‘Jacks Host Northwestern State on Senior Night Thursday for 53rd Battle for Chief Caddo

Thursday, November 15

Nacogdoches, Texas

6 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

Northwestern State

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Photo by: SFA Athletics

‘Jacks Host Northwestern State on Senior Night Thursday for 53rd Battle for Chief Caddo

11/13/2018 11:06:00 AM | Football

SFA to play in first Thursday night game since 2011, 15 ‘Jacks to be honored on senior night

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

Northwestern State (4-6, 3-5 Southland) at Stephen F. Austin (2-7, 2-6 Southland)
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018 | 6:00 p.m. | Homer Bryce Stadium | Nacogdoches, Texas

Watch – Eleven Sports/Southland Digital Network | Listen (Q107.7) – TuneIn App
Live Stats | Game Notes

THE KICKOFF
The 2018 regular season will come to a close for the SFA football team Thursday, Nov. 15 under the lights of Homer Bryce Stadium as the Lumberjacks are set to host the Demons of Northwestern State in a 6 p.m. kickoff for the 53rd Battle for Chief Caddo. The first Thursday night game in Nacogdoches in seven years, SFA's 15 seniors will be honored prior to the Southland Conference contest for senior night as the two teams will battle for the largest sporting trophy in the world. With Veterans Day having taken place this past Sunday, Nov. 11 and the national holiday observed on Monday, Nov. 12, Thursday's night contest will serve as the Lumberjacks' annual military appreciation game.

FOLLOWING THE LUMBERJACKS
Thursday night's game will be televised on Eleven Sports, available nationwide on DirecTV 623, and streamed everywhere on the Southland Digital Network. Eleven Sports can also be found on select cable networks, including Suddenlink (channel 455) in Nacogdoches, channel 1665 on AT&T U-verse and channel 597 on Verizon FiOS. The Southland Digital Network is available via Southland.org/live and the Southland Conference app, which can be downloaded on Apple and Android devices and found on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV and Roku. David Saltzman will serve as the play-by-play announcer for the TV and Southland Digital Network broadcast, alongside color commentary from John Harris. Rob Meyers, the voice of the Lumberjacks, will have the play-by-play call of the game on Q107.7 FM, complemented by analysis from Kevin Langford. 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 SFAJacks.com, complemented by Twitter updates from @SFA_Football.

BATTLE FOR CHIEF CADDO HISTORY
Since 1984, the final game of the regular season has pitted border rivals SFA and Northwestern State in one of the most unique rivalries in all of college football. Separated by less than 120 miles, the 'Jacks and Demons square off annually in the Battle for Chief Caddo, the largest sporting trophy in the world at 7-foot-6 and weighing 320 pounds. The statue originated in 1960 when the longtime rivals decided to award the winner of the game a trophy. The two institutions settled on a statue of a legendary Indian chief whose tribe was responsible for settling the locations that became English-speaking Nacogdoches and Natchitoches. The loser of the 1961 game would have a tree chopped down from its nearby forests, which would be sent to the winning school, who would have the statue carved. Northwestern State won that 1961 game 35-19, and SFA delivered a 2,000-pound black gum log to Natchitoches. Woodcarver Harold Green spent 230 hours fashioning the statue. He was named Chief Caddo to honor the Indian tribe that not only settled the two communities, but provided safety for the early white settlers in the area. Historians say had it not been for the Caddo Indians, the Spanish and French colonists who came to the area would not have survived the onslaughts of Apache and Comanche warriors from the west, and the Natchez from the east. Also, French and Spanish writers of the time said it was certain, wise Caddo chiefs made it possible for the two European colonies to live as neighbors while their mother countries were at war against each other. Since the first Chief Caddo game in 1961, Northwestern State holds a 31-20-1 (.606) edge in the history of the Chief, but SFA has held the upper hand in recent years, retaining possession of the trophy in six of the last nine years. The Chief currently resides away from his home in Nacogdoches following the Demons' 38-21 win over the 'Jacks to close out the 2017 season.

SFA ON THURSDAY NIGHTS
The 'Jacks last Thursday night game took place in 2011 when SFA throttled NCAA Division III McMurry University 82-6 in a Sept. 1 season-opening affair inside Homer Bryce Stadium. Playing multiple Thursday night contests in 1929, 1997, '98 and 2000, this week's game will mark the 29th time in program history SFA has taken to the gridiron for competition on a Thursday. The 'Jacks are 15-12-1 (.554) all-time in Thursday night contests and have faced Northwestern State three times on a Thursday. SFA took on the Demons in a midweek contest in 1995 (W, 25-20), 2005 (L, 41-21) and 1997 (L, 38-24).

'JACKS ON NOV. 15
For the 13th time in program history, the 'Jacks will be playing a football game on Nov. 15. SFA owns a 4-8 (.333) record on the date with the Lumberjacks' most recent Nov. 15 game taking place in 2014, a 37-35 loss versus Abilene Christian. Since the turn of the millennium, SFA has played just three games on the date, including a 28-16 win over Nicholls in 2003. Thursday night will mark the first time the 'Jacks have taken on Northwestern State in a Nov. 15 game.

SCOUTING THE DEMONS
2018: 4-6 overall, 3-5 Southland Conference (9th)
Last Three Games: Win vs. No. 18 McNeese (37-34, 2OT), Loss at Abilene Christian (49-47), Win vs. Houston Baptist (31-28)
Head Coach: Brad Laird (Northwestern State, 1997). First season at Northwestern State (4-6, .400); First season overall (4-6, .400)
Key Offensive Players:
• #5 Shelton Eppler (Jr., QB): 178-of-296 (60.1%) for 2,338 yds., 24 TDs, 70-yd. long, 292.2 yds. per game, 7 INTs
• #2 Kaleb Fletcher (So., QB): 49-of-79 (62%) for 461 yds., 4 TDs, 53-yd. long, 153.7 yds. per game, 0 INTs
• #21 Jared West (Jr., RB): 138 carries for 637 yds., 4.6 yds. per rush, 3 TDs, 40-yd. long, 63.7 yds. per game
• #13 Stadford Anderson (So., RB): 67 carries for 252 yds., 3.8 yds. per rush, 2 TDs, 18-yd. long, 25.2 yds. per game
• #1 Jazz Ferguson (R-Jr., WR): 61 catches for 1,046 yds., 17.1 yds. per catch, 13 TDs, 71-yd. long, 104.6 yds. per game
• #8 Jaylen Watson (Sr., WR): 47 catches for 638 yds., 13.6 yds. per catch, 8 TDs, 53-yd. long, 63.8 yds. per game
• #6 Quan Shorts (Jr., WR): 52 catches for 496 yds., 9.5 yds. per catch, 2 TDs, 51-yd. long, 49.6 yds. per game
• #3 Marquisian Chapman (Sr., WR): 31 catches for 364 yds., 11.7 yds. per catch, 1 TD, 38-yd. long, 36.4 yds. per game
Key Defensive Players:
• #25 Hayden Bourgeois (So., S): 75 tackles (40 solo), 5 TFL for -10 yds., 0.5 sack for -1 yd., 5 INTs for 69 yds., 1 pass breakups, 1 QBH, 2 fumble recovery, 1 blocked kick
• #38 Quindarrius Whitley (Jr., LB): 75 tackles (35 solo), 4.5 TFL for -32 yds., 2.5 sacks for -22 yds., 2 pass breakups, 1 QBH, 1 fumble recovery
• #8 Ryan Reed (Jr., S): 70 tackles (33 solo), 1.5 TFL for -1 yd., 2 INTs, 2 pass breakups
• #43 Blake Stephenson (Jr., LB): 54 tackles (27 solo), 6 TFLs for -30 yds., 4 sacks for -25 yds., 2 pass breakups, 2 QBH, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble
• #55 O'Shea Jackson (Jr., DT): 43 tackles (17 solo), 8.5 TFL for -22 yds., 2.5 sacks for -14 yds., 3 QBH, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick
• #33 Isaiah Longino (So., LB): 42 tackles (24 solo), 4.5 TFL for -15 yds., 2 sacks for -10 yds., 2 pass breakups, 1 QBH, 1 fumble recovery
• #94 Zak Krolczyk (Sr., DE): 38 tackles (15 solo), 8 TFL for -23 yds., 2 sacks for -7 yds., 6 QBH, 1 blocked kick
• #53 Brice Borgeson (Jr., LB): 34 tackles (18 solo), 2.5 TFL for -7 yds., 0.5 sack for -1 yd., 1 QBH

OPPONENT SYNOPSIS
No stranger to Natchitoches and Northwestern State football, Brad Laird, the Demons' all-time career passing leader, is in his first year at the helm of the program and has his team energized after claiming victories in two of the last three outings. Northwestern State, who endured a four-game losing streak during the middle part of the season after starting 2-1, has defeated Lamar (49-48, Sept. 15), Houston Baptist (31-28, Oct. 27) and then 18th-ranked McNeese (37-34, 2OT, Nov. 10) in Southland action. The Demons own a 1-4 road record on the season with their lone victory away from home coming at Lamar. A 34-7 non-conference rout of Grambling back on Sept. 8 gave Northwestern State its first win of the season as the Demons have suffered defeats at FBS Texas A&M (59-7), at Southeastern Louisiana (24-17), versus then 12th-ranked Nicholls (28-10), against then No. 14 Sam Houston State (42-28), at 15th-ranked Central Arkansas (38-17) and at Abilene Christian (49-47). Featuring a pass-first offense, Northwestern State ranks second in the 11-team league in passing with 322.9 passing yards per game behind junior quarterback Shelton Eppler's 2,338 yards through the air and 292.2 yards per game. The Demons also hold the third-highest pass efficiency in the Southland at 140.7 with a league-best 30 touchdowns through the air. Conversely, Northwestern State's rushing offense ranks 10th in the conference (90.4 YPG), while the Demons' scoring defense is also 10th (35.7 PPG) and total defense ninth (475.3 YPG).

SERIES INFORMATION
The 'Jacks and the Demons will meet for the 75th time on the football field with Northwestern State owning a 45-26-3 (.372) edge in the all-time series. SFA has won six of the last nine meetings and has not dropped a home game to the Demons since 2008. However, Northwestern State has gone 20-12-1 (.621) all-time against the 'Jacks in Nacogdoches. SFA's longest win streak in the series has been four (2009-12), while the Demons have posted two seven-game winning streaks (1927-33 and 1976-82) all-time versus the 'Jacks.

PACE ON PACE
SFA features a very talented wide receiver corps in 2018 and All-Southland Second Team selection Tamrick Pace is on pace to etch his name in the program's record book. Three weeks ago against Lamar, Pace reeled in a season-high seven catches for 158 yards and two scores to move into the top 10 in career touchdown receptions among all former Lumberjack receivers. This past weekend at 16th-ranked Nicholls, Pace hauled in a team-high seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown to move into 12th place on SFA's all-time career receiving yards list. In three seasons donning the Purple and White, Pace has amassed 1,976 yards receiving and has claimed 19 touchdown receptions. The junior needs just 14 catches and 90 receiving yards to break into the Lumberjack top-10 career list in both of those categories. Pace is just 24 yards shy of becoming SFA's 12th 2,000-yard receiver and is tied for ninth in career touchdown receptions.

13TH 3,000-YARD PASSER
Junior quarterback Jake Blumrick became the 13th signal caller in program history to reach 3,000 yards passing in his career after completing 25 of his 42 pass attempts for 335 yards and a pair of touchdowns three weeks ago against the Cardinals. He has accumulated 3,251 passing yards in two seasons taking snaps behind center to rank 13th on SFA's all-time career list in that category. Blumrick needs only 67 more passing yards to move up to 12th on the all-time career list and needs just 171 yards to reach 11th place.

SPEEDY GOREE
Senior wide receiver Terian Goree continues to lead the Lumberjacks' ultra-talented wideout group, owning 54 receptions on the season for 559 yards with a pair of back-to-back 100-yard receiving games against then 16th-ranked Central Arkansas (122) and at Houston Baptist (106). He has recorded multiple catches each game this fall, including a career-high 11 receptions at then 11th-ranked McNeese, and has hauled in at least four passes in eight consecutive games.

THANK YOU, SENIORS
The 'Jacks will bid farewell to 15 seniors following Thursday night's game, including four who have been with the program for five years. Kicker/punter Caleb Lewallen (Kingwood, Texas), offensive lineman Hayden Scott (Spring, Texas), long snapper Chris Wilkerson (Waller, Texas) and linebacker Ryan Woods (Pearland, Texas) have each been a 'Jack since 2014, while defensive tackle Demetrion Amie (Fort Worth, Texas) and safety Lawrence Ghansah (Cypress, Texas) have been in Nacogdoches since 2015. After this week, SFA will also no longer have the services of defensive tackle Shaq Anderson (Greenville, Texas), cornerback Davelle Fox (Chicago, Ill.), wide receiver Terian Goree (Carthage, Texas), cornerback Teddy Hawkins (Duncanville, Texas), offensive lineman Josiah Hunter (Fontana, Calif.), wide receiver Frank Iheanacho (Houston, Texas), safety Chris James (Orange, Texas), linebacker Terrance Potts (Trinity, Texas) and quarterback Foster Sawyer (Fort Worth, Texas). All 15 have provided significant contributions to the Lumberjack football program during their time in Nacogdoches.

THANK YOU, VETERANS
Two members of the SFA football program have made great sacrifices and put themselves in harm's way to protect and keep safe the United States of America. The Lumberjacks' director of football operations, Kail Kaiser, was with the United States Air Force in security forces, while head athletic trainer AJ Van Valkenburgh, who handles athletic training efforts for the entire football team, was a member of the Texas Army National Guard's Combat Medic 91W unit for eight years.

-SFA-