Stephen F. Austin
2-8 , 2-7
Northwestern State
5-6 , 4-5
Pair of 100-Yard Receivers Highlight 53rd Battle for Chief Caddo
11/15/2018 9:30:00 PM | Football
SFA forces three first-half turnovers with trio of interceptions, Northwestern State scores 28 second-half points
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Despite holding a 16-7 halftime advantage after picking off three passes in the opening 30 minutes of action, the SFA football team was handed a 35-23 setback at the hands of Southland Conference adversary and border rival Northwestern State in the 53rd Battle for Chief Caddo inside Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches. Both teams tallied 477 total yards of offense in the contest but a 28-point second half by the visiting Demons (5-6, 4-5 Southland) helped keep the largest sporting trophy in the world in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
"I thought the first half we did exactly what we planed to do and then we got a little loose, a little pass-conscious there in the second half," interim head coach Jeff Byrd said following the game. "It was very simple, they were reading us and if we were in this, they were running and if we were in that, they were throwing it."
SFA's offense put up 374 yards through the air, with career-best efforts from seniors Foster Sawyer (325 passing yards) and Terian Goree (138 receiving yards) leading the way on senior night. Tamrick Pace also broke the 100-yard plateau, hauling in eight receptions for 128 yards and a score, while Remi Simmons (10 catches, 97 yards) nearly gave the 'Jacks three 100-yard receivers on the day.
With his 128 receiving yards, Pace became the 12th Lumberjack to reach the 2,000-yard milestone while also moving into the top 10 on SFA's all-time career receiving yards list. In three season donning the Purple and White, Pace has amassed 2,104 yards receiving. His 71-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter was the 20th of his career and ties Gralyn Crawford for eighth-most all-time in program history. Pace also accounted for another highlight play on the day, as his 49-yard flea flicker pass to Goree set up a fourth quarter touchdown for the 'Jacks.
In addition to moving the ball effectively through the air, the Lumberjacks posted another 103 on the ground. Dominic Williams ran for 65 yards and his first career score on a five-yard plunge that pulled SFA within a touchdown in the fourth quarter, while Josh McGowen rushed for 67 yards on 12 carries.
"If you've ever played the game, whether it's win, lose or draw, if it's the last one, it's a tough deal and it's emotional," commented coach Byrd on SFA's 15 seniors seeing their collegiate careers come to an end. "I tell them all, you don't get to play rec league football. We've talked about it all week and then we get to the locker room and some of those guys realize, 'Hey, wait a minute'."
With the loss, the 'Jacks close out their 2018 campaign with a 2-8 overall record and a 2-7 mark in Southland play.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football throughout the remainder of the fall.
-SFA-
Team Stats
NSU 0, SFA 3
SFA - Ruiz, Storm 43 yd field goal 11 plays, 40 yards, TOP 4:15
NSU 7, SFA 3
NSU - Anderson, Stadf 1 yd run (Schmidt, Korbin kick), 12 plays, 90 yards, TOP 3:43
NSU 7, SFA 10
SFA - Pace, Tamrick 71 yd pass from Sawyer, Foster (Ruiz, Storm kick) 2 plays, 74 yards, TOP 0:43
NSU 7, SFA 13
SFA - Ruiz, Storm 22 yd field goal 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 4:17
NSU 7, SFA 16
SFA - Ruiz, Storm 32 yd field goal 6 plays, 20 yards, TOP 0:45
NSU 14, SFA 16
NSU - Ward, Myles 94 yd kickoff return (Schmidt, Korbin kick)
NSU 21, SFA 16
NSU - Watson, Jaylen 20 yd pass from Eppler, Shelton (Schmidt, Korbin kick) 7 plays, 97 yards, TOP 2:31
NSU 28, SFA 16
NSU - Watson, Jaylen 75 yd pass from Eppler, Shelton (Schmidt, Korbin kick) 1 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:12
NSU 28, SFA 23
SFA - Williams, Domin 5 yd run (Ruiz, Storm kick), 4 plays, 65 yards, TOP 0:37
NSU 35, SFA 23
NSU - West, Jared 5 yd run (Schmidt, Korbin kick), 6 plays, 62 yards, TOP 3:16
