Stephen F. Austin, McNeese State Tied atop Southland Standings
Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State find themselves tied atop the Southland Conference football standings with one game remaining. That means if each wins next week, the two will split the regular-season championship. Stephen F. Austin plays at Northwestern State and McNeese State will play host to Central Arkansas. The Lumberjacks hold the tie-breaker against McNeese State after a 16-13 victory on Oct. 10, and would be the Southland's automatic qualifier into the Division I Playoffs if they can beat the winless Demons. For McNeese to be the automatic qualifier, it would need to beat Central Arkansas and have Northwestern State pull the upset against Stephen F. Austin.
Should Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State both lose, the Lumberjacks would be the automatic qualifier. Stephen F. Austin holds all three- and four-team tiebreakers for the AQ over McNeese State, Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State, though all four teams could win part of the championship should both Stephen F. Austin and McNeese State falter.
Southland Championships for SFA and McNeese
The Lumberjacks have won two Southland championships, but have not won since 1999, when they shared the title with former conference member Troy. McNeese State has won 12 Southland championships, including in 2006 and 2007. The Cowboys have won five conference championships since the 2001 season.
Look Back at Last Week
The Lumberjacks got past Southeastern Louisiana, 41-10, in Hammond to improve to 8-2 and 5-1 in conference play. McNeese State also won on the road, picking up a 30-27 victory over Texas State in San Marcos. The Cowboys are now 8-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play after its fifth consecutive victory. In other action, Nicholls beat Northwestern State 28-21 and Sam Houston State beat Central Arkansas 17-14.
Two Games on Southland TV This Week
There are two games on the Southland Conference Television Network this week. The Thursday night game between Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, La., will kick off on the Network at 6 p.m. Then on Saturday, the Network will televise the Central Arkansas at McNeese State game. Coverage of that game will begin at 6 p.m. These two games conclude the 11-game package on Southland TV, which is in its second year. Doug Anderson will provide play-by-play, LaDarrin McLane will be the color analyst and Chris Mycoskie will be on the sideline for both telecasts. For more information about Southland TV, including a list of affiliates, please visit the conference Web site at Southland.org. Both games will be streamed live on SLC NOW on the conference's Web site.
In the National Rankings
Only two teams appear among the ranked teams this week. McNeese State climbed two spots in both the FCS Coaches and Sports Network polls. The Cowboys, which were ranked 10th last week, are eighth entering the final week of the regular season. Stephen F. Austin is the other ranked team. The Lumberjacks are 16th in the coaches' poll and are 15th in the Sports Network poll.
Southeastern Louisiana and Texas State are receiving votes in both polls and Central Arkansas is receiving votes in the Sports Network poll.
A Look at This Weekend's Series...
Nicholls at Southeastern Louisiana: This will be the 19th meeting between the schools. The Colonels own a 10-8 record in the series after a 35-28 win last year. Nicholls has won eight of the last nine games dating back to 1981, though lost to the Lions, 17-13, in their last visit to Strawberry Stadium.
Stephen F. Austin at Northwestern State: This will be the 66th meeting between the Lumberjacks though it is just the 44th edition of the Chief Caddo Series. Northwestern leads the overall series 43-19-1 and leads the battle for nation's largest sports trophy (7-foot-6-inches, 320 pounds), 28-14-1. The Demons have won the last two meetings and four of the last five, including 34-24 last year in Nacogdoches. SFA has not won in Natchitoches since the 2003 season when it won 44-14.
Sam Houston State at Texas State: This will be the 86th meeting between the schools in a series that dates back to 1919. The Bobcats lead the series 48-33-4, including a mark of 18-11-1 in San Marcos since 1949. Texas State needed overtime for a 48-45 victory that clinched the Southland Conference title. Sam Houston State won the 2007 game 29-28.
Central Arkansas at McNeese State: The Bears and Cowboys will meet for just the fourth time in their history. McNeese leads the series 2-1 though Central Arkansas won 47-30 last year in Conway. McNeese has won both meetings in Lake Charles, including a 41-14 decision in 2007, the last time the Bears visited.
Southland Players of the Week
McNeese State linebacker Malcolm Bronson, who made a game-saving interception in the Cowboys' 30-27 victory at Texas State, was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. The conference also recognized Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses as the offensive player of the week and Sam Houston State linebacker Vince Dotson as the special teams player of the week.
Other Notable Players...
- McNeese State quarterback Derrick Fourroux led the Cowboys to a 30-27 win at No. 25 Texas State. He completed 17-of-23 passes for 222 yards. He also rushed for 45 yards. His effort in the game moved his career totals to 7,951 yards passing, 583 completions, 64 touchdowns, 1,931 rushing yards and 91 combined rushing and passing touchdowns. All are career records except for the 64 touchdown passes which are three shy of the record.
- Nicholls true freshman wide receiver Mike Barba caught three passes including two touchdowns in the Colonels' 28-21 victory over Northwestern State.
- Nicholls linebacker Garrick Spain recorded nine tackles, a tackle for loss and forced and recovered a fumble. The fumble came in the middle of the fourth quarter. Nicholls scored on the next play, a 65-yard run by A.J. Williams, which proved to be the difference in the game.
- Sam Houston State defensive back Kenneth Jenkins had 11 tackles in the Bearkats' first-ever win over the Bears. Sam Houston held UCA to a season-low 234 yards and below 20 points for the first time this season. The defense limited UCA to 3-of-15 on third down and stopped both attempts on fourth down.
- Southeastern Louisiana linebacker Quinten Pierre had a season-high 15 tackles with three tackles for loss against Stephen F. Austin. He also forced a fumble on special teams.
- Central Arkansas punter Jonathan Beard averaged 45.0 yards on seven punts against Sam Houston State. Three were downed inside the 20 and a 64-yard boot went for a touchback.
- McNeese State kicker Josh Lewis kicked the game-winning field goal with 1:30 to play in the game. Despite a low snap, holder Richard Conner got the ball up and Lewis converted the 28-yard attempt. Earlier this season, Lewis, a freshman, kicked the game winner at then-No. 2 Appalachian State.
- Southeastern Louisiana punter Beau Mothe averaged 41.9 yards per punt on a season-high 11 attempts. he had a season-long 62-yard punt on his first punt and landed three inside the 20.
Top Running Games Turned in Last Week
McNeese State tailback Toddrick Pendland has turned in the conference's top two rushing performances each of the last two weeks. Last week in the 30-28 win over Texas State, the senior ran for 187 yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries. The week before, in a 63-42 victory over Sam Houston State, he galloped to 171 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries. That's a two-game total of 358 yards and seven touchdowns on 51 carries, an average of 7.0 yards per carry. Pendland has six 100-yard rushing games this season and 13 in his career. No other Southland running back has more than two 100-yard games this season.
Moses Records Sixth 300-Yard Game
Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses recorded his sixth 300-yard passing game of the season in the 41-10 victory at Southeastern Louisiana last Saturday. He completed 36-of-56 passes for 318 yards and threw four touchdown passes. The senior has thrown 34 touchdown passes this season and has completed 286-of-427 passes (67 percent) for 3,155 yards. Texas State's Bradley George has topped 300 yards five times this season and Sam Houston State QB Blake Joseph has three 300-yard games. Four others quarterbacks have topped that mark once apiece.
Stephen F. Austin Leads Eight Stats
Stephen F. Austin leads the Southland in eight of the 17 team statistical categories charted by the NCAA. The Lumberjacks pace the nation in scoring offense (39.0) and passing offense, averaging 347.4 yards per game. They lead the Southland in total offense (484.3), pass efficiency defense (106.37), total defense (306.9), sacks (3.60) and tackles for loss (7.70) and are tied with Central Arkansas with fewest sacks allowed (0.8 per game).
Southland Has Nation's Top Two Scoring Teams
The Southland Conference has the nation's top two scoring teams in this week's NCAA rankings. Stephen F. Austin is averaging 39.0 points per game to lead the Football Championship Subdivision. McNeese State is second with its 38.6 points per game. Two other Southland teams are ranked in the top 22. Texas State is 18th (32.3) and Southeastern is 22nd (31.4). Sam Houston State is tied for 32nd (28.1).
Southland Features Five Top-25 Passing Offenses in FCS
Stephen F. Austin paces the Football Championship Subdivision in passing offense, throwing for an average of 347.4 yards each game. Texas State also ranks in the top 10, throwing for an average of 285.6 yards per game. Southeastern Louisiana is 12th (273.0), while McNeese State and Sam Houston are 24th and 25th, respectively. The Cowboys are averaging 233.0 passing yards per game and the Bearkats are averaging 232.0.
Pendland is National Scoring Leader
A week after scoring four touchdowns against Sam Houston State, McNeese State tailback Toddrick Pendland ran for three more scores in the 30-27 victory at Texas State. The senior leads the nation in scoring, averaging 12.44 points per game. Four Southland players rank in the top 30 in the FCS, including Stephen F. Austin kicker Evan Engwall, who is tied for 10th (9.0), Southeastern Louisiana receiver Simmie Yarborough, who is 20th (8.2) and Sam Houston running back James Aston, who is 29th (7.5).
SFA Second Nationally in Total Offense
Stephen F. Austin ranks second among FCS schools in total offense, averaging 484.3 yards per game. McNeese State ranks fourth, totaling 462.3 yards per game. Appalachian State is the national leader and is averaging 491.2 yards per game, while Fordham ranks third with its 469.1 total yards. Texas State is ranked 11th (424.8).
Knicky is National Leader in Sacks
After going three consecutive weeks without a sack, Stephen F. Austin linebacker Tim Knicky recorded two at Southeastern Louisiana last week. He is averaging 1.22 per game to lead the Football Championship Subdivision. He has 11 sacks in nine games. The Lumberjacks are tied for third nationally in sacks as a team. They are averaging 3.6 sacks per game having recorded 36 sacks in 10 games. SFA also is 13th in tackles for loss (7.7 per game), having 77 stops behind the line of scrimmage totaling 328 yards.
Three Teams in Top 10 in Net Punting
Nicholls is sixth in the nation in net punting, averaging 37.91 net yards per punt. Colonels' punter Patrick Dolan is also ranked sixth in the nation, averaging 43.20 yards per punt. In nine games, the junior had 54 punts totaling 2,333 yards. He has landed 16 inside the 20 and has 13 of more than 50 yards. Two other Southland teams also are highly ranked in net punting, including Sam Houston State, which is seventh with an average of 37.8 and Southeastern Louisiana, which is 10th with an average of 37.5.
Moses Ranks Fourth in Total Offense
Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses ranks fourth nationally in total offense, averaging 320.9 yards per game. A total of five Southland signal callers are ranked in the top 26 nationally. Texas State's Bradley George ranks sixth (283.5) and McNeese State's Derrick Fourroux is ninth (278.1). Sam Houston State's Blake Joseph ranks 14th (274.9) and Southeastern Louisiana's Brian Babin is 26th, averaging 239.7 total yards per game.
Five QBs Among Efficiency Leaders
Five Southland quarterbacks are among the national leaders in passing efficiency. McNeese State's Derrick Fourroux is the Southland leader. The senior has a rating of 154.61 to rank 11th in the nation. Stephen F. Austin junior Jeremy Moses is 15th with his 149.23 rating. Southeastern Louisiana's Brian Babin and Sam Houston State's Blake Joseph rank 21st and 22nd, respectively. Babin has a rating of 142.88 and Joseph's is 142.74. On other Southland QB, Texas State's Bradley George is ranked 29th with a rating of 139.55.
Five Players Named Academic All-District VI by CoSIDA
Five Southland Conference players were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Nov. 5. Northwestern State led all Southland schools with three selections, matching Baylor and Texas for most selections in the district.
Northwestern placed running back Quinten Goodie, tight end Justin Aldredge and defensive lineman Scott Wattigny on the list. Additionally, Sam Houston State offensive lineman Jordan Bowersox and Central Arkansas offensive lineman Austin Emerson were selected.
All five student-athletes advance to the national ballot of 192 finalists for Academic All-America. District VI consists of universities in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Student-athletes are eligible if they have a cumulative 3.3 grade-point average, have spent at least one year on campus and are important players for their teams.