Stephen F. Austin
McNeese State
NOTES: Lumberjacks Begin SLC Run Against McNeese on Family Day
9/24/2025 3:23:00 PM | Football
League play opens up as 'Jacks look to cap home stretch unbeaten, snap losing skid to Cowboys
41st meeting; McN leads 23-15-2
Nacogdoches, Texas (Jimmy W. Murphy Field at Homer Bryce Stadium)
FULL GAME NOTES ARE HERE
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - The season within the season begins for Stephen F. Austin football on Saturday as the Lumberjacks open Southland Conference play against McNeese State in front of a Family Day crowd inside Homer Bryce Stadium. Kickoff in the league opener for both teams is set for 7 p.m. Live coverage links are available at www.sfajacks.com.
• ON TAP: The 'Jacks and the Cowboys meet for the 41st time overall in a series that dates back to 1960. McNeese holds the series advantage at 23-15-2 and enters Saturday's SLC opener having won four straight in Nacogdoches as well as four straight overall. SFA last won at home against McNeese in 2011.
• HOME SWEET HOMER: The Lumberjacks boast six home games on their schedule for the second-consecutive season and since the 2020 campaign, SFA is 21-6 inside Homer Bryce Stadium following Saturday night's win over Cal Poly. The 'Jacks have eight undefeated home seasons inside HBS, winning no fewer than four games in each of those schedules including four each in 2020 and 2021. In home openers, SFA moved to 6-1 under Carthel and has won six straight following the decisive victory over Sul Ross.
• EYEING THREE STRAIGHT: SFA aims to close out its three-game home stretch unbeaten after wins over Sul Ross and Cal Poly. The 'Jacks last won in three consecutive weeks at home back in 2014 when SFA toppled Incarnate Word (Sept. 6), Texas A&M-Commerce (Sept. 13) and Weber State (Sept. 20).
• LAST TIME OUT: Twenty-one third quarter points and a defensive effort that forced three interceptions, including one for an early touchdown in the opening minute of the second half helped push the 'Jacks past Cal Poly, 35-17, in the former's non-conference finale.
• SENT 'EM BACK TO CALI CALI: The 'Jacks wrapped up non-conference play last Saturday in the program's first ever matchup with Cal Poly. Under Carthel, the 'Jacks are 18-16 against non-conference opponents, are 10-8 when facing non-league FCS foes and are 8-0 against non-DI competition. SFA moved to 5-0 all-time against teams from the state of California since 2000 and are 4-0 against California programs inside HBS during that time.
• COWBOYS CORRAL: Matt Viator returned this season to take over a program he once led for ten years. The Cowboys own a season-opening win over Louisiana Christian, trailed G5 Louisiana 17-10 entering the fourth quarter, lost a shootout to Weber State following a failed two-point try for the lead in the final 45 seconds and are coming off a loss to G5 Utah State. McNeese carries the league's second-highest total offense (419.5) to Nacogdoches powered by the SLC's second-leading rushing offense (180.0) and first downs offense (87). Jake Strong's 17 completions per game lead the Southland and he ranks second in the league in passing touchdowns (6), passing yards (887), passing yards average (221.8) and passing yards per completion (13.04). Tre'Vonte Citizen rates second in rushing yards (272) and rushing yards average (68.0).
• FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS: SFA saw all three phases of the game get in on the touchdown-scoring act last Saturday against the Big Sky Conference's Mustangs. Two Sam Vidlak touchdown passes, one to Clayton Wayland from 13 yards out five seconds into the second quarter and the other to Derrick Bohler from 28 yards away in the final 90 seconds of the third, and a one-yard scoring plunge by Richard Reese midway through the third quarter accounted for the offensive scores. Kylon Harris ripped off a 65-yard punt return touchdown to give the 'Jacks a lead that they would not relinquish in the second quarter, while the soon-to-be dagger was applied by Malachi Williams in the opening 60 seconds following the intermission as he took an interception 28 yards to paydirt for a two-score lead. It marked the first time since 2021 (vs. Warner) that all three phases produced touchdowns in the same game and it was the third time the 'Jacks did it under Carthel (2019 vs. Mississippi Valley State).
• THE SEASON WITHIN THE SEASON: All eyes turn to Southland Conference play. The 'Jacks are 13-21 overall in conference play during Carthel's tenure. Since the start of the 2021 season, SFA is 13-12 against league opponents after not having played a league slate in '20 and seeing wins vacated in '19 due to infractions committed by a previous staff. In SLC play, the 'Jacks are coming off of a 4-3 season with the three losses decided by an average of four points. SFA is 2-3 in league openers under Carthel.
• 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 last Saturday 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 four games, Pozzobon rates third in the SLC in punting average at 42.3. SFA leads the SLC in net punting (41.05) which is the tenth-best mark in the country and boast a top 30 punt return defense (4.17) in the FCS.
• MAKING MOVES: Seventh year head coach Colby Carthel is moving up the wins charts at SFA. He is currently five victories 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 22 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 26 offensive plays of 10+ yards this season with over half (15) accounting for 15 or more yards. Of the 15 that have went for a first down and a half, 11 have accounted for 20 or more yards. The longest play from scrimmage through four games is a Sam Vidlak to Richard Reese 64-yard touchdown against Sul Ross. The 'Jacks have accounted for six plays of 40+ yards this season with a pair of Clayton Wayland receptions (40, 44) standing for a third of that production.
• BACKFIELD BANDITS: The 'Jacks rank inside the FCS top 10 in tackles for loss with an SLC-leading per game average of 8.0. Nineteen 'Jacks have recorded at least 1.0 tackle for loss with six responsible for 2.0 or more and Jaydon Southard and Jalen Mayo each leading with 3.0.
• TOUGH TO GET TRACTION: Opponents have had issue running the football against SFA as the 'Jacks are allowing just under 90 yards per game on the ground at just 2.4 yards per carry. SFA will be tested on Saturday as one of the league's top rushing offenses visits HBS.
