Stephen F. Austin
UTRGV
NOTES: #20/23 'Jacks host rv/rv UTRGV on Cally Belcher Day
10/29/2025 10:56:00 AM | Football
SFA welcomes in upstart Vaqueros in first-ever meeting as final third of season gets underway at Homer Bryce
1st meeting; 32nd different Texas collegiate program that 'Jacks will matchup with
Nacogdoches, Texas (Jimmy W. Murphy Field at Homer Bryce Stadium)
FULL GAME NOTES ARE HERE
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Stephen F. Austin and UTRGV meet for the first time ever in a big time matchup between a pair of six win teams. It's a blackout in Homer Bryce Stadium and the program's annual remembrance of Cally Belcher. Kickoff in the Week 10 tilt between top 30 FCS foes is set for 6 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.sfajacks.com.
• IN MEMORY OF CALLY BELCHER: The 'Jacks will remember Presley Calloway "Cally" Belcher, an SFA all-conference defensive back who passed away from a brain aneurysm following a spring practice in 1994. Born in 1971, Belcher was a three-year letter winner for SFA at the strong safety position and helped lead the 'Jacks to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs in 1993.
During a spring practice on March 22, 1994, Belcher was going through drills and took a blow to the helmet. He collapsed on the field and was transported to the hospital where he stayed in a coma for a week. On March 29, 1994, at 22 years old, Belcher passed away.
Known as one of the hardest hitters in the Southland at the time, Belcher's number 16 jersey was permanently retired on Sept. 10, 1994, with a special halftime ceremony during a game versus Montana State. For 20 years the No. 16 jersey was never worn by an SFA player until the 20th anniversary of Belcher's passing in 2014, when the first Cally Belcher game was held at Homer Bryce Stadium. Wide receiver Aaron Thomas was the first player to wear the No. 16 jersey since its retirement and did so during the 'Jacks' 35-20 home win over Weber State on Sept. 20, 2014.
Previous players who have worn the jersey since 2014 include:
2014: Aaron Thomas, Wide Receiver
2015: Joshawa West, Running Back
2016: Jamal Allen, Defensive End
2017: Marlon Walls, Safety
2018: Cody Williams, Wide Receiver
2019: Quin Jones, Cornerback
2020: Heston Kelly, Wide Receiver,
2021: Max Quick, Punter
2022: Xavier Gipson, Wide Receiver
2023: Tkai Lloyd, Defensive Back
2024: Jermaine Brown, Defensive Back
This year's honoree that will don the #16 jersey against UTRGV will be announced at the team's pregame meal on Saturday.
• LAST TIME OUT: SFA overcame four turnovers, engineered a stout defensive effort that held East Texas A&M to just ten yards rushing and Kylon Harris delivered a career effort with a single-game program record 16 catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns. Additionally, SFA entered with six scoring drives this season of 10+ plays and added four more to that total as the 'Jacks registered multiple 10+ drives in a game for the second time this season (2 vs McNeese). The Lumberjacks' offensive line paved the way for a 452-yard night which saw the 'Jacks run 34 more plays, control the football for nearly 15 more minutes and convert 8-of-17 on third down.
• SEVEN IS HEAVEN: Saturday night's win gave the 'Jacks a sixth-straight victory which matches its longest such streak since 2010. A win over the Vaqueros would give SFA its longest win streak since winning seven-straight to open the 1995 season. SFA's 6-2 start is the program's best through eight games since 2014, while a 7-2 mark would be the best since 2010. The 'Jacks eye the program's best start to a league slate since winning five-straight in 1989 when they posted a 5-0-1 record in SLC play.
• STREAKIN': During the six-game win streak, the 'Jacks are averaging 404.7 yards of offense and holding opponents to just 236.0 total yards per game. SFA is +5 in turnovers during the stretch and is converting over 44% of its third down chances. Opponents are averaging just 1.3 yards per carry, while the 'Jacks have collected 21 sacks during that time frame.
• VALLEY ON THE RISE IN YEAR ONE: While the Vaqueros are in their first season of football, this momentum in the Valley has been building since Travis Bush's hiring in December of 2022.
UTRGV is 6-2 on the season with losses to Southeastern and Lamar by an average margin of eight points. The Vaqueros enter Week 10 following a 56-28 trouncing of Incarnate Word. The Vaqueros led the SLC in scoring offense (46.1), total offense (492.3), rushing offense (216.9), passing offense (275.4), fewest penalties (42) and turnover margin (1.50), while holding additional top three rankings in 28 statistical categories.
Eddie Lee Marburger leads the SLC in passing efficiency (181.6), passing TDs (22), passing yards (2,020), passing yards per game (252.5), passing yards per completion (15.66) and points responsible for per game (19.5). Marburger also leads in total offense (280.0), while his marks in passing TDs, passing efficiency and passing yards per completion are all top four marks nationally.
His top target is Xayvion Noland who leads the country in yards per reception at 30.13. He also leads the league in receiving TDs (7), receiving yards (723) and receiving yards average (90.4). Tony Diaz ranks second in the SLC in receiving yards (614) and receiving touchdowns (6).
Jaiden Haygood paces the defense with 9.0 tackles per game; the second-most in the league.
• CAN'T CONTAIN KYLON: Senior wide receiver Kylon Harris hauled in a single-game program record 16 receptions for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the win at ETAM. Harris topped Duane Brooks' previous single-game program record of 15 receptions set in games against Eastern Washington and Northwestern State in 2009. His 16 grabs are tied for the third-most in a single-game in Southland Conference history.
• LIGHTNING BUGS: Opposing special teams coordinators are going looney in an effort to figure out ways to slow down electric Lumberjack return man Bugs Mortimer. With the lightning momentarily not an issue in SFA's marathon against Nicholls, Mortimer became one for the Colonels and provided his own electricity as the talented return man dazzled with an impressive tight-roping act along the SFA sideline before reversing field on a 66-yard race to paydirt. His 159 punt return yards set a new single-game program record besting former 'Jack and NFLer Floyd Dixon's 126 vs. Abilene Christian in 1985. He is the first 'Jack since Xavier Gipson in 2022 to have multiple punt return touchdowns in the same season and is the first player in the FCS this season to have multiple PR touchdowns.
• HAND HAS A LEG: Jacob Hand's 54-yard field goal, in his first career attempt, which opened scoring on Saturday against Nicholls is tied for the second-longest FG in program history and marked the longest make by a Lumberjack since Storm Ruiz's 54-yarder against Northwestern State in 2019. Hand handles SFA's kickoff duties and is averaging 62.6 yards per kick with 25 touchbacks.
• ADD MAYO: First-year 'Jack Jalen Mayo has proven to be a key addition to the SFA secondary this season. The Virginia Union transfer leads the Southland Conference in passes defended with 1.0 per game. That total ranks inside the top 35 in FCS. He broke up a pass in four-straight games including two each in wins over UIW and Nicholls.
• GETTING DEFENSIVE: Senior linebacker Jaydon Southard is in the midst of a career year and has five games of double-digit tackles after recording 13 against Nicholls which resulted in weekly SLC honorable mention honors. His 16-tackle effort at UIW led to him being named the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week in addition to receiving SLC defensive honors as well. His 12.0 tackles per game leads the SLC and rates third nationally, while his 5.14 solo stops per game rate 17th in the FCS and are an SLC-best effort. Additionally, Southard's 1.07 tackles for loss per game rates third in the SLC and are a top 45 mark nationally. He produced back-to-back double-digit tackle efforts for the first time as a Lumberjack after a career-high 16 vs. Abilene Christian, which followed 11 in the season opener against Houston. He reached the century mark as a Lumberjack in the win over Cal Poly and enters Week 7 with 63 stops on the season in five games played. He has crossed over 11+ tackles in a game five times in 2025 and Southard is the first Lumberjack with multiple games of 16+ stops since Devin Ducote in 2010.
• BAG 'EM UP: Senior defensive lineman Ky Thomas ranks third in the SLC in sack average (0.57), while Victor Idusuyi II ranks fifth in the Southland Conference with .50 sacks per game. Thomas leads SFA and ranks second in the SLC in tackles for loss average of 1.29. That mark ranks 21st nationally.
• VIVA LA VIDLAK: Senior quarterback Sam Vidlak has thrown a touchdown pass in each of his last six games including consecutive games with three touchdown strikes in SLC wins over McNeese and UIW. He threw two against ETAM, both to Kylon Harris. The Applegate, Oregon native became the ninth Lumberjack to reach 40 in a career. He crossed over 4,000 passing yards as a collegian in the win at UIW and sits 151 yards shy of moving into the program's top 10 all-time. Entering Week 9, Vidlak ranks second in the SLC in passing TDs (13) and passing yards (1,671), third in passing average (208.9) and points responsible for (78).
• BIG PLAY CLAY: Sophomore wide receiver Clayton Wayland has developed into an offensive weapon for SFA in year two. The Southlake, Texas native hauled in multiple passes in the first seven games this season. He has a catch in every game this season and against Nicholls he delivered a 4 catch, 68-yard, one touchdown effort. He produced a career-best effort in the win at UIW where he led the 'Jacks in receiving. Wayland delivered a six-catch, 100-yard performance that was highlighted by a 58-yard, YAC-filled grab in the third quarter which set SFA up inside the UIW5 and led to an eventual six. His totals in receptions and yards are single-game bests and the 58-yarder stands as the longest reception of his career. Nearly a fourth of SFA's plays that have went for 40+ yards have involved Wayland as he added a 40-yard catch against the Colonels to the big play at UIW, a 40-yard catch at Houston and a 44-yard reception against Cal Poly.
• 15 + 4 = 6: Sam Vidlak connected with Kylon Harris for both of SFA's passing strikes against ETAM. It marked the fifth and sixth scoring strikes between the duo this season and the 13th and 14th TD connection in 17 games played together.
• SFA 2K: It's real life but the career numbers by a handful of 'Jacks are video game-like. Seniors Kylon Harris and Jerrell Wimbley (see below) continue to etch their names among the program's all-time greats as both players crossed over the 2,000 yard mark for their respective positions in the SLC-opening win over McNeese. Harris delivered the tenth 100-yard receiving effort of his career to reach 2K receiving yards as a Lumberjack. Against ETAM, Harris moved into eighth place on the all-time list. His two scoring grabs at ETAM, the 24th of his career, moved him into sixth place on the all-time receiving touchdowns list; four back of fifth place.
• RUNNING BACK RAN IT BACK: Senior running back Jerrell Wimbley was named the SLC Offensive Player of the Week for a second-straight week after an explosive effort against McNeese. The Houston native enjoyed a career-high 171 yards on a single-game best 29 carries vs. the Cowboys. He rattled off a 43-yard touchdown in the final two minutes of the game to set a new personal single-game rushing effort and in the process crossed over the 2,000 career rushing yards mark as he became the 11th Lumberjack all-time to reach 2K on the ground. Wimbley totaled 209 all-purpose yards after hauling in four passes for 38 yards.
Entering Week 10, Wimbley ranks second in the SLC in rushing yards (639), rushing yards per carry (5.56) and rushing yards per game (79.9) and ranks fourth in rushing touchdowns (5). Wimbley is 254 rushing yards away from sixth on the all-time rushing list and he is a rushing TD shy of becoming the eighth 'Jack to score 20 on the ground in a career. He is 41 yards away from moving into the top 10 all-time in all-purpose yardage.
• LET'S KICK IT: First-year Lumberjack Carlos Alvarado has been a key part of the 'Jacks' scoring efforts as of late. He has knocked in 36 yarders in consecutive weeks including one against ETAM that put the 'Jacks up 10 late in the contest. He answered a UIW FG with one of his third of the season and chipped in with eight key points for the 'Jacks in the second half against McNeese. He knocked in two of his four extra point attempts in the final half hour in addition to nailing the first two field goal attempts of his Lumberjack career. A ten-play drive late in the third quarter was capped by a 40-yarder that placed the 'Jacks up two touchdowns, while a 24-yarder ended a near seven-minute drive halfway through the fourth quarter to give SFA a 17-point advantage. Alvarado is 5-for-5 on FGA this season and has made all 30 of 31 PATs.
• WEEK 4 WARRIORS: Special efforts resulted in SLC honors for three Lumberjacks following the Cal Poly win. Kylon Harris was named the SLC Special Teams Player of the Week following his 65-yard punt return and Jerrell Wimbley carried ten times for 130 yards highlighted by runs of 46 and 22. It is the most yards by an SLC back against and FCS foe this season. Wimbley garnered SLC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts. Malachi Williams added seven tackles, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry to his interception return TD. He was named honorable mention SLC Defensive Player of the Week.
• SPECIAL FORCES: Speaking of game changers. Freshman punter Lachie Pozzobon put on a punting clinic against Cal Poly inside HBS. The first-year 'Jack punted seven times at an average of 41.4 yards per punt with a long of 51. Of his seven punts, Pozzobon placed four inside the Cal Poly 11 yard line with two of his boots downed inside the CP1. Through eight games, Pozzobon rates fourth in the SLC in punting average at 41.3. SFA ranks second in the SLC in net punting (40.49) which is the 13th-best mark in the country and boast FCS' 9th-best punt return defense (3.00) in the FCS.
• MAKING MOVES: Seventh year head coach Colby Carthel is moving up the wins charts at SFA. He is currentlya win shy of becoming just the fourth head coach of the Lumberjacks to reach 40 in a tenure and he would be just the third since the 1980 season. At home, Carthel has totaled 24 victories, sixth-most by an SFA head coach, while an unbeaten campaign inside HBS this season would move him into third all-time.
• BIG PLAY 'JACKS: SFA has produced 32 offensive plays of 20+ yards this season with 14 accounting for 40 or more yards. The longest play from scrimmage through eight games is a Sam Vidlak to Kylon Harris 76-yard touchdown against McNeese. The 'Jacks have accounted for five plays of 54+ yards this season.
• BACKFIELD BANDITS: The 'Jacks rank second in the FCS in tackles for loss with an SLC-leading per game average of 9.0. Two dozen 'Jacks have recorded at least 1.0 tackle for loss with 16 responsible for 2.0 or more and 11 having registered 3.0 plus. Ky Thomas leads with 9.0 for 40 lost yards.
• TOUGH TO GET TRACTION: Opponents have had issue running the football against SFA as the 'Jacks are allowing just under 70 yards per game on the ground at just 2.0 yards per carry. SFA ranks second nationally and leads the SLC in rushing defense.
