‘Jacks handle McNeese in Southland opener

Saturday, September 27

Nacogdoches, TX

7:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

3-2 , 1-0

McNeese State

1-4 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

McNeese

SFA

Photo by: Erika Cruz

‘Jacks handle McNeese in Southland opener

9/27/2025 11:56:00 PM | Football

Box Score

SFA wins third straight home game behind strong defense, offensive milestones by pair of seniors

NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Three McNeese turnovers led to as many big opportunities for Stephen F. Austin and the 'Jacks capitalized by hitting paydirt twice and punching in a key 24-yard field goal on their way to a convincing 34-17 Southland Conference opening win against the visiting Cowboys in front of over 10,000 fans inside Homer Bryce Stadium.

Sam Vidlak found Kylon Harris crossing over the middle of the field and just shy of the goal line and the senior wide receiver completed the 14-yard pitch and catch to put the 'Jacks out front as the host took advantage of a Michael Patterson forced fumble inside the McNeese30 to set up the go-ahead score with under three minutes remaining before the intermission.

The second turnover came less than five minutes into the third quarter as Malachi Williams recovered a loose football at the SFA5 to end a very promising McNeese effort and set up a big strike four plays later as Vidlak connected with Harris again, this time on a wheel route for 76 yards: the longest reception of Harris' outstanding career.

A third turnover, a diving Saco Alofipo interception following a Charles Demmings breakup, led to Carlos Alvarado's second make of the night that put the 'Jacks up by three scores.

McNeese hit a 37-yarder to pull within 11 points as the SFA defense forced its visiting foe to settle for the attempt after a 14-play drive. The 'Jacks answered by turning to Carlos Alvarado for his first two attempts of the year which he drilled from 40 and 24 yards, respectively to put SFA up 27-10 with under seven minutes to play. McN pulled within ten with a touchdown pass in the final 2:30 of play, but Jerrell Wimbley placed a firm bow on the win with a 43-yard scamper down the home sideline to put the game on ice.

Vidlak's first throwing score of the night went to Blaine Green who had enough wide-open real estate in front of him to make Century 21 jealous. Green strolled in from 40 yards out on 4^th & 3 to match McNeese 7-7 at the 9:21 mark of the second quarter. Prior to the competition, Vidlak was 1-of-8 passing for one yard, but that scoring strike rerouted the offense after a sluggish start as the senior gunslinger went 14-of-21 for 232 and three scores beginning with the TD pass to Green.

The 'Jacks defense was also dishing out sluggish beginnings as McNeese's lone first half score came on a fourth down conversion up the gut, the Cowboy's second of the drive, and capped a 57-yard drive which was more than half of the visitor's first half total offense.

SCORING DRIVES
1Q (0:53) | 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:26 | Citizen 20-yard TD run, Pinton kick

2Q (9:21) | 6 plays, 60 yards, 2:11 | Green 40-yard TD reception from Vidlak, Alvardo kick
2Q (2:49) | 6 plays, 27 yards, 1:40 | Harris 14-yard TD reception from Vidlak, Alvarado kick

3Q (11:18) | 4 plays, 95 yards, 1:48 | Harris 76-yard TD reception from Vidlak, Alvarado kick
3Q (5:23) | 14 plays, 60 yards, 6:35 | Pinton 37-yard FG
3Q (0:49) | 10 plays, 26 yards, 3:47 | Alvarado 40-yard FG

4Q (6:43) | 12 plays, 61 yards, 6:53 | Alvarado 24-yard FG
4Q (2:27) | 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:16 | Mauldin 26-yard TD reception from Strong, Pinton kick
4Q (1:51) | 2 plays, 63 yards, 0:36 | Wimbley 43-yard TD run

POSTGAME NOTES

Saturday night's victory is the 22^nd home win for SFA since the start of the 2020 campaign
The win snaps SFA's four-game losing streak overall against McNeese and it serves as the first win over the Cowboys inside HBS since 2011; snapping a streak of four home losses
It marks the 16^th win all-time for the 'Jacks against McNeese
SFA evens its record in Southland Conference openers under Carthel to 3-3
The victory for the 'Jacks marks the third-straight at home and the first time since 2014 that SFA played and won three consecutive contests in Nacogdoches
Carthel led SFA to its 23^rd home win in his tenure which ties the seventh-year head coach for fifth on the program's all-time home wins list
It is the 36^th victory for the 'Jacks under Carthel which places the Texan two wins away from sixth all-time on SFA's win list
With three touchdown passes, senior quarterback Sam Vidlak moved into tenth place all-time on the program's top ten list with 34 career touchdowns
After a 1-for-8 start for one yard, Vidlak delivered 14-of-21 passing for 232 yards and three scores
Senior wide receiver Kylon Harris eclipsed 2,000 career receiving yards and registered the tenth 100-yard receiving game of his career
Harris' third quarter touchdown grab is the 21^st in his career and moves him into a tie for seventh on the all-time list
Wimbley's fourth quarter jaunt pushed him to 171 yards for the contest and in the process sent him over the 2,000 career rushing yards mark: the 11^th Lumberjack to reach 2K on the ground
Wimbley totaled 209 all-purpose yards after hauling in four passes for 38 yards: moving him near the top 10 in career all-purpose yardage
The 'Jacks attempted and nailed their first two field goals of the season, both by Alvarado, to add six key points in the second half
Jaydon Southard logged his third 10+ tackle effort with ten stops and Malachi Williams followed with eight, while Ky Thomas and Xavier Potts each recorded six, two for loss with 1.5 sacks
Williams added three pass breakups and along with Potts registered a forced fumble
SFA delivered nine tackles for loss and six sacks in the win
The 'Jacks held McNeese to 89 yards rushing on 37 carries

UP NEXT
The first SLC road test of the season awaits SFA next Saturday night in San Antonio. The 'Jacks head to the Alamo City to take on preseason favorite Incarnate Word. It will be the ninth gridiron meeting between the two sides. The Cardinals have won the previous two matchups and the past three have all been decided by a touchdown including a 35-28 overtime road loss for the 'Jacks in 2021. Kickoff from Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium is set for 6 p.m. from San Antonio. Live coverage links will be made available at www.SFAjacks.com.

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