Fast Start, Late Surge not Enough for ‘Jacks in Road Loss at #16/17 Abilene

Saturday, September 6

Abilene, TX

7:00 p.m.

Stephen F. Austin

0-2 , 0-0

Abilene Christian

1-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

SFA

Abilene Christian

Photo by: Erika Cruz

Fast Start, Late Surge not Enough for ‘Jacks in Road Loss at #16/17 Abilene

9/6/2025 11:35:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Tale of two quarters in first half set tone for final 30 minutes

ABILENE, Texas – A fast start, 130 yards on 18 plays and two touchdowns on first two possessions, and a late surge, a 52-yard punt return touchdown in the game's final minute, were not enough for #23/25 Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night at Anthony Field inside Wildcat Stadium as the Lumberjacks dropped its FCS opener 28-20 to #16/17 Abilene Christian in the 27^th meeting all-time between the programs.

Junior linebacker Malachi Williams caught ACU quarterback Stone Earle from behind and forced a fumble that was recovered by junior defensive back Aaron Sears at the SFA33 with just over 3:32 remaining in the game.

Following the timely turnover, senior quarterback Sam Vidlak connected with Clayton Wayland along the sideline as the sophomore wide out tapped a toe for an impressive first down grab moments before a scrambling Vidlak hit a sliding Blaine Green for 23 yards inside the ACU15. With just over 90 seconds left, a deflected pass intended for redshirt junior Bugs Mortimer in the endzone was intercepted to all but seal the game.

After the SFA defense forced a three and out, Mortimer scampered in from 52-yards out on the punt return to pull SFA to within a possession of the ACU advantage in the waning moments of the fourth quarter. Mortimer's race to the endzone mimicked the 'Jacks start to the top 25 tilt.

It was a tale of two quarters in the opening half of action as the Lumberjacks struck for the game's first two touchdowns on consecutive drives and grabbed the momentum early behind commanding efforts on both sides of the football. A direct snap to Jordan Nabors capped the 'Jacks' first offensive drive of the night as the senior plunged in from seven yards out for SFA's first trip to paydirt in '25.

Following a missed FGA from 48 yards out on the Wildcats' second offensive drive, SFA responded with a 69-yard march that took eight plays and finished with Gavin Rutherford finding Green near the back corner of the endzone for a two-touchdown advantage with just over three minutes to play in the opening quarter. That action was set up by Vidlak finding senior Kylon Harris down the middle of the field for 47 yards to set up a goal-to-go situation.

Two strip sacks by the ACU defense within 90 seconds of game time resulted in a game-tying touchdown as the first fumble was recovered in the endzone and followed an 82-yard Wildcats scoring drive that took 16 plays in 6:44. The second strip sack set up the go-ahead score which capped a six-play, 33-yard drive following an ACU drive start at the SFA33.

The Wildcats found the endzone again on their opening drive of the second half to increase their lead to two touchdowns at the 9:58 mark of the third quarter. However, ACU would not score again, while the 'Jacks battled back with a fourth quarter drive that saw a pair of fourth-down conversions on carries by Green and Jerrell Wimbley and a reception by Derrick Bohler for 16 yards that set the 'Jacks up inside the ACU40, but a turnover on downs ended the threat.

SCORING DRIVES
1Q (9:23) | 10 plays, 61 yards, 3:42 | Jordan Nabors 7-yard rush; Alvarado kick GOOD
1Q (3:08) | 8 plays, 69 yards, 3:17 | Blaine Green 3-yard TD reception from Gavin Rutherford; Alvarado kick GOOD

2Q (6:47) | 16 plays, 82 yards, 6:44 | Stone Earle 1-yard rush; Perez kick GOOD
2Q (6:07) | Kaghen Roach fumble recovery in endzone; Perez kick GOOD
2Q (1:57) | 6 plays, 33 yards, 2:36 | Jordon Vaughn 1-yard rush; Perez kick GOOD

3Q (9:58) | 9 plays, 63 yards, 3:51 | Jordon Vaughn 1-yard rush; Perez kick GOOD

4Q (00:20) | Bugs Mortimer 52-yard punt return touchdown; 2PT try NO GOOD

POSTGAME NOTES

SFA moves to 14-13 all-time against ACU
The 'Jacks start 0-2 for the third time under Carthel and for the first time since 2020
Williams led SFA with 14 stops and a forced fumble
Senior linebacker Jaydon Southard recorded double-digit tackles in consecutive games for the first time as a Lumberjack with a career-high 14 including a half tackle for loss
SFA went 4-for-4 on third downs over its first two possessions, but managed to convert just two of 13 the remainder of the contest
Offensively, Kylon Harris led a receiving unit that saw nine different 'Jacks make a reception highlighted by Harris' nine catches for 105 yards
Harris crossed over the century mark in receiving yards for the ninth time in his career and in the process reached 2,000 career receiving yards
Green caught the TD pass as part of a six-catch, 65-yard night
Wimbley churned out a tough 44 yards on a dozen attempts
Vidlak finished 24-of-38 for 245 yards and moved north of 3,500 career passing yards
The 'Jacks produced four plays of 15+ yards in the loss
SFA dropped a first half interception, nearly blocked a punt and forced two missed FGA
The two sides combined for 19 penalties for 147 yards

UP NEXT
The 'Jacks are set for a highly anticipated home opener, the first of three-consecutive home games and the first of six regular season games in Nacogdoches this fall. SFA plays host to Division II Sul Ross State on Saturday, September 13 from inside Homer Bryce Stadium. It will be the 27^th meeting all-time between the former Lone Star Conference foes and the first since 1975. SFA has won four-straight meetings against the Lobos and is 9-4 against SRS at home. It will be the earliest the two teams have ever met in a season and the first matchup in the month of September. Kickoff is set for 7 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.