Lumberjacks Topple No. 12 Wildcats in Season Finale

Saturday, November 23

Nacogdoches, Tx

2:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

7-5 , 4-3

Abilene Christian University

8-4 , 7-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Abilene Christian

SFA

Lumberjacks Topple No. 12 Wildcats in Season Finale

11/23/2024 7:52:00 PM | Football

Box Score

By: Jackson Pickard, Graduate Assistant for Strategic Communications

NACOGDOCHES, Texas- The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (7-5, 4-3) defeated the number 12 ranked Abilene Christian Wildcats (8-4, 7-1) 32-19 in the regular season finale at Homer Bryce Stadium on senior day in Nacogdoches.

The Lumberjacks struck first after the defense would force a Wildcats punt which was blocked by Hollis Robinson and recovered by Chance Sautter to set the offense up at the ACU 12-yard line. The Lumberjack offense would strike first as Gavin Rutherford found senior tight end Lavar Lindo in the back of the end zone for an eight-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead. The Lumberjacks defense would stand tall throughout the first quarter and would collect their first safety of the year after a punt pinned the Wildcats at their own four-yard line. A false start would back ACU up to their own two-yard line and the defense would swallow up the ensuing Wildcats rush attempt for a safety to extend their lead to end the first quarter, 9-0.

The defense would continue their momentum forcing an ACU punt giving the ball right back to the SFA offense. Gavin Rutherford would waste no time extending the Lumberjacks lead finding Kylon Harris deep over the middle and connecting for a 60-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the drive, 16-0. Harris 60-yard catch and run would put him over the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the season. The Wildcats would finally cut into the SFA lead with 4:42 to go in the second quarter scoring a touchdown but failing on the two-point attempt to keep the Lumberjacks lead at 10.

The teams would trade punts to end the first half and SFA took a 16-6 lead into halftime.

At the half Gavin Rutherford was 10-for-17 for 118 yards and two passing touchdowns. Kylon Harris led the receiving corps with five catches for 77 yards and one touchdown. Qualan Jones led the ground game with seven carries for 18 yards. Jaheim Mullen led the defense with three tackles at the half.

The second half would begin with a Wildcats fumble on the first play of the drive recovered by Aaron Austin at the ACU 14-yard line. The SFA offense would stall out, but senior Chris Campos would drill his 86th career field goal to tie him for second place all-time in the FCS for career field goals made. The field goal would extend the SFA lead, 19-6.

The Lumberjacks would get the ball right back as senior Josiah Cotton collected his first interception of the season to set the offense up at the ACU 26-yard line. Gavin Rutherford would fumble on the first play of the drive giving the ball right back to ACU. After forcing an ACU punt, the 'Jacks would get the ball back at their own 10-yard line. The 'Jacks offense would continue their string of big plays as Gavin Rutherford connected deep over the middle again this time with Jordan Nabors for an 80-yard catch and run down to the ACU 10-yard line. Senior Qualan Jones would handle business from there punching in his first touchdown of the day from 10-yards out to yet again extend the SFA lead, 25-6.

After yet another Wildcats punt the Lumberjacks would mount an eight-play, 65-yard scoring drive capped off by a one-yard rushing touchdown by Qualan Jones for his second of the day, 32-6. The Wildcats would not go away quietly cutting into the SFA lead with a touchdown with 4:17 to go in the third quarter.

The Wildcats would score another touchdown at the 9:53 mark in the fourth quarter to cut into the lead again, 32-19. Both teams would then trade punts, and the Lumberjacks would collect their second interception of the game this time thanks to senior Luke Watson. SFA would collect a couple of first downs on their way to kneeling out the clock to seal the win over ACU on senior day.

Top SFA performers:
Gavin Rutherford: 290 passing yards (Career-high), 2 touchdown passes (Career-high)
Gavin Rutherford:
Qualan Jones: 62 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
Jordan Nabors: 104 receiving yards
Kylon Harris: Breaks 1,000 single season receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 10^th on the season.
Lavar Lindo: 1 touchdown catch (first TD of career)
Jermaine Brown: 5 total tackles
Xavier Potts: 5 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack
Kameron Reddic: 5 total tackles (Career-high)
Tony Anyanwu: 2 TFL (Career-high)
Hollis Robinson: 1 blocked punt (first of career)

The Lumberjacks finished their 2024 season with a 7-5 overall record and will wait in anticipation to see if their name gets called during the 2024 FCS playoff selection show airing Monday, November 25th at 11:30 A.M. CT at NCAA.com.