Champs: ‘Jacks Conquer SLC Crown, Clinch League’s Auto Bid to FCS Playoffs

Saturday, November 15

Nacogdoches, TX

4:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

9-2 , 7-0

Lamar

8-3 , 5-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Lamar University

SFA

Photo by: Erika Cruz

Champs: ‘Jacks Conquer SLC Crown, Clinch League’s Auto Bid to FCS Playoffs

11/15/2025 10:13:00 PM | Football

Box Score

SFA hoists SLC trophy for first time since 2010 as win streak increases to nine games

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – In front of a packed-out home side of Homer Bryce Stadium, #15/17 Stephen F. Austin (9-2, 7-0 SLC) answered the call on Saturday night as the 'Jacks knocked off #14/19 Lamar (8-3, 5-2 SLC) for the Southland Conference title and the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The Lumberjacks built a 10-0 lead after the opening quarter, carried a 13-7 lead into the intermission and added 13 more points in the second half to top the Cardinals as a well-deserved celebration broke out on Jimmy W. Murphy Field following the 26-15 final.

SFA hit four field goals including a 56-yarder form the leg of Jacob Hand and three more from Carlos Alvarado, Jerrell Wimbley and Gavin Rutherford punched in rushing scores and Jalen Mayo grabbed a team-leading fourth interception which led to points as the 'Jacks controlled the football for nearly 35 minutes, converted 10-of-18 third downs and allowed just five Lamar conversions in 16 attempts combined on third and fourth downs.

Hand hammered an attempt that would have been good from 65, the 'Jacks forced a three and out highlighted by a Lowote Jurkin ground-shaking hurry on third down, Bugs Mortimer set SFA up inside the LU20 on a 41-yard punt return and five plays later, Rutherford outran multiple Lamar defenders to the endzone for a 23-7 lead.

The next SFA possession didn't result in points, but the 'Jacks took 4:17 off the clock before forcing another Lamar three and out.

The Lumberjack defense delivered an early statement on Lamar's opening drive of the game forcing the Cardinals to come away empty as the final play of an 11-play drive was a 51-yard field goal attempt that missed short left. Lamar's series lasted 5:52 of play. The Cardinals' other four drives of the first half totaled 7:23 on 14 plays.

The two squads traded three and outs, before the 'Jacks engineered a ten-play scoring series that covered 3:48 and ended with Wimbley barreling in from ten yards out for the game's first points.

The second play of Lamar's ensuing drive found the diving arms of Mayo who hauled in his team-leading fourth interception of the season to set Rutherford and the offense up at the LU46. That defensive effort led to additional points as Alvarado knocked in a career-long 43-yarder with plenty of room to spare for a 10-0 SFA lead.

Lamar used a big 54-yard scoring run, nearly 39% of its first half offense, on a 3^rd and 1 to pull within three points.

SCORING DRIVES
1Q (2:21) | 10 plays, 68 yards, 3:48 | 13-yard rush by Wimbley, Alvarado kick good
1Q (0:05) | 5 plays, 21 yards, 1:31 | 43-yard FG by Alvarado

2Q (12:11) | 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:54 | 54-yard rush by McDowell, Woodard kick good
2Q (5:53) | 13 plays, 73 yards, 6:18 | 20-yard FG by Alvarado

3Q (11:38) | 8 plays, 38 yards, 3:22 | 56-yard FG by Hand
3Q (8:04) | 5 plays, 25 yards, 1:44 | 9-yard rush by Rutherford, Alvarado kick good

4Q (8:36) | 11 plays, 45 yards, 6:24 | 33-yard FG by Alvarado
4Q (4:14) | 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:22 | 1-yard rush by Coleman, 2pt rush by Boyd

POSTGAME NOTES

Two of SFA's first-half scoring drives went for 10+ plays marking the 15^th and 16^th scoring series of double digit plays this season, while the 17^th such drive of the campaign came midway through the fourth quarter as Alvarado hit his third FG of the contest
Alvarado hit field goals of 43, 20 and 33
Hand's 56-yard FG is the second longest in program history and the longest FG by a Lumberjack since 1991
Hand is the first kicker in program history with multiple makes of 54+ yards in the same season
Southard led the 'Jacks in tackles with seven and added a pass breakup and a QBH
Southard became the first 'Jack to cross over the century mark in tackles since 2019
Aaron Sears and Malachi Williams followed with five stops
Mayo registered his fourth interception of the season
SFA recorded four tackles for loss with two sacks and a dozen pressures
Rutherford led SFA with 75 yards rushing and a score and Wimbley followed with 65 yards a trip to paydirt
Rutherford went 17-for-31 for 140 yards, while six different receivers hauled in passes paced by Kylon Harris' five grabs and Clayton Wayland's 48 yards

ABOUT THE WIN

The 'Jacks secured the program's fifth SLC title and first since 2010
The victory ensures that SFA will make the program's ninth NCAA playoff appearance and its first since 2021
The ninth-straight victory marks the longest win streak for the 'Jacks since 1989
SFA's 9-2 start is the program's best 11-game beginning to a season since 2010
The 'Jacks are 7-0 in league play for the first time in program history and it's the first time SFA has won seven conference games since 1974
It is the first seven-game league win streak in program history
It is the 42nd victory for the 'Jacks under Carthel which places the Texan in third all-time on SFA's win list
The victory gives SFA its ninth unbeaten season at home and its third under Carthel (2020, 2021)

RECORD BOOK REWRITING

Harris is 136 receiving yards from seventh place all-time
Harris is a dozen receptions away from third place on the all-time receptions list
Wimbley moved 54 yards from sixth on the all-time rushing list

UP NEXT
SFA faces a short week as the 79^th meeting all-time with Northwestern State awaits on Thursday, November 20. NSU holds the series lead at 46-29-3, but the 'Jacks have won three straight in the six-decade long rivalry. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. Live coverage links will be made available at www.SFAjacks.com.

FOLLOW THE LUMBERJACKS
For all the latest information on SFA football, visit SFAjacks.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Lumberjacks on X, Instagram and Facebook.