SFA Hosts Abilene Christian for Home Opener on Parents Weekend

Saturday, September 22

Nacogdoches, Texas

6 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

Abilene Christian

Tickets

Photo by: SFA Athletics

SFA Hosts Abilene Christian for Home Opener on Parents Weekend

9/19/2018 10:52:00 AM | Football

‘Jacks take aim at third consecutive win against Wildcats, host ACU in home opener for second time in program history

By: Luke Bolanos | Assistant Director of Athletic Media Relations

THE KICKOFF
After its originally scheduled 2018 home opener against Tarleton State was canceled due to thunderstorms, the Stephen F. Austin football team will welcome Abilene Christian to the confines of Homer Bryce Stadium Saturday, Sept. 22 to begin the Lumberjacks' home slate. Presented by Tipton Ford as the official game sponsor, Saturday's Southland Conference matchup will take place during SFA's annual Parents Weekend. It will also serve as the fifth annual Cally Belcher game as the SFA football program and SFA athletics honor the late Cally Belcher with junior wide receiver Cody Williams wearing the retired No. 16 jersey in remembrance.

FOLLOWING THE LUMBERJACKS
Saturday's game versus the Wildcats will be broadcast live on ESPN+, which is available for streaming everywhere via the ESPN app. Rob Meyers, the voice of the Lumberjacks, will provide play-by-play of the live broadcast alongside color commentary from Kevin Langford. The duo will also have the call of the game on Q107.7 FM, 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.

ABOUT ESPN+
ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company's Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN's linear TV or digital networks. ESPN+ is an integrated part of the ESPN digital experience and the ESPN App, the leading sports app and the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans - available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, Chromecast and other supported devices. The ESPN App is a showcase of the company's culture of innovation, delivering a rich, personalized experience that curates all of ESPN's incredible content around each fan's individual tastes. ESPN+ is also available on ESPN.com. Fans can sign up for a seven-day free trial, then pay $4.99 a month thereafter. ESPN+ does not require a long-term contract. Fans can sign up or cancel at any time. Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and multiple other sports from more than 15 conferences), exclusive Top Rank boxing, UFC (beginning in 2019), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby, cricket, new and exclusive documentary films and series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN's award-winning 30 for 30 films.

REMEMBERING CALLY
Saturday's contest against ACU will be much more than just a home opener for SFA. The 'Jacks will remember Presley Calloway "Cally" Belcher, an SFA all-conference defensive back who passed away from a brain aneurysm following a spring practice in 1994. Born in 1971, Belcher was a three-year letter winner for SFA at the strong safety position and helped lead the 'Jacks to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1993. During a spring practice on March 22, 1994, Belcher was going through drills and took a blow to the helmet. He collapsed on the field and was transported to the hospital where he stayed in a coma for a week. On March 29, 1994, at 22 years old, Belcher died. Known as one of the hardest hitters in the Southland at the time, Belcher's number 16 jersey was permanently retired on Sept. 10, 1994, with a special halftime ceremony during a game versus Montana State. For 20 years the No. 16 jersey was never worn by an SFA player until the 20th anniversary of Belcher's passing in 2014, when the first Cally Belcher game was held inside Homer Bryce. Wide receiver Aaron Thomas was the first player to wear the No. 16 jersey since its retirement during the 'Jacks' 35-20 home win over Weber State on Sept. 20, 2014.

WILLIAMS IN No. 16
A football player who best exemplifies Belcher's traits of determination, a desire to succeed and a love of the game earns the Cally Belcher Award during SFA athletics' annual Champions Dinner each spring. This past May, Cody Williams was named the 2018 Cally Belcher Award recipient, becoming the third offensive player to wear the No. 16 jersey since 1993. Now an annual remembrance, Walls joins former teammates safety Marlon Walls (2017), defensive end Jamal Allen (2016), running back Joshawa West (2015) and Thomas (2014) as Lumberjacks who have honored Belcher by playing in his number.

THE CHIZIK CONNECTION
Former Auburn University head football coach Gene Chizik, now retired from coaching as of February 2017, developed a close relationship with Belcher after arriving at SFA in 1992 as an assistant coach. The death of Belcher hit Chizik especially hard as Cally was one of the young men Chizik mentored and coached directly. Chizik was one of the first responders after Belcher's collision and his memory has stayed with him since. After the death of Belcher, Chizik promised himself that if he ever had a son he would name him "Cally". On July 26, 2000, Gene and Jonna Chizik welcomed Eugene Calloway "Cally" Chizik into this world, naming their son after the late Cally Belcher. Chizik left SFA as a defensive coordinator in 1997 and eventually became the head coach at Auburn in December of 2008, leading the Tigers to an undefeated 14-0 season in 2010 and claiming the BCS National Championship. He is one of only two coaches to ever lead Auburn to a national championship and the first since 1957.

ON PARENTS DAY
Since 1983, one SFA home game each season has tied in to the university's Parents Weekend with Saturday's home opener against ACU earning the honors for 2018. The 'Jacks have been successful on Parents Day games throughout the years, posting a 22-12 (.647) overall record and claiming wins in five of the last eight Parents Day contests. The Wildcats will be making their second appearance in a Parents Day game as SFA earned a 41-30 triumph over ACU during Parents Weekend in 2016.

SFA IN HOME OPENERS
The 'Jacks are 52-36-3 (.588) all-time in 91 home openers and have posted a 28-16-1 (.633) record in home openers since Homer Bryce Stadium hosted its inaugural game on Sept. 8, 1973. Despite dropping two of its last three home openers, SFA has gone 8-2 in its last 10 home opening tilts. The 'Jacks won seven-straight home openers from 2008-14, outscoring their opponents 426-69 in those contests. Northern Arizona handed SFA a 34-28 loss in SFA's 2015 home opener before the 'Jacks defeated West Alabama 30-24 to open up the home portion of their 2016 season. Last season, SFA opened up at home with Southern Utah and suffered a 51-14 setback.

'JACKS ON SEPT. 22
For the 12th time in school history, SFA will take to the gridiron for competition on Sept. 22. The 'Jacks have gone 4-7 on the date with their last victory on Sept. 22 coming in 2001 when SFA defeated visiting Cal State-Northridge 30-27 in overtime. The last time the 'Jacks competed on the date was in 2012, suffering a 41-37 road loss at Texas State. Saturday's game will mark the fourth time in the last 20 years SFA has played a Sept. 22 contest.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
2018: 2-1 overall, 1-0 Southland Conference (T-2nd)
Last Three Games: Win at Houston Baptist (38-13), Win vs. Angelo State (41-24), Loss at Baylor (55-27)
Head Coach: Adam Dorrel (Northwest Missouri State, 1998). Second season at ACU (4-10, .286); Eighth season overall (80-18, .816)
Key Offensive Players:
• #3 Luke Anthony (So., QB): 85-of-131 (65%) for 848 yds., 7 TDs, 67-yd. long, 282.7 yds. per game, 3 INTs
• #21 Tracy James (Jr., RB): 52 carries for 261 yds., 5 yds. per rush, 1 TD, 26-yd. long, 87 yds. per game
• #20 Billy McCrary (Jr., RB): 20 carries for 227 yds., 11.4 yds. per rush, 2 TDs, 75-yd. long, 75.7 yds. per game
• #35 Tyrese White (Fr., RB): 12 carries for 134 yds., 11.2 yds. per rush, 2 TDs, 55-yd. long, 44.7 yds. per game
• #87 Josh Fink (Jr., WR): 16 catches for 223 yds., 13.9 yds. per catch, 2 TDs, 43-yd. long, 74.3 yds. per game
• #16 Chase Cokley (Jr., WR): 15 catches for 159 yds., 10.6 yds. per catch, 2 TDs, 67-yd. long, 53 yds. per game
• #1 D.J. Fuller (Sr., WR): 9 catches for 102 yds., 11.3 yds. per catch, 1 TD, 54-yd. long, 102 yds. per game
• #88 Kobe Clark (Fr., WR): 11 catches for 96 yds., 8.7 yds. per catch, 18-yd. long, 32 yds. per game
Key Defensive Players:
• #23 Jeremiah Chambers (Jr., LB): 24 tackles (17 solo), 5 TFL for -19 yds., 2.0 sacks for -13 yds., 1 pass breakup, 2 fumble recoveries
• #4 Erik Huhn (Sr., S): 18 tackles (13 solo), 2 pass breakups
• #7 Bolu Onifade (Jr., S): 17 tackles (6 solo), 0.5 TFL for 0 yds., 1 INT for 23 yds., 1 pass breakup
• #47 Jack Gibbens (So., LB): 16 tackles (10 solo), 1.5 TFL for -1 yds., 1 forced fumble
• #2 Brandon Richmond (Sr., S): 15 tackles (8 solo), 1 INT for -2 yds.
• #8 Quincy Dunn (Sr., LB): 14 tackles (12 solo)

OPPONENT SYNOPSIS
Head coach Adam Dorrel, one of the winningest coaches in all of college football, is in his second season at the helm of the Wildcats. In eight seasons of coaching at the collegiate level, Dorrel has amassed an impressive 80-18 (.816) record and led NCAA Division II Northwest Missouri State to three national titles, including back-to-back NCAA championship seasons in 2015 and 2016. In his first year leading ACU in 2017, the Wildcats went 2-9 and finished eighth in the Southland race with 2-7 league mark. ACU looks much improved in 2018, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The Wildcats began the season with a 55-27 defeat at Big 12 stalwart Baylor, before routing Division II Angelo State 41-24 in Abilene and Houston Baptist 38-13 in Houston. Picked to finish seventh in the conference according to the Southland's preseason poll, just one spot behind SFA, ACU features preseason All-Southland Second Team junior linebacker Bolu Onifade on defense and sophomore quarterback Luke Anthony on offense. Through three games this season, Onifade has 17 total tackles with six solo stops, a half tackle for loss, 23-yard interception and one pass breakup. Anthony has already thrown for 848 yards on 85-of-131 passing and seven touchdowns. The Wildcats have been led by linebacker Jeremiah Chambers defensively as the junior has tallied 24 tackles, including 17 unassisted stops, five tackles for loss, two sacks, a pass breakup and recovered a pair of fumbles. Having already accounted for 106 points and 1,577 yards of total offense, ACU has two 200-yard rushers with junior running back Tracy James accumulating 261 yards on 52 carries and junior running back Billy McCrary tallying 227 yards on 20 rushes. Junior wide receivers Josh Fink (16 catches for 223 yards) and Chase Cokley (15 catches for 159 yards) have both been weapons in the Wildcats' passing game. No team in the Southland is averaging more offensive yards per game than ACU (525.7) as the Wildcats rank second in the league in both scoring (35.3 YPG) and rushing (234 YPG).

SERIES INFORMATION
Saturday evening will mark the 19th all-time meeting between SFA and ACU on the gridiron. The Wildcats own a 10-8 edge in the series but the 'Jacks have won each of the last two matchups. SFA earned a 41-30 victory over ACU in 2016 and picked up a 20-10 road win a year ago. The 'Jacks are 5-4 against the Wildcats in contests played in Nacogdoches and have won two of the last three meetings in Texas' oldest town. Since 2014, when ACU rejoined the Southland as NCAA Division I members, SFA has gone 2-2 against the Wildcats with both losses coming by a margin of three points or less. This weekend's home opener will be the second time the 'Jacks have begun the home portion of their schedule by hosting ACU. SFA posted a 51-34 non-conference triumph over the Wildcats in its 1999 home opener.

PACE ON PACE
SFA features a very talented wide receiver group 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 41 catches and five touchdown receptions to break into the Lumberjack top-10 career list in both of those categories, the junior ranks 23rd in career receiving yards (1,578) among all 'Jacks who have played the game. On opening weekend at Southeastern Conference mainstay Mississippi State, Pace was the second-leading receiver in the game, hauling in five catches for 73 yards against the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) 18th-ranked Bulldogs. He then claimed a pair of catches for 24 yards at the University of the Incarnate Word this past weekend.

LAST TIME OUT
After a 14-day hiatus from game action due to SFA's originally scheduled home opener being canceled because of thunderstorms, the 'Jacks were handed a 31-7 defeat at UIW this past Saturday. Despite outgaining the host Cardinals 248-111 in total offensive yards in the second half, SFA was unable to overcome a 21-point, 209-yard second quarter by UIW. Trailing 31-7 at the half, the 'Jacks stepped up their defensive play in the second half and allowed only five first downs for the remainder of the game. Junior running back Jamall Shaw led SFA's ground attack in the affair by collecting a career-high 72 yards on 11 carries, all of which came in the second half. Senior wide receiver Terian Goree tied his career high in receptions with a team-best seven for 63 yards, while sophomore running back Josh McGowen reeled in a career-high five catches for 62 yards. Junior quarterback Jake Blumrick, who started the second half, finished with 148 yards on 15-of-25 passing. Junior Memphis transfer running back Jae'Lon Oglesby continued to prove himself as a viable kickoff return man by tallying 54 yards on a pair of returns, including a 28-yard return on UIW's first kickoff of the game. In week one, Oglesby claimed 47 yards on two kickoff returns at FBS nationally-ranked Mississippi State. Junior Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College transfer Aretavious Hendrix earned his first forced and recovered fumble of his Lumberjack career in the first quarter. Senior safety Lawrence Ghansah recorded a career-high nine total tackles, while Illinois graduate transfer safety Chris James had a career-best seven and senior defensive tackle Demetrion Amie tied his career high with six. Both James and sophomore cornerback Eli Jones recorded their first career interceptions in the game, James picking off a pass late in the second quarter and Jones doing the same early in the fourth. SFA's three takeaways in the game marked the most turnovers forced by the 'Jacks since Oct. 14 of 2017 when SFA picked off Central Arkansas three times.

AGAINST ACU IN 2017
The 'Jacks picked up an impressive 20-10 road victory over ACU inside the brand-new Wildcat Stadium in Abilene to improve to 2-0 in Southland play. The game marked the first time in 2017 SFA outgained its opponent, racking up 414 total yards of offense compared to 328 by the Wildcats. The 'Jacks were plus-four in the turnover margin after claiming four takeaways, the most in a game for SFA since homecoming of 2016 against Central Arkansas. Registering the third-most rushing yards (191) of the season, the 'Jacks passed for another 223 on a total of 94 offensive plays, the most in any game in 2017. SFA held ACU to 105 rushing yards as the game saw a combined 16 punts, eight by each team. Blumrick finished the game going 14-for-25 for 110 yards, while junior quarterback Foster Sawyer was 11-of-20 for 113 yards and a touchdown. Shaw led SFA's rushing attack with a then career-high 69 yards as Blumrick gathered 42 on the ground and junior wideout Frank Iheanacho made six catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Ghansah led with eight total tackles and three solo stops, while sophomore safety Alize Ward and junior linebacker Ryan Woods each earned seven total with five unassisted tackles. Senior defensive end John Franklin posted six total tackles as he finished with 1.5 tackles for loss and a half sack.

-SFA-