SFA Picked Sixth in 2018 Southland Preseason Football Poll
7/19/2018 9:04:00 AM | Football
‘Jacks collect 90 total points in voting, one spot ahead of Abilene Christian and one spot below Southeastern Louisiana
HOUSTON, Texas – For the second-straight year, the Stephen F. Austin football team has been chosen sixth in the Southland Conference's annual preseason poll as voted upon by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The conference unveiled the predicted order of finish Thursday morning in conjunction with the 2018 Southland Football Media Day proceedings at the Hilton Houston Post Oak by the Galleria in Houston.
The Lumberjacks picked up 90 total points from head coaches and SID's votes, finishing just above seventh-place Abilene Christian in the poll and edging the Wildcats by a single point. SFA sits directly below Southeastern Louisiana, who was chosen to finish fifth with a point tally of 119.
For the fourth consecutive year Sam Houston State has been tabbed as the league's favorite to capture the Southland title after claiming runner-up honors in 2017. The Bearkats reached the FCS semifinals last season for the third time in the last four years and received 10 first-place votes for 187 total points. Nicholls, who made the FCS playoffs a season ago, was chosen to finish second in the conference race with six first-place nods and 173 points, while 2017 Southland champion Central Arkansas earned five first-place votes and 170 points for third place in the preseason poll.
McNeese claimed a single first-place acknowledgement and totaled 159 points to appear in fourth place, followed by Southeastern Louisiana, SFA, ACU (89), Northwestern State (86), Incarnate Word (53), Lamar (52) and Houston Baptist (32).
The 'Jacks went 4-7 overall last fall and 4-5 in Southland play, tying for sixth in the league's final standings. SFA started conference play 2-0 in 2017, defeating UIW at home and ACU on the road before later posting convincing wins over Houston Baptist and Lamar.
This fall, the 'Jacks will look to continue their recent success against in-state opponents after going 4-1 against FCS opposition in 2017, marking the first time since 1989 SFA claimed four victories over FCS Texas foes in the same season. Last season also marked the first time since 1995 the 'Jacks recorded four wins over Lone Star State schools in the same year.
Under the guidance of interim head coach Jeff Byrd, who enters his second season in Texas' oldest town after spending 2017 as SFA's defensive coordinator, the 'Jacks are attempting to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2014. SFA returns a total of 41 letter winners from a year ago and brings back 22 players who had starting experience in 2017, including 11 on the offensive side of the ball, eight on defense and three specialist. The 'Jacks also welcome a total of 47 newcomers to this year's squad.
A week ago, five 'Jacks garnered preseason All-Southland honors as junior safety Alize Ward was tabbed a first-team pick as a defensive back and placed on the second team as an all-purpose player. Junior wide receiver Tamrick Pace claimed a spot on the preseason All-Southland Second Team offense, along with senior punter Caleb Lewallen, while senior linebacker Ryan Woods and sophomore safety Trenton Gordon collected preseason All-Southland Second Team defense nods.
SFA once again faces a challenging slate in 2018 and for the second consecutive season the 'Jacks 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 Southeastern Conference stalwart Mississippi State and NCAA Division II Tarleton State in non-conference action.
The Purple and White opens up its 2018 season Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to Starkville, Mississippi, to face Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU, available everywhere via the ESPN app. The 'Jacks host NCAA Division II Tarleton State in a 6 p.m. tilt for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
Coach Byrd, along with Woods and senior quarterback Foster Sawyer are down in Houston at the 2018 Southland Football Media Day, along with representatives from all 11 of the conference's football programs. The three will step onto the main stage at 1:45 p.m. CST this afternoon and field questions from various Southland media members. The press conference will be broadcast live on ESPN3, available everywhere via the ESPN app. The trio will then head to the conference's social media suite at 2:15 p.m. CST. While in the suite, Byrd, Sawyer and Woods will take part in social media segments that can be viewed on the Southland's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
SFA football fans are invited to keep an eye on the Lumberjacks' social media platforms for updates throughout the day from Houston (Twitter: @SFA_Football | Instagram: @sfa_football | Facebook: SFA Football).
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2018 SFA football season can visit the new home for SFA Tickets at SFATickets.com or contact the SFA Athletic Ticket Office at 936-468-JACK.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football leading up to the 2018 season.
2018 Southland Conference Preseason Football Poll
-SFA-
The Lumberjacks picked up 90 total points from head coaches and SID's votes, finishing just above seventh-place Abilene Christian in the poll and edging the Wildcats by a single point. SFA sits directly below Southeastern Louisiana, who was chosen to finish fifth with a point tally of 119.
For the fourth consecutive year Sam Houston State has been tabbed as the league's favorite to capture the Southland title after claiming runner-up honors in 2017. The Bearkats reached the FCS semifinals last season for the third time in the last four years and received 10 first-place votes for 187 total points. Nicholls, who made the FCS playoffs a season ago, was chosen to finish second in the conference race with six first-place nods and 173 points, while 2017 Southland champion Central Arkansas earned five first-place votes and 170 points for third place in the preseason poll.
McNeese claimed a single first-place acknowledgement and totaled 159 points to appear in fourth place, followed by Southeastern Louisiana, SFA, ACU (89), Northwestern State (86), Incarnate Word (53), Lamar (52) and Houston Baptist (32).
The 'Jacks went 4-7 overall last fall and 4-5 in Southland play, tying for sixth in the league's final standings. SFA started conference play 2-0 in 2017, defeating UIW at home and ACU on the road before later posting convincing wins over Houston Baptist and Lamar.
This fall, the 'Jacks will look to continue their recent success against in-state opponents after going 4-1 against FCS opposition in 2017, marking the first time since 1989 SFA claimed four victories over FCS Texas foes in the same season. Last season also marked the first time since 1995 the 'Jacks recorded four wins over Lone Star State schools in the same year.
Under the guidance of interim head coach Jeff Byrd, who enters his second season in Texas' oldest town after spending 2017 as SFA's defensive coordinator, the 'Jacks are attempting to reach the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2014. SFA returns a total of 41 letter winners from a year ago and brings back 22 players who had starting experience in 2017, including 11 on the offensive side of the ball, eight on defense and three specialist. The 'Jacks also welcome a total of 47 newcomers to this year's squad.
A week ago, five 'Jacks garnered preseason All-Southland honors as junior safety Alize Ward was tabbed a first-team pick as a defensive back and placed on the second team as an all-purpose player. Junior wide receiver Tamrick Pace claimed a spot on the preseason All-Southland Second Team offense, along with senior punter Caleb Lewallen, while senior linebacker Ryan Woods and sophomore safety Trenton Gordon collected preseason All-Southland Second Team defense nods.
SFA once again faces a challenging slate in 2018 and for the second consecutive season the 'Jacks 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 Southeastern Conference stalwart Mississippi State and NCAA Division II Tarleton State in non-conference action.
The Purple and White opens up its 2018 season Saturday, Sept. 1 with a trip to Starkville, Mississippi, to face Mississippi State. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPNU, available everywhere via the ESPN app. The 'Jacks host NCAA Division II Tarleton State in a 6 p.m. tilt for its home opener Saturday, Sept. 8.
Coach Byrd, along with Woods and senior quarterback Foster Sawyer are down in Houston at the 2018 Southland Football Media Day, along with representatives from all 11 of the conference's football programs. The three will step onto the main stage at 1:45 p.m. CST this afternoon and field questions from various Southland media members. The press conference will be broadcast live on ESPN3, available everywhere via the ESPN app. The trio will then head to the conference's social media suite at 2:15 p.m. CST. While in the suite, Byrd, Sawyer and Woods will take part in social media segments that can be viewed on the Southland's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
SFA football fans are invited to keep an eye on the Lumberjacks' social media platforms for updates throughout the day from Houston (Twitter: @SFA_Football | Instagram: @sfa_football | Facebook: SFA Football).
Fans interested in purchasing tickets for the 2018 SFA football season can visit the new home for SFA Tickets at SFATickets.com or contact the SFA Athletic Ticket Office at 936-468-JACK.
Stay tuned to SFAJacks.com, as well as SFA's social media platforms, for complete coverage of Lumberjack football leading up to the 2018 season.
2018 Southland Conference Preseason Football Poll
| Rank | Team (first-place votes) | Total |
| 1. | Sam Houston State (10) | 187 |
| 2. | Nicholls (6) | 173 |
| 3. | Central Arkansas (5) | 170 |
| 4. | McNeese (1) | 159 |
| 5. | Southeastern Louisiana | 119 |
| 6. | Stephen F. Austin | 90 |
| 7. | Abilene Christian | 89 |
| 8. | Northwestern State | 86 |
| 9. | Incarnate Word | 53 |
| 10. | Lamar | 52 |
| 11. | Houston Baptist | 32 |
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