Stephen F. Austin
3-9 , 3-6
Northwestern State
3-9 , 3-6
‘Jacks Ground Game Secures Battle for Chief Caddo Win Over NSU
11/22/2019 12:03:00 AM | Football
Inside the box
- Josh McGowen accounted for 158 rushing yards on 22 carries with a touchdown.
- Thom Hutchings followed with 89 yards on 27 carries with touchdown.
- Freshman phenom WR, Xavier Gipson hauled in seven receptions for 98 yards and a TD. His lone touchdown came on a 55 yard pass from Trae Self.
- Trenton Gordon led SFA with 8 total tackles.
- The 'Jack special teams unit was special. SFA recovered an onside kick, fake a field goal for a first down and blocked a punt in the game.
Game Summary
In the first half, SFA cashed in momentum-changing special teams and defensive plays to build a 27-7 halftime lead.
All three of the Lumberjacks touchdown drives were aided either by an NSU turnover or an SFA special teams highlight.
SFA turned a NSU fumble into a 7-yard Thomas Hutchings touchdown run to stretch its lead to 10-0 midway in the first quarter.
Kicker Storm Ruiz made field goal attempts of 54 and 43 yards, but the Lumberjacks successfully faked a field goal on a drive that ended in a Josh McGowen 20-yard touchdown run. The Jacks led 20-0 early in the second quarter after the 46-yard drive, which was set up by a deflected punt.
SFA recovered an onside kick on the ensuing possession, and SFA quarterback chunked a 55-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Gipson on the next play to surge to a 27-0 edge.
NSU took advantage of a SFA turnover and sliced the lead to 27-7 with a touchdown pass.
SFA' JaTerious Evans intercepted a pass at the goal line.
The 'Jacks extend the lead out to 32-7 late in the third after forcing a safety and a Ruiz 44 yard field goal.
NSU attempted a comeback but the SFA defense held strong fighting off four straight plays from the 6 yard line to secure the win.
Team Stats
SFA 3, NSU 0
SFA - Ruiz, Storm 54 yd field goal 6 plays, 15 yards, TOP 2:17
SFA 10, NSU 0
SFA - Hutchings, Thom 7 yd run (Ruiz, Storm kick), 3 plays, 13 yards, TOP 1:10
SFA 13, NSU 0
SFA - Ruiz, Storm 41 yd field goal 9 plays, 47 yards, TOP 2:57
SFA 20, NSU 0
SFA - McGowen, Josh 20 yd run (Ruiz, Storm kick), 7 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:19
SFA 27, NSU 0
SFA - Gipson, Xavier 55 yd pass from Self, Trae (Ruiz, Storm kick) 1 plays, 55 yards, TOP 0:08
SFA 27, NSU 7
NSU - Price, Kendrick 15 yd pass from Eppler, Shelton (Justino, Daniel kick) 4 plays, 33 yards, TOP 1:06
SFA 29, NSU 7
SFA - TEAM 3 yd safety
SFA 32, NSU 7
SFA - Ruiz, Storm 44 yd field goal 6 plays, 23 yards, TOP 2:21
SFA 32, NSU 14
NSU - Shorts, Quan 15 yd pass from Eppler, Shelton (Justino, Daniel kick) 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 3:15
SFA 32, NSU 20
NSU - West, Jared 10 yd run (Eppler, Shelton passfailed), 5 plays, 90 yards, TOP 1:38
