Photo by: Elisabeth Thornquist
Big Strides Forward in Saturday Scrimmage; Preseason Recognition Continues for Multiple Jacks
8/17/2026 1:33:00 PM | Football
NACOGDOCHES, Texas - Saturday night marked the final of two scheduled camp scrimmages for Stephen F. Austin football. The Lumberjacks enter the final week of camp preparations before moving into game week mode next Monday as a trip to (RV) McNeese State awaits the defending league champs on August 29 in Lake Charles.
Among the top performers in the fall's second scrimmage were notable touchdown catches from freshman wide receiver Sean Carter, via redshirt junior quarter Gavin Rutherford, and redshirt freshman tight end Riley Ellefson, while Nacogdoches native Micah Lockett hauled in a deep pass from redshirt freshman quarterback JT Kitna to set the offense up inside the ten. The offense didn't have all the fun as Davonta Morgan-Collins intercepted a pass in the endzone, while the Jacks' defense saw impressive evenings from linebackers Michael Woods, Gary Seidenberger and Tank Reese as well as defensive linemen Kylan Darville and Brysen Steele.
49 PLAYERS TO KNOW BEFORE THE 49TH FCS SEASON KICKS OFF
Bugs Mortimer (WR) and Erik Gray (OL) were recently named among the 49 FCS players to know before the 49th season of FCS football kicks off next week. Both players have received preseason All-America honors from multiple outlets to start the season. The duo was joined by Lamar defensive lineman Andrew Huff on the list compiled by the NCAA's Stan Becton.
THREE JACKS HEADLINE PHIL STEELE'S PRESEASON ACCOLADES; 12 NAMED PRESEASON ALL-SLC
Mortimer landed on Phil Steele's Preseason FCS All-America team as the group's first-team punt returner. He was joined by linebackers Malachi Williams and Eli Ennis who were tabbed to the second and third teams, respectively. All three were tabbed to Phil Steele's All-SLC preseason first team with Mortimer earning recognition as a first team punt returner and all-purpose honoree and as a second team kick returner. Nine other Lumberjacks joined the trip including first team selections Gavin Rutherford (QB), Clayton Wayland (WR), Erik Gray (OL), Tim Muhammad (DL), Jaiydyn Johnson (DB) and Carlos Alvarado (K), while Giovanny Alegria (OL), Lowote Jurkin (DL) and Jamel Acosta Lewis (DB) received second team mention.
ICYMI: IN-STATE LOVE FROM DCTF
In early July, the Jacks topped Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Southland predictions, were included in two of the outlet's top three "biggest games" in the league this season (Oct. 24 vs. SLU, Nov. 14 at UTRGV) and saw Mortimer among "five players to watch" in the Southland in '26.
SEASON 100: ON THE HEELS OF HISTORY
The 2026 season will be the eighth for head coach Colby Carthel as the SFA football program hits the century mark in gridiron campaigns. The Lumberjacks are coming off a historic 2025 that saw SFA capture the program's fifth SLC title and first since 2010, while making the program's ninth FCS postseason appearance. That title came behind the program's first eight-win conference season and first perfect finish in league play in 99 seasons. The Jacks reached double-digit wins for the fifth time in program history, and the 11 victories last fall are the most since the '95 campaign.
SEASON & INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW
There's never been a better time to lock in your seat at Homer Bryce Stadium! Season tickets, as well as individual game tickets, for the upcoming SFA Football season are on sale now. Don't miss a single snap as SFA looks to defend its Southland Conference title. Visit www.SFATickets.com to secure your tickets today and be part of the action all season long.
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.
Among the top performers in the fall's second scrimmage were notable touchdown catches from freshman wide receiver Sean Carter, via redshirt junior quarter Gavin Rutherford, and redshirt freshman tight end Riley Ellefson, while Nacogdoches native Micah Lockett hauled in a deep pass from redshirt freshman quarterback JT Kitna to set the offense up inside the ten. The offense didn't have all the fun as Davonta Morgan-Collins intercepted a pass in the endzone, while the Jacks' defense saw impressive evenings from linebackers Michael Woods, Gary Seidenberger and Tank Reese as well as defensive linemen Kylan Darville and Brysen Steele.
49 PLAYERS TO KNOW BEFORE THE 49TH FCS SEASON KICKS OFF
Bugs Mortimer (WR) and Erik Gray (OL) were recently named among the 49 FCS players to know before the 49th season of FCS football kicks off next week. Both players have received preseason All-America honors from multiple outlets to start the season. The duo was joined by Lamar defensive lineman Andrew Huff on the list compiled by the NCAA's Stan Becton.
THREE JACKS HEADLINE PHIL STEELE'S PRESEASON ACCOLADES; 12 NAMED PRESEASON ALL-SLC
Mortimer landed on Phil Steele's Preseason FCS All-America team as the group's first-team punt returner. He was joined by linebackers Malachi Williams and Eli Ennis who were tabbed to the second and third teams, respectively. All three were tabbed to Phil Steele's All-SLC preseason first team with Mortimer earning recognition as a first team punt returner and all-purpose honoree and as a second team kick returner. Nine other Lumberjacks joined the trip including first team selections Gavin Rutherford (QB), Clayton Wayland (WR), Erik Gray (OL), Tim Muhammad (DL), Jaiydyn Johnson (DB) and Carlos Alvarado (K), while Giovanny Alegria (OL), Lowote Jurkin (DL) and Jamel Acosta Lewis (DB) received second team mention.
ICYMI: IN-STATE LOVE FROM DCTF
In early July, the Jacks topped Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Southland predictions, were included in two of the outlet's top three "biggest games" in the league this season (Oct. 24 vs. SLU, Nov. 14 at UTRGV) and saw Mortimer among "five players to watch" in the Southland in '26.
SEASON 100: ON THE HEELS OF HISTORY
The 2026 season will be the eighth for head coach Colby Carthel as the SFA football program hits the century mark in gridiron campaigns. The Lumberjacks are coming off a historic 2025 that saw SFA capture the program's fifth SLC title and first since 2010, while making the program's ninth FCS postseason appearance. That title came behind the program's first eight-win conference season and first perfect finish in league play in 99 seasons. The Jacks reached double-digit wins for the fifth time in program history, and the 11 victories last fall are the most since the '95 campaign.
SEASON & INDIVIDUAL GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW
There's never been a better time to lock in your seat at Homer Bryce Stadium! Season tickets, as well as individual game tickets, for the upcoming SFA Football season are on sale now. Don't miss a single snap as SFA looks to defend its Southland Conference title. Visit www.SFATickets.com to secure your tickets today and be part of the action all season long.
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.
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