Stephen F. Austin
1-8 , 1-5
rv/rv Southeastern Louisiana
5-3 , 4-2
'Jacks Amass Season-High 474 Yards of Offense in Shootout at Southeastern Louisiana
11/2/2019 7:29:00 PM | Football
McGowen rushes for team-leading sixth touchdown of 2019
HAMMOND, La. - A two-yard touchdown run by junior Josh McGowen helped the SFA football team battle back from an early 13-point deficit and cut rv/rv Southeastern Louisiana's lead to 19-17 in the third quarter, but the Lions answered with touchdown drives on each of their next two possessions to help them gain the separation they needed in order to earn an eventual 47-30 win Saturday night at Strawberry Stadium.
In the first meeting between the two programs in three years, SFA piled up a season-high 471 yards and received touchdowns from four different players but was ultimately unable to bounce back from a 13-0 deficit after the first quarter.
FIRST QUARTER
• Getting off to a quick start, Southeastern Louisiana forced the 'Jacks to play from behind most of the day after they found the end zone on each of their first two drives of the quarter.
• After forcing an SFA punt on the game's opening drive, the Lions wasted little time in embarking on a 12-play, 85-yard touchdown drive that spanned 5:05. Devonte Williams accounted for 54 of those 85 yards, getting 15 through the air and 39 on the ground, but handed things over to quarterback Cole Kelley who put the home team up with a three-yard touchdown run with 6:37 left in the quarter.
• An interception thrown by sophomore quarterback Trae Self on the third play of the 'Jacks' ensuing drive helped the Lions get the ball right back and increase their lead. After Xavier Lewis took the interception back to the 'Jacks' 40, the hosts needed just four plays to hit pay dirt once again.
• On his first rush attempt of the game, Ed Magee punched it in from eight yards out and - unlike their first try of the game - the Lions converted the extra point to move ahead 13-0.
• Needing points in a bad way, SFA started its first scoring drive of the day in the waning minutes of the quarter. Self connected with QuenTyvian Borders for 13 yards before hooking up with Allen Arclies III for a 17-yard strike that put the 'Jacks down at the Lions' 30 before the quarter ended.
SECOND QUARTER
• It took only two plays for the 'Jacks to get on the board once the second quarter commenced. Facing a second and seven on the Lions' 27, Self spotted Arclies III wide open down the middle and slung a 27-yard touchdown strike to the junior that cut the Lions' lead to 13-7.
• Both squads swapped stalled drives before the hosts marched 76 yards downfield to make it a two-score game once again. Aided by a 15-year pass interference call on the 'Jacks, Southeastern Louisiana extended its lead to 19-7 when Cole Kelley capped his team's 10-play drive with a one-yard touchdown plunge.
• Caleb Lawton prevented the Lions from tacking on the extra point, however, by busting through their line and getting his mitts on the point after try.
• Trenton Gordon was the cause of the Lions' first turnover of the day as the junior picked off Chason Virgil's third down pass on the Lions' 44 with 1:16 to go.
• With the ball back in their hands, the 'Jacks watched as Self completed passes to Gipson, Lar'Darion Cobb and Josh McGowen to put the ball down at the Lions' 10 yard line. Once there, SFA's drive stalled but Storm Ruiz made it a nine-point game by drilling a 29-yard field goal at the horn. The eight-play drive trimmed Southeastern Louisiana's lead to 19-10.
THIRD QUARTER
• The Self-to-Gipson connection allowed the 'Jacks to move quickly into Southeastern Louisiana territory on their first drive of the quarter. Gipson hauled in a pair of balls for 43 yards while Self found Borders for a 24-yard gainer that put SFA at the Lions' one.
• A pass interference call negated a Southeastern Louisiana interception in the end zone and after that McGowen powered his way in from two yard out to cut the Lions' lead to 19-17 with 9:44 to go in the quarter.
• Unfortunately, Southeastern Louisiana answered with a 10-play, 65-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a two-yard touchdown pass from Kelley to Williams on fourth down. That put the hosts up 26-17 and took the momentum away from the 'Jacks.
• After an three-and-out by the 'Jacks, Southeastern Louisiana struck again. The Lions' six-play, 70-yard drive was capped off by a 15-yard touchdown strike from Virgil to Austin Mitchell that hiked the hosts' edge to 33-17.
FOURTH QUARTER
• SFA never stopped fighting, however, as the 'Jacks started the scoring in the fourth quarter. Self hit Lar'Darion Cobb twice - once for 18 yards and another time for 20 yards - to put the 'Jacks at the Lions' 15. From there, Self found Gipson in the back corner of the end zone and a 12-yard touchdown connection cut Southeastern Louisiana's lead to 33-23.
• Max Quick executed a perfect fake punt on SFA's next drive and picked up 20 yard on a rush, but backup quarterback Cam Arnold tossed an interception to Ferlando Jordan at the Lions' 35. Jordan raced 65 yards the other way for a pick-six that extended the hosts' edge to 40-23.
• Arnold hit Cobb in stride for a 20-yard touchdown with 5:31 left, but SFA's ensuing onside kick was recovered by the Lions who punched it in one more time to account for the final score.
KEY PERFORMERS/STATISTICS OF NOTE
• Self threw for 332 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Arnold finished with 71 yards and a score through the air. Both threw a pick in the loss, however.
• Nine different SFA receivers latched on to balls thrown their way with Gipson generating a game-high 94 receiving yards. Cobb finished with 88 receiving yards while Borders added 70.
• For the Lions, Kelley ran for a pair of touchdowns and threw for one more and Southeastern Louisiana finished with four rushing scores.
• Da'Ryan Williams finished with a game and season-high 11 tackles to pace SFA's defense.
COMING UP NEXT
• In their final home game of the 2019 season, SFA welcomes Incarnate Word to Homer Bryce Stadium for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff Saturday evening. SFA's senior class will be honored for their contributions to Lumberjack football through the years and Saturday will also serve as the 2019 SFA Football Reunion day, too.
-SFA-
Team Stats
SFA 0, SLU 6
SLU - Kelley, C. 3 yd run (TEAM rushfailed), 12 plays, 85 yards, TOP 5:05
SFA 0, SLU 13
SLU - Magee, E. 8 yd run (Broussard, B. kick), 4 plays, 40 yards, TOP 1:35
SFA 7, SLU 13
SFA - Arclies III, Al 27 yd pass from Self, Trae (Ruiz, Storm kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:33
SFA 7, SLU 19
SLU - Kelley, C. 1 yd run (Broussard, B. kickblocked), 10 plays, 76 yards, TOP 4:30
SFA 10, SLU 19
SFA - Ruiz, Storm 29 yd field goal 8 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:16
SFA 17, SLU 19
SFA - McGowen, Josh 2 yd run (Ruiz, Storm kick), 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:51
SFA 17, SLU 26
SLU - Williams, D, 2 yd pass from Kelley, C. (Broussard, B. kick) 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 5:03
SFA 17, SLU 33
SLU - Mitchell, A. 15 yd pass from Virgil, C. (Broussard, B. kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:16
SFA 23, SLU 33
SFA - Gipson, Xavier 12 yd pass from Self, Trae (Self, Trae passfailed) 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:36
SFA 23, SLU 40
SLU - Jordan, F. 65 yd interception (Broussard, B. kick)
SFA 30, SLU 40
SFA - Cobb, Lar'Dario 20 yd pass from Arnold, Cam (Ruiz, Storm kick) 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:36
SFA 30, SLU 47
SLU - Jones, T. 1 yd run (Broussard, B. kick), 9 plays, 46 yards, TOP 4:53
