Saturday, November 12
Nacogdoches, Texas
4:00 p.m.
Stephen F. Austin
vs
Central Arkansas
Game Preview: Stephen F. Austin vs. Central Arkansas
11/9/2022 5:00:00 PM | Football
Stephen F. Austin vs. Central Arkansas
Date: Saturday, Nov. 12
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Nacogdoches, Texas
Venue: Homer Bryce Stadium
Surface: Field Turf
Series: UCA 10-4
Live Stats: sfajacks.com
Live Audio: sfajacks.com
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Q 107
Twitter Updates: @SFA_Football
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin hosts Central Arkansas Saturday on Senior Day & Military and First Responder Day (Black Out). The 'Jacks enter with a record of 5-4, 2-1 in the WAC, while UCA is 4-5 and 3-1 in the ASUN.
Series
This marks the 15th time the two programs will meet on the gridiron, with the Bears leading the series 10-4. Last season, the Lumberjacks defeated the Bears 27-14 in Conway and snapped a six-game losing skid. The series is relatively new with the first meeting happening in 2006. Aside from 2020 and 2013, the series has been played each year since 2006.
Gipson Named WAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Xavier Gipson earned the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance versus Utah Tech.
Gipson, a senior, enjoyed another impact game for SFA in a hard-luck defeat at the hands of Utah Tech on Oct. 29. Gipson registered 270 all-purpose yards on 11 total touches, which included 119 yards on three punt returns. Gipson scored his second punt return touchdown of the season after bringing a Utah Tech punt back 85 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.
Lumberjacks No. 3 in ASUN/WAC Power Rankings
For the second week in a row the 'Jacks were ranked No. 3 in the ASUN/WAC Power Rankings. Eastern Kentucky checks in at No. 1 with a 0.7540, Austin Peay is No. 2 at 0.795, and the 'Jacks are No. 3 with a 0.756. Abilene Christian, who the 'Jacks will play next week for the WAC championship, are fourth with a rating of 0.6594.
Gipson Continues to Impress
It seems each time Gipson touches the ball, either on offense or special teams, something special happens. In the match-up versus Utah Tech, Gipson surpassed 4000 career receiving yards. Gipson holds the school record in receiving yards (each yard adds to the mark) and in a single game of 257, which was set October 22 at Southern Utah. The next accolade within Gipson's grasp is career receiving touchdowns. The Dallas, Texas product is at 36 career receiving touchdowns and needs three to tie the record of 39 and four to break it at 40. The record is held by former SFA standout Cordell Roberson. Currently, Gipson ranks second in the FCS with 938 receiving yards and is averaging 141.3 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks 12th in the FCS.
Winning on 3rd Down
The 'Jacks rank among the best in FCS on 3rd down with a conversion rate of 0.447, which checks in at 24th and second in the WAC.
Special Teams Excelling
Since Colby Carthel assumed the role as head coach at SFA, the 'Jacks have made special teams a point of emphasis. The 'Jacks rank fifth in the FCS and lead the WAC with five blocked kicks. SFA also ranks eighth in the FCS and first in the conference with two blocked punts. Led by Gipson, the 'Jacks lead the FCS with an average of 37.39 per punt return.
Pounding the Rock
The Lumberjacks have established the running game and over the course of the past three games have rushed for 201 yards, 257 yards, and 238 yards. The two running backs that have blossomed are Jerrell Wimbley and Miles Reed. Wimbley leads the team with 587 yards and five touchdowns and is averaging 5.9 yards per rush. Reed is right behind him 475 yards and two touchdowns. Combined, the duo has rushed for 1062 yards and nine touchdowns.
Self Close to 10,000 Passing Yards
Trae Self, the 'Jacks four-year starter at quarterback is sitting at 9885 career passing yards and needs 115 yards to eclipse the 10,000 mark. Self also passed for a career-high 391 yards versus Utah Tech.
Last Season vs. Central Arkansas (11/13/21)
The 'Jacks defeated the Bears 27-14 and used the momentum to finish the season strong and qualify for the FCS Playoffs.
Self passed for 261 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were caught by Gipson.
Gipson finished with six grabs for 99 yards, including a long of 73 yards.
On the ground, Reed rushed for 132 yards on 32 attempts for an average of 4.1 yards per rush.
Myles Heard recorded two forced fumbles to go with five tackles.
A brief look at UCA
The Bears use a balanced offensive attack.
Darius Hale leads the team with 931 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, while Kylin James has rushed for 427 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Will McElvain, a transfer from Northern Iowa, has passed for 2107 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also thrown seven interceptions.
McElvain has distributed the ball to 15 different receivers. His go-to weapon is Jarrod Barnes, who has totaled 584 receiving yards and five touchdowns. James is second on the team with 387 receiving yards and one touchdown. Chris Richmond is third with 330 yards and three touchdowns.
TaMuarion Wilson leads the team with 87 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Wilson also averages six solo tackles per game, which ranks sixth in the FCS. Demetrius Charles has totaled 66 stops, while Corley Hooper is at 54 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Richmond is also a dynamic special team's player and ranks second in the FCS with two kickoff returns for touchdowns, and seventh in the FCS with an average of 28.4 yards per kick return.
Other Notes
Campos SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Sophomore placekicker Chris Campos was named the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week after the Nacogdoches, Texas native drilled a 51-yard field goal on the final play of the game to propel SFA past Abilene Christian 41-38. Campos, who was the WAC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Week, is having a fantastic 2022 campaign. He's converted 12-of-14 field goal attempts (85.71 percent) and all 31 of his PATs thus far in 2022. It's the third time this season a Lumberjack won a WAC Player of the Week accolade.
Heard Named WAC Defensive Player of the Week for 2nd Time
Heard is a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Week award winner. He finished with a career-high 14 tackles, including a remarkable 12 solo stops versus Sam Houston to earn the nod. 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.
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, Reed, offensive lineman Clint Lapic, Thompson, and defensive back Jeremiah Walker were all unanimous selections.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 12
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Nacogdoches, Texas
Venue: Homer Bryce Stadium
Surface: Field Turf
Series: UCA 10-4
Live Stats: sfajacks.com
Live Audio: sfajacks.com
TV: ESPN+
Radio: Q 107
Twitter Updates: @SFA_Football
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NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin hosts Central Arkansas Saturday on Senior Day & Military and First Responder Day (Black Out). The 'Jacks enter with a record of 5-4, 2-1 in the WAC, while UCA is 4-5 and 3-1 in the ASUN.
Series
This marks the 15th time the two programs will meet on the gridiron, with the Bears leading the series 10-4. Last season, the Lumberjacks defeated the Bears 27-14 in Conway and snapped a six-game losing skid. The series is relatively new with the first meeting happening in 2006. Aside from 2020 and 2013, the series has been played each year since 2006.
Gipson Named WAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Xavier Gipson earned the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance versus Utah Tech.
Gipson, a senior, enjoyed another impact game for SFA in a hard-luck defeat at the hands of Utah Tech on Oct. 29. Gipson registered 270 all-purpose yards on 11 total touches, which included 119 yards on three punt returns. Gipson scored his second punt return touchdown of the season after bringing a Utah Tech punt back 85 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.
Lumberjacks No. 3 in ASUN/WAC Power Rankings
For the second week in a row the 'Jacks were ranked No. 3 in the ASUN/WAC Power Rankings. Eastern Kentucky checks in at No. 1 with a 0.7540, Austin Peay is No. 2 at 0.795, and the 'Jacks are No. 3 with a 0.756. Abilene Christian, who the 'Jacks will play next week for the WAC championship, are fourth with a rating of 0.6594.
Gipson Continues to Impress
It seems each time Gipson touches the ball, either on offense or special teams, something special happens. In the match-up versus Utah Tech, Gipson surpassed 4000 career receiving yards. Gipson holds the school record in receiving yards (each yard adds to the mark) and in a single game of 257, which was set October 22 at Southern Utah. The next accolade within Gipson's grasp is career receiving touchdowns. The Dallas, Texas product is at 36 career receiving touchdowns and needs three to tie the record of 39 and four to break it at 40. The record is held by former SFA standout Cordell Roberson. Currently, Gipson ranks second in the FCS with 938 receiving yards and is averaging 141.3 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks 12th in the FCS.
Winning on 3rd Down
The 'Jacks rank among the best in FCS on 3rd down with a conversion rate of 0.447, which checks in at 24th and second in the WAC.
Special Teams Excelling
Since Colby Carthel assumed the role as head coach at SFA, the 'Jacks have made special teams a point of emphasis. The 'Jacks rank fifth in the FCS and lead the WAC with five blocked kicks. SFA also ranks eighth in the FCS and first in the conference with two blocked punts. Led by Gipson, the 'Jacks lead the FCS with an average of 37.39 per punt return.
Pounding the Rock
The Lumberjacks have established the running game and over the course of the past three games have rushed for 201 yards, 257 yards, and 238 yards. The two running backs that have blossomed are Jerrell Wimbley and Miles Reed. Wimbley leads the team with 587 yards and five touchdowns and is averaging 5.9 yards per rush. Reed is right behind him 475 yards and two touchdowns. Combined, the duo has rushed for 1062 yards and nine touchdowns.
Self Close to 10,000 Passing Yards
Trae Self, the 'Jacks four-year starter at quarterback is sitting at 9885 career passing yards and needs 115 yards to eclipse the 10,000 mark. Self also passed for a career-high 391 yards versus Utah Tech.
Last Season vs. Central Arkansas (11/13/21)
The 'Jacks defeated the Bears 27-14 and used the momentum to finish the season strong and qualify for the FCS Playoffs.
Self passed for 261 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were caught by Gipson.
Gipson finished with six grabs for 99 yards, including a long of 73 yards.
On the ground, Reed rushed for 132 yards on 32 attempts for an average of 4.1 yards per rush.
Myles Heard recorded two forced fumbles to go with five tackles.
A brief look at UCA
The Bears use a balanced offensive attack.
Darius Hale leads the team with 931 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, while Kylin James has rushed for 427 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Will McElvain, a transfer from Northern Iowa, has passed for 2107 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also thrown seven interceptions.
McElvain has distributed the ball to 15 different receivers. His go-to weapon is Jarrod Barnes, who has totaled 584 receiving yards and five touchdowns. James is second on the team with 387 receiving yards and one touchdown. Chris Richmond is third with 330 yards and three touchdowns.
TaMuarion Wilson leads the team with 87 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss. Wilson also averages six solo tackles per game, which ranks sixth in the FCS. Demetrius Charles has totaled 66 stops, while Corley Hooper is at 54 tackles and two fumble recoveries.
Richmond is also a dynamic special team's player and ranks second in the FCS with two kickoff returns for touchdowns, and seventh in the FCS with an average of 28.4 yards per kick return.
Other Notes
Campos SWAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Sophomore placekicker Chris Campos was named the WAC Special Teams Player of the Week after the Nacogdoches, Texas native drilled a 51-yard field goal on the final play of the game to propel SFA past Abilene Christian 41-38. Campos, who was the WAC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Week, is having a fantastic 2022 campaign. He's converted 12-of-14 field goal attempts (85.71 percent) and all 31 of his PATs thus far in 2022. It's the third time this season a Lumberjack won a WAC Player of the Week accolade.
Heard Named WAC Defensive Player of the Week for 2nd Time
Heard is a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Week award winner. He finished with a career-high 14 tackles, including a remarkable 12 solo stops versus Sam Houston to earn the nod. 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.
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, Reed, offensive lineman Clint Lapic, Thompson, and defensive back Jeremiah Walker were all unanimous selections.
Players Mentioned
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