Stephen F. Austin
3-3
Abilene Christian University
0-3
Lumberjacks Prevail in Wild Overtime Bout with Abilene Christian at Globe Life Park, 35-32
10/24/2020 4:47:00 PM | Football
Self finished with a career-high 352 yards passing and three touchdowns in the victory, while also adding a touchdown and 22 yards on the ground. Xavier Gipson was the biggest beneficiary of Self's big day, finishing with nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, including a go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter to give SFA a 22-21 lead.
The SFA defense played spectacularly in the game, forcing five ACU turnovers and recording two sacks on the day. Brevin Randle recorded 10 tackles (1.5 TFL), a forced fumble and half a sack, while Bruce Harmon picked off two passes and added a pair of tackles.
After a slow start to the game which saw both teams fumble the ball on their first possession, it was the Wildcats who would draw first blood, marching down the field to take an early 7-0 lead with a two-yard touchdown run to close out the quarter. Self and the Lumberjacks manufactured a scoring drive of their own to answer, capped off by Self's touchdown scamper with 10:55 remaining in the second quarter to tie the game up at 7-7. A blocked field goal touchdown return would give ACU a 14-7 left at the halftime intermission, setting the stage for the eventual Lumberjack comeback.
Receiving the opening kickoff of the third quarter, the 'Jacks drew within one, 14-13, off of a 42-yard field goal by Chris Campos on the third quarter's opening possession. After an interception by Tkai Lloyd, the Lumberjacks tacked on another three points by Campos, this time a 40-yarder, to pull within one, 14-13.After a Wildcat touchdown extended ACU's lead to 21-13, the 'Jacks kept pressing with a 38-yard FG by Campos.
An 11-play, 51-yard drive by Self and the 'Jacks ended with Gipson's score to give the 'Jacks their first lead of the game with 2:23 left in the game, but the joy was short lived for the home side, as ACU got a long reception to set up a rushing score and retake a 29-22 lead with 1:31 remaining. With just a minute and a half left to drive down the field, the 'Jacks were nonetheless up for the task, as Jeremiah Miller took a pass from Self 62 yards into ACU territory and Self found Remi Simmons for a five-yard TD strike to tie the game at 29-29.
In overtime, the 'Jacks won the toss and elected to have ACU receive the ball first. Stymied by the SFA defense, the Wildcats were forced to settle for just a field goal, sealing the game for the 'Jacks once Self found Aune in the flat from 16 yards out to punch in the game-winning score.
Team Stats
ACU 7, SFAFB 0
ACU - T. White 2 yd run (B. Zepeda kick), 10 plays, 51 yards, TOP 5:11
ACU 7, SFAFB 7
SFAFB - Self, Trae 4 yd run (Campos, Chris kick), 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:30
ACU 14, SFAFB 7
ACU - R. Stapp 85 yd blocked field goal return (B. Zepeda kick)
ACU 14, SFAFB 10
SFAFB - Campos, Chris 42 yd field goal 5 plays, 22 yards, TOP 1:42
ACU 14, SFAFB 13
SFAFB - Campos, Chris 40 yd field goal 7 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:23
ACU 21, SFAFB 13
ACU - J. Dobbins 10 yd run (B. Zepeda kick), 2 plays, 37 yards, TOP 0:38
ACU 21, SFAFB 16
SFAFB - Campos, Chris 38 yd field goal 10 plays, 39 yards, TOP 4:28
ACU 21, SFAFB 22
SFAFB - Gipson, Xavier 8 yd pass from Self, Trae (Self, Trae rushfailed) 11 plays, 51 yards, TOP 4:02
ACU 29, SFAFB 22
ACU - T. White 3 yd run (P. Mansell rush), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:45
ACU 29, SFAFB 29
SFAFB - Simmons, Remi 5 yd pass from Self, Trae (Campos, Chris kick) 3 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:40
ACU 32, SFAFB 29
ACU - B. Zepeda 35 yd field goal 4 plays, 8 yards, TOP 0:00
ACU 32, SFAFB 35
SFAFB - Aune, Chad 16 yd pass from Self, Trae () 2 plays, 25 yards, TOP 0:00
