Game One, Game Won; SFA Football Breaks in New Turf With First WAC Win Versus Tarleton State, 20-10

Saturday, September 4

Nacogdoches, TX

6:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

1-0 , 1-0

Tarleton State

0-1 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Tarleton State

Stephen F. Austin

Game One, Game Won; SFA Football Breaks in New Turf With First WAC Win Versus Tarleton State, 20-10

9/4/2021 11:34:00 PM | Football

Box Score

NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- The SFA Lumberjack team had no shortage of motivators entering Saturday night's tilt against Tarleton State. The first WAC football game to be played in 3,199 days, on a brand new turf field featuring its first Lumberjack game, and with the sting of a not so long ago loss to the Texans in 2019 provided all the motivation SFA needed to open its membership into the Western Athletic Conference with a bang. Coming back from a 10-0 deficit, the Lumberjacks scored 20 unanswered points to win their second home opener in as many seasons.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After SFA won the coin toss and elected to defer and receive the opening kick of the second half, they were able to force a quick three and out for Tarelton, only to turn the ball over on a fumble on the ensuing possession. Two plays later, Texasn quaterback Sam Duncan found J.F Thomas for a 35-yard touchdown strike, and the hosts found themselves trailing by a score just three minutes into play.

Capping off a drive that began in the first quarter, the Texans added on a 22-yard field goal from Andy Guzman to pull ahead 10-0. After SFA's ensuing drive stalled out, the Texans got the ball and were piecing together a small drive when Duncan threw deep down field and was intercepted by Myles Brook, the first of three picks on the day by Duncan. SFA marched down the field with short passes to Jeremiah Miller, Moe Wedman and some carries from Jacquarion Turner, before Trae Self connected with speedy Xavier Gipson for a 35-yard touchdown strike to pull within 10-7.

With six minutes left to go in the half, there were still plenty of dramatics to be had, as Tarleton State marched down to the two-yard line of SFA, before a timely sack by Amad Murray forced them to try a 30-yard field goal, which Guzman missed wide left. Pushing the ball downfield with under two minutes left to play was Self, who connected with Quentyvian Borders for a 34-yard strike, only to have the ball pop out and end the scoring try, sending the teams into half with a 10-7 Tarleton lead.

A pick of Duncan by JaTerious Evans early in the third quarter set SFA up to score again off of a turnover, as they mounted a 14-play, 60-yard drive spanning 6:18 and capped off by a 22-yard field goal from Chris Campos to tie the game at 10-10. On Tarleton's ensuing possession, the Lumberjack defense held firm once again, holding the line on a third-and-1 to force a punt and give the ball back to Self and the offense. The 'Jacks then marched down the field on the strength of an 11-play, 53-yard drive capped by the first SFA touchdown by Miles Reed, a two-yard plunge that gave SFA a 17-10 lead.

Duncan's third interception of the night came on the ensuing TSU drive, stalling it out at the SFA 23 thanks to the hands of Bruce Harmon. That led to more points off of turnovers for SFA, who got a 43-yard field goal from Campos after moving 64 yards in seven plays and pushing the lead to 20-10.

LUMBERJACK NOTABLES
• Trae Self had himself a strong day leading the 'Jacks offense, completing 18-26 attempts for 235 yards passing and a TD. He also gained 47 yards on 11 carries on the ground and had no turnovers.
• Moe Wedman led SFA with 73 receiving yards on three grabs, becoming one of eight different receives to catch a pass from Self on a night in which the passing attack was well balanced.
• Reed gained 71 yards on the ground on 19 carries to go along with his score, while Self added 47 yards to help the 'Jacks rack up 164 yards on the ground on the night.
• Myles Heard and Tkai Lloyd led SFA with six tackles apiece, while Murray and BJ Thompson notched 1.5 sacks apiece and help SFA constrict Tarleton's rushing attack all night.