU on May 8, 2018, was found deceased at an apartment complex on May 6, 2018, after an apparent fall from the rooftop. The news of Dolan's passing hit those close to HBU, Southland Conference and FCS football hard as Dolan was a four-time All-Southland selection. His senior season in 2017, Dolan led the league and ranked second in the nation for the second consecutive year with 12.7 tackles per game. He made a career-high and school record 140 tackles in his final collegiate season, finishing out his career at HBU with 467 total tackles, which ranks seventh all-time in FCS. A native of Mont Belvieu, Texas (Barbers Hill HS), Dolan became the first Associated Press and STATS FCS All-America honoree in Husky football history and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the FCS Defensive Player of the Year. He was one of the "Original 13" of HBU's fledgling football program, a three-time captain, the Huskies' defensive player of the year each of the first four seasons and was named HBU Athletics Robbie Robertson Male Athlete of the Year both his junior and senior year. Dolan was a NFL free agent hopeful and was looking to continue his football career at the next level. On Tuesday, March 27, 2018, Dolan joined five former Lumberjacks for SFA's annual Pro Day on the turf of Homer Bryce Stadium as the six worked out in front of numerous NFL personnel.
SERIES INFORMATION
The 'Jacks and the Huskies will meet for just the fifth time on the gridiron since HBU began competing in the Southland for the 2014 season. SFA holds a 3-1 lead in the all-time series as the two teams have split that last two meetings. In 2016, the Lumberjacks' last trip to Husky Stadium in Houston, the Huskies claimed a one-touchdown, 31-24 win. A year ago, SFA defeated visiting HBU 27-10 for homecoming 2017. In the Lumberjacks' first two bouts with the Huskies in 2015 and 2014, SFA earned convincing 55-20 and 59-27 victories, respectively. The 'Jacks have averaged 41.3 points in their first four matchups with HBU.
AGAINST HBU IN 2017
SFA totaled 483 yards of offense in a 27-10 win over HBU, outgaining the Huskies by nearly 250 yards and holding the visitors to just 238 total yards. With a strong rushing attack which generated a season-high 262 yards on the ground, the Lumberjack defense was relentless on the Huskies' ground game. SFA allowed just 22 rushing yards in the contest on 24 attempts by HBU. The 'Jacks held the ball for over 13 minutes longer than the Huskies as both teams played with discipline, combining for just 11 penalties. HBU took a 7-0 lead early in the opening quarter after driving the ball 75 yards on eight plays, before a pair of Storm Ruiz field goals in the second quarter made it a 7-6 game. SFA took their first lead late in the second quarter on a four-yard run by Juan Day, capping a six-play, 74-yard drive. Leading 13-7 at the half, the 'Jacks tacked on their second touchdown of the night and went ahead 20-7 on a three-yard rush by Kijana Amous about midway through the third quarter. A 23-yard field goal by the Huskies made it a 10-point game late in the third before Amous ran in his second score of the night from six yards out in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Amous finished with 83 yards on 16 carries as Jake Blumrick completed 24-of-34 passes and threw for 217 yards.
LAST TIME OUT
Playing their third-straight game against one of the country's top 25 teams, the 'Jacks battled 16th-ranked Central Arkansas to a hard-fought 27-17 score at Homer Bryce Stadium this past Saturday afternoon. A career-long 48-yard field goal by Ruiz tied up the score at 10-10 with a little over 11 minutes to go in the third quarter, before the Bears had a 31-yard touchdown run and capped a 10-play, 72-yard drive with a 13-yard pass into the end zone late in the third. Following a seven-yard scoring connection from junior starting quarterback Jake Blumrick to senior wide receiver Frank Iheanacho that completed an 11-play, 75-yard drive, SFA made things interesting by recovering an onside kick with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. Unable to convert a fourth-and-15, the 'Jacks recovered a fumble deep in their own territory with just over a minute left but an intercepted pass kept UCA out of reach ahead by two scores.
SPEEDY GOREE
On Saturday against UCA, Blumrick connected with senior wide receiver Terian Goree on an inside screen about midway through the first quarter and it was all Goree needed to take off 85 yards for a game-tying touchdown. The 85-yard hookup was the longest passing play from scrimmage for the 'Jacks since 1997 when Mikhael Ricks hit Peyton Jones for 97 yards against Troy, which stands as the program record. Furthermore, it was the first 80-yard reception for SFA since D.J. Ward's 80-yard catch versus Prairie View A&M on Sept. 28, 2013, and the longest play from scrimmage since Joshawa West's 88-yard run against Nicholls on Oct. 19, 2013. Goree leads all Lumberjack receivers this season with 366 yards on 35 receptions, averaging 10.5 yards per catch with pair of touchdowns.
TWO 100-YARD RECEIVERS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 2013
Both Goree (122) and sophomore Garden City Community College wideout Remi Simmons (108) posted career-highs in receiving yards versus the Bears last weekend as Simmons reeled in a career-best 10 catches. Prior to Saturday's performance by Goree and Simmons, SFA hadn't had multiple 100-yard receivers in the same game since Nov. 2, 2013, when Tyler Boyd (206), Mike Brooks (133) and Aaron Thomas (132) each reached the 100-yard mark against then eighth-ranked Sam Houston State in the 88th Battle of the Piney Woods.
BLUMRICK'S CAREER AFTERNOON
SFA saw its passing game rise to the occasion Saturday afternoon against UCA as Blumrick tossed a pair of touchdowns and completed 26 passes for a career-best 358 yards, the most passing yards by a Lumberjack signal caller since Zach Conque threw for 386 yards at Houston Baptist on Nov. 12, 2016. Blumrick needs just 489 more yards to become SFA's 13th 3,000-yard passer. In one and a half seasons as a Lumberjack gunslinger, Blumrick has accumulated 2,511 yards through the air and ranks 17th on SFA's all-time career passing yards list.
PACE ON PACE
SFA features a very talented wide receiver corps in 2018 and returning All-Southland Second Team selection Tamrick Pace is on pace to etch his name in the program's record book. Needing just 30 catches and three touchdown receptions to break into the Lumberjack top-10 career list in both of those categories, the junior is now 21st in career receiving yards (1,715) among all 'Jacks who have played the game after claiming four catches for 56 yards and two touchdowns in the 93rd Battle of the Piney Woods two weeks ago. With his pair of touchdown catches against 16th-ranked Sam Houston State, Pace became the first SFA receiver to record multiple touchdown receptions in a game since tight end Nick Jones did so on Sept. 24, 2016, during a 41-30 win over Abilene Christian in Nacogdoches. In the Lumberjacks' 24-21 home win over ACU on Sept. 22, Pace reeled in five catches for 72 yards. On opening weekend at SEC mainstay Mississippi State, Pace was the second-leading receiver in the game, hauling in a season-high five catches for 73 yards against the FBS 18th-ranked Bulldogs. He needs just 57 additional yards to move into 20th place on the program's all-time receiving yards list.
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