Saturday, October 8
Nacogdoches, Texas
6:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
vs
Abilene Christian
Game Preview: No. 22 SFA vs. Abilene Christian
10/4/2022 8:00:00 PM | Football
Stephen F. Austin vs. Abilene Christian
Date: Saturday, Oct. 8
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Nacogdoches, Texas
Venue: Homer Bryce Stadium (14, 575)
Surface: Field Turf
Series: 22nd meeting (SFA leads 11-10)
Live Stats: sfajacks.com
Live Audio: sfajacks.com
TV: ESPN +
Radio: Q 107
Twitter Updates: @SFA_Football
Rankings: SFA - FCS Coaches: No. 22; ACU - FCS Coaches: RV
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Nationally-ranked Stephen F. Austin plays host to Abilene Christian. SFA and ACU, both members of the Western Athletic Conference, will square off in a rare non-conference game. Both teams were forced to re-do their schedules in July due to two Texas-based teams stepping away from the conference. The Lumberjacks and Wildcats will also match-up in the last regular season game of the year and that will count towards the WAC standings.
Self Continues to Rise
Senior signal-caller Trae Self continues to rise in the SFA record books. Self connected with Xavier Gipson on a 14-yard completion late in the second quarter and is now third all-time in SFA with exactly 8700 passing yards. Nationally, Self ranks amonng the top quarterbacks in the country. He sports a 138.5 efficiency rating, which ranks 39th in the country and fourth in the WAC. His 10 touchdown passes also rank 19th in the country and third in the conference. Self also does a great job throwing the ball downfield and averages 13.54 yards per completion.
Heard Named WAC Defensive Player of the Week
For the second time this season senior defensive back Myles Heard was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week. The Sugar Land, Texas native finished with a career-high 14 tackles, including a remarkable 12 solo stops. Heard previously claimed WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after SFA came back and defeated Alcorn State 31-27. In that match-up, Heard clinched the game-winning interception in the waning moments of the game.
Lumberjacks ranked No. 22 in FCS Coaches Poll
SFA fell from No. 14 to No. 22 in the latest FCS Coaches Poll. SFA is 2-3 on the year and each loss is to an FBS team that has 85 full scholarships. SFA, and other FCS programs, compete with 63 full scholarships.
Gipson Breaking Out
All-American Xavier Gipson continues to rise atop the SFA record books. Gipson holds the all-time career receiving yards mark with 3452 and continues to add to the record each game. His 33 touchdowns rank No. 2 all-time and is just six touchdowns behind Cordell Roberson, who played from 2009 to 2012. The Dallas native is averaging 58.8 receiving yards per game, which ranks in the top 100 nationally.
Spreading The Ball Around
Coming into the season all eyes are on Gipson, and rightfully so, he's an All-American and will have his name called in the upcoming NFL Draft in April of 2023. With teams consistently double-teaming Gipson, it has allowed the receiving corps to step up as a whole. 17 different student-athletes have caught a pass so far this season. Moe Wedman has proven to be a big-play threat for Self & Company and is second on the team with 214 receiving yards on just nine receptions. Wedman is averaging 23.78 yards per reception and 42.80 yards per game. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is tied for the team-lead in touchdowns with three. Darryle Simmons and Lawton Rikel have each stepped up with 10 receptions a piece. Simmons has totaled 145 yards and one touchdown, while Rikel has added 133 receiving yards and is tied for the team lead in touchdowns with three.
'Jacks Solid on 3rd Down and Offense Beginning to Click
SFA offense is converting 46.1 percent of its third down opportunities and that ranks 19th nationally and third in the WAC. Lumberjacks are averaging 34.83 points per game, which ranks 18th nationally and third in the WAC.
Last Time Vs. ACU (Oct. 30, 2021)
Self led the SFA football team to a 41-27 win Saturday night over ACU on Homecoming in Homer Bryce Stadium with a 32-of-39, 346 yard, five-touchdown performance.
After falling behind 6-3 after ACU's first drive, the Lumberjacks reeled off 17 unanswered points to take a 20-6 lead behind a pair of Chris Campos field goals and two passing touchdowns from Self.
A Bit About the Wildcats
ACU enters the match-up with a 4-1 record with wins over Lamar (28-14), Prairie View (21-13), Western New Mexico (34-7), and Utah Tech (26-10). The Wildcats' lone loss was to SEC foe Missouri (34-17).
The Wildcats are unsettled at the quarterback position. Maverick McIvor started the season for ACU and led the team to a pair of wins and threw for 258 and 225 yards and four total passing yards, respectfully.
Ethan Long started versus Western New Mexico and he threw for 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns. McIvor and Long both played versus Utah Tech and are listed as Co-QB 1 on the depth chart.
Other Notes
Gipson, Self Named to 2022 Walter Payton Award Watch List
Gipson (wide receiver) and Self (quarterback) named to the initial 2022 Walter Payton Award watch list, which Stats Perform presents to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Gipson, a consensus preseason All-American, recently selected as the unanimous WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, landed on the Stats Perform FCS All-America First Team to open the second straight campaign. Gipson led the WAC with 75 receptions, 1,377 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021, turning in an average of 144.0 all-purpose yards per game.
Self paced the WAC with 3,201 yards and 266.8 passing yards per game in 2021, to go along with 28 touchdowns to just nine interceptions through the air. Self gained an additional 311 rushing and scored three times on the ground for the Lumberjacks.
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and afterwards a national media panel will select the winner. First awarded in 1987, the Payton has watched past recipients such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance move on to the NFL.
Also, this season, Stats Perform will present the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
BJ Thompson Named to Initial 2022 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
SFA defensive lineman BJ Thompson has been selected for the initial 2022 Buck Buchanan Award watch list, which Stats Perform presents to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
Thompson had a stand out 2021 season and appeared in all 12 games, accumulated 12 solo tackles and 26.0 total tackles. Thompson ranked third on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and second on the team with 9.5 sacks. He also recorded two forced fumbles and fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries.
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and afterwards a national media panel will select the winner. First awarded in 1995, the Buchanan includes past recipients such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
Also, this season, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
5 Named to 2022 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team
Five Lumberjacks were named to the 2022 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team. Gipson led the WAC with 75 receptions, 1,377 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021, turning in an average of 144.0 all-purpose yards per game. A pair of Lumberjack players were included on the second-team All-America list, with Thompson and punter Max Quick representing the Lumberjacks. Thompson logged 9.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles over 12 games last season, adding in two pass breakups. Quick averaged 46.0 yards per punt on 44 attempts in 2021 to lead the WAC, booming a long of 74 against Sam Houston on Oct. 2. Quick landed a conference-high 18 punts inside the 20.
On the third team, Self and kicker Chris Campos rounded out the preseason All-America selections from Stephen F. Austin. Self paced the WAC with 3,201 yards and 266.8 passing yards per game in 2021, to go along with 28 touchdowns to just nine interceptions through the air. Self gained an additional 311 rushing and scored three times on the ground for the Lumberjacks. Campos, the WAC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, connected on 20-of-24 field goal attempts (83.3 percent) and all 49 extra-point tries to lead the conference with 109 points last season.
Lumberjacks WAC Preseason No 1; 14 Named to All-WAC Team
SFA received all possible first place votes in the preseason coaches' poll and are the favorites to win the Western Athletic Conference regular season title. Gipson is the WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and kicker Campos is the WAC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. In addition to being on the Preseason All-WAC team as a wide receiver, Gipson is also picked as a returner. The league's six head coaches selected the teams and could not vote for their own team or players.
SFA leads the way with 14 preseason honorees. Gipson, running back Miles Reed, offensive lineman Clint Lapic, defensive lineman B.J. Thompson, and defensive back Jeremiah Walker were all unanimous selections.
Date: Saturday, Oct. 8
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Nacogdoches, Texas
Venue: Homer Bryce Stadium (14, 575)
Surface: Field Turf
Series: 22nd meeting (SFA leads 11-10)
Live Stats: sfajacks.com
Live Audio: sfajacks.com
TV: ESPN +
Radio: Q 107
Twitter Updates: @SFA_Football
Rankings: SFA - FCS Coaches: No. 22; ACU - FCS Coaches: RV
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Nationally-ranked Stephen F. Austin plays host to Abilene Christian. SFA and ACU, both members of the Western Athletic Conference, will square off in a rare non-conference game. Both teams were forced to re-do their schedules in July due to two Texas-based teams stepping away from the conference. The Lumberjacks and Wildcats will also match-up in the last regular season game of the year and that will count towards the WAC standings.
Self Continues to Rise
Senior signal-caller Trae Self continues to rise in the SFA record books. Self connected with Xavier Gipson on a 14-yard completion late in the second quarter and is now third all-time in SFA with exactly 8700 passing yards. Nationally, Self ranks amonng the top quarterbacks in the country. He sports a 138.5 efficiency rating, which ranks 39th in the country and fourth in the WAC. His 10 touchdown passes also rank 19th in the country and third in the conference. Self also does a great job throwing the ball downfield and averages 13.54 yards per completion.
Heard Named WAC Defensive Player of the Week
For the second time this season senior defensive back Myles Heard was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week. The Sugar Land, Texas native finished with a career-high 14 tackles, including a remarkable 12 solo stops. Heard previously claimed WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors after SFA came back and defeated Alcorn State 31-27. In that match-up, Heard clinched the game-winning interception in the waning moments of the game.
Lumberjacks ranked No. 22 in FCS Coaches Poll
SFA fell from No. 14 to No. 22 in the latest FCS Coaches Poll. SFA is 2-3 on the year and each loss is to an FBS team that has 85 full scholarships. SFA, and other FCS programs, compete with 63 full scholarships.
Gipson Breaking Out
All-American Xavier Gipson continues to rise atop the SFA record books. Gipson holds the all-time career receiving yards mark with 3452 and continues to add to the record each game. His 33 touchdowns rank No. 2 all-time and is just six touchdowns behind Cordell Roberson, who played from 2009 to 2012. The Dallas native is averaging 58.8 receiving yards per game, which ranks in the top 100 nationally.
Spreading The Ball Around
Coming into the season all eyes are on Gipson, and rightfully so, he's an All-American and will have his name called in the upcoming NFL Draft in April of 2023. With teams consistently double-teaming Gipson, it has allowed the receiving corps to step up as a whole. 17 different student-athletes have caught a pass so far this season. Moe Wedman has proven to be a big-play threat for Self & Company and is second on the team with 214 receiving yards on just nine receptions. Wedman is averaging 23.78 yards per reception and 42.80 yards per game. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is tied for the team-lead in touchdowns with three. Darryle Simmons and Lawton Rikel have each stepped up with 10 receptions a piece. Simmons has totaled 145 yards and one touchdown, while Rikel has added 133 receiving yards and is tied for the team lead in touchdowns with three.
'Jacks Solid on 3rd Down and Offense Beginning to Click
SFA offense is converting 46.1 percent of its third down opportunities and that ranks 19th nationally and third in the WAC. Lumberjacks are averaging 34.83 points per game, which ranks 18th nationally and third in the WAC.
Last Time Vs. ACU (Oct. 30, 2021)
Self led the SFA football team to a 41-27 win Saturday night over ACU on Homecoming in Homer Bryce Stadium with a 32-of-39, 346 yard, five-touchdown performance.
After falling behind 6-3 after ACU's first drive, the Lumberjacks reeled off 17 unanswered points to take a 20-6 lead behind a pair of Chris Campos field goals and two passing touchdowns from Self.
A Bit About the Wildcats
ACU enters the match-up with a 4-1 record with wins over Lamar (28-14), Prairie View (21-13), Western New Mexico (34-7), and Utah Tech (26-10). The Wildcats' lone loss was to SEC foe Missouri (34-17).
The Wildcats are unsettled at the quarterback position. Maverick McIvor started the season for ACU and led the team to a pair of wins and threw for 258 and 225 yards and four total passing yards, respectfully.
Ethan Long started versus Western New Mexico and he threw for 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns. McIvor and Long both played versus Utah Tech and are listed as Co-QB 1 on the depth chart.
Other Notes
Gipson, Self Named to 2022 Walter Payton Award Watch List
Gipson (wide receiver) and Self (quarterback) named to the initial 2022 Walter Payton Award watch list, which Stats Perform presents to the national offensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision. Gipson, a consensus preseason All-American, recently selected as the unanimous WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, landed on the Stats Perform FCS All-America First Team to open the second straight campaign. Gipson led the WAC with 75 receptions, 1,377 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021, turning in an average of 144.0 all-purpose yards per game.
Self paced the WAC with 3,201 yards and 266.8 passing yards per game in 2021, to go along with 28 touchdowns to just nine interceptions through the air. Self gained an additional 311 rushing and scored three times on the ground for the Lumberjacks.
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and afterwards a national media panel will select the winner. First awarded in 1987, the Payton has watched past recipients such as Steve McNair, Tony Romo, Brian Westbrook, Jimmy Garoppolo, Cooper Kupp and Trey Lance move on to the NFL.
Also, this season, Stats Perform will present the Buck Buchanan Award (FCS defensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
BJ Thompson Named to Initial 2022 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List
SFA defensive lineman BJ Thompson has been selected for the initial 2022 Buck Buchanan Award watch list, which Stats Perform presents to the national defensive player of the year in college football's Division I subdivision.
Thompson had a stand out 2021 season and appeared in all 12 games, accumulated 12 solo tackles and 26.0 total tackles. Thompson ranked third on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss and second on the team with 9.5 sacks. He also recorded two forced fumbles and fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries.
More players can join the watch list during the regular season, and afterwards a national media panel will select the winner. First awarded in 1995, the Buchanan includes past recipients such as Dexter Coakley, Rashean Mathis, Jared Allen and Arthur Moats.
Also, this season, Stats Perform will present the Walter Payton Award (FCS offensive player of the year), Jerry Rice Award (FCS freshman player of the year), Eddie Robinson Award (FCS coach of the year) and Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
5 Named to 2022 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team
Five Lumberjacks were named to the 2022 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team. Gipson led the WAC with 75 receptions, 1,377 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns in 2021, turning in an average of 144.0 all-purpose yards per game. A pair of Lumberjack players were included on the second-team All-America list, with Thompson and punter Max Quick representing the Lumberjacks. Thompson logged 9.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles over 12 games last season, adding in two pass breakups. Quick averaged 46.0 yards per punt on 44 attempts in 2021 to lead the WAC, booming a long of 74 against Sam Houston on Oct. 2. Quick landed a conference-high 18 punts inside the 20.
On the third team, Self and kicker Chris Campos rounded out the preseason All-America selections from Stephen F. Austin. Self paced the WAC with 3,201 yards and 266.8 passing yards per game in 2021, to go along with 28 touchdowns to just nine interceptions through the air. Self gained an additional 311 rushing and scored three times on the ground for the Lumberjacks. Campos, the WAC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, connected on 20-of-24 field goal attempts (83.3 percent) and all 49 extra-point tries to lead the conference with 109 points last season.
Lumberjacks WAC Preseason No 1; 14 Named to All-WAC Team
SFA received all possible first place votes in the preseason coaches' poll and are the favorites to win the Western Athletic Conference regular season title. Gipson is the WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and kicker Campos is the WAC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. In addition to being on the Preseason All-WAC team as a wide receiver, Gipson is also picked as a returner. The league's six head coaches selected the teams and could not vote for their own team or players.
SFA leads the way with 14 preseason honorees. Gipson, running back Miles Reed, offensive lineman Clint Lapic, defensive lineman B.J. Thompson, and defensive back Jeremiah Walker were all unanimous selections.
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football10.16.23 | Football x Coach Carthel Press Conference
Tuesday, October 17
10.2.23 | Football x Week Six Presser
Monday, October 02
9.22.23 | Purple Lights Spotlight x Jarvis Anderson - SFA Football
Tuesday, September 26
9.18.23 | Football x Week Four Presser Colby Carthel Press Conference
Monday, September 18
