Stephen F. Austin Owns One-Game Lead on Three Teams
FRISCO, Texas - Stephen F. Austin maintained its unblemished conference record and extended its win streak to six games after a 31-28 victory over Sam Houston State last Saturday. The Lumberjacks are 6-1 overall, 3-0 in Southland Conference play and ranked as high as No. 3 in the Football Championship Subdivision. They play host to Texas State Saturday at 2 p.m. It was the Bobcats who handed SFA its only conference loss a season ago at the same point of the season. Texas State is still in search of its first league win in 2010.
SFA leads three teams - Sam Houston State, McNeese State and Northwestern State - by one game in the standings through three weeks of conference play. Two of those teams tied for second place - Sam Houston and Northwestern - face one another Saturday in Natchitoches, La. The Bearkats are 4-3 overall and 2-1 in league games, while Northwestern State has won its last two games, both on the road, to move to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Southland play. McNeese State, which won at Northwestern State earlier this season, is 3-4 overall and has won two of three conference games. McNeese State and Sam Houston State will play Nov. 6 in Huntsville. The Cowboys play host to Nicholls this Saturday.
Central Arkansas, Nicholls and Southeastern Louisiana each sit two games behind the conference leader with 1-2 records. Central Arkansas plays host to Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday in the Toyota Game of the Week on the Southland Conference Television Network.
A Further Look at This Week's Games
Southeastern Louisiana and Central Arkansas meet for just the third time. The Bears hold a 2-1 lead in the series. Southeastern won 25-21 last season.
Texas State and Stephen F. Austin meet for the 85th time Saturday in Nacogdoches. The Bobcats lead the all-time series 54-29-1 after handing SFA a 28-7 loss a season ago. It was the Lumberjacks' lone conference defeat in 2009.
Sam Houston State visits looking for its second consecutive victory and third win in the last four games of the series. The Bearkats won 34-30 last year though the Demons lead 18-14 all time.
McNeese State and Nicholls meet for the 35th time Saturday in Lake Charles. The Cowboys lead 23-11 after winning 38-17 in 2009.
Toyota Game of the Week on Southland TV
Southeastern Louisiana at Central Arkansas is the Toyota Game of the Week on the Southland Conference Television Network. This will be the sixth broadcast this season on the award-winning network, which celebrating its third year having televised more than 70 events. Southland TV will broadcast 10 football games this season. Doug Anderson will provide play-by-play and LaDarrin McLane will be the color analyst for the telecast. Darrell Rebouche will be the sideline reporter for this game. For more information about the network, including a list of affiliates, please visit the conference Web site at Southland.org.
SLC NOW to Stream Games for Free
All 10 football games that will be televised by the Southland Conference Television Network this season will be streamed for free on SLC NOW, the conference's live and on-demand streaming video and audio platform on its website, Southland.org. Fans will need to register for the site, but all content will be available for free throughout the 2010-11 academic year.
SFA Climbs to No. 3
Stephen F. Austin moved up one spot in the two primary polls in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Lumberjacks, winners of six consecutive games to improve to 6-1 overall, are ranked No. 3 in the FCS Coaches poll and No. 4 in The Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25. Appalachian State and Jacksonville State are ranked 1-2, respectively in the two polls. William & Mary, which beat then-No. 2 Delaware last Saturday, is ranked ahead of SFA in The Sports Network poll. Sam Houston State and McNeese State are the only other Southland teams receiving votes in the polls.
Looking Back at Last Week
Jeremy Moses threw for 418 yards and four touchdowns to lead Stephen F. Austin to a 31-28 victory over Sam Houston State at Reliant Stadium in Houston. It was the Lumberjacks' second consecutive victory over the Bearkats.
Northwestern State won 16-3 at Texas State for its first consecutive road wins since the 2002 season. It was the first time the Demons won consecutive conference road games since 1998.
Central Arkansas got a 98-yard interception return and scored following two other turnovers in a 31-7 victory at Nicholls. It was the Bears' first conference win and snapped a three-game losing streak.
McNeese State got a 52-yard field goal from sophomore Josh Lewis as time expired to beat Southeastern Louisiana 13-10. It was his third game-winning field goal of his career. Last year, his leg gave the Cowboys wins at Appalachian State and at Texas State.
Lewis Named Sports Network Special Teams Player of the Week
McNeese State kicker Josh Lewis was named the special teams player of the week by The Sports Network after he delivered a 52-yard field goal as time expired to give the Cowboys a 13-10 victory over Southeastern Louisiana last Saturday. It was third longest field goal in McNeese history and a career long for Lewis, a sophomore. It was the third time in his career he connected for a game-winning field goal. Last year, he won games at Appalachian State (18-yard field goal) and at Texas State (28-yard field goal). He scored seven of the Cowboys' 13 points against Southeastern Louisiana, including a 38-yard field goal and a PAT. Lewis is 9-for-10 this season and has made six consecutive field goals.
Lewis Joined by Moses as College Sporting News All-Stars
McNeese State kicker Josh Lewis and Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses were among the College Sporting News All-Stars. Lewis made a 52-yard field goal with zeros on the clock to lift the Cowboys to a 13-10 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.
Moses completed 30-of-53 passes for 418 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions to lead the Lumberjacks to a 31-28 victory over Sam Houston State. Moses tossed touchdown passes of 6, 58, 34 and 30 yards in the first three quarters to give the Lumberjacks a 28-14 lead as SFA held off its rival. Moses, a leading candidate for the Walter Payton Award, set the Southland Conference career record for total offense (11,403). Moses ranks second nationally in passing yards and completions, third in touchdown passes with 20 and third in total offense per game (319.7).
Around the League
- Central Arkansas got a 98-yard interception return from Jestin Love, a 10-yard fumble return by Seth Allison, a field goal and two conventional scores in breaking its three-game losing streak with a 31-7 win at Nicholls. The Bears, who finished with a season-low 230 yards, allowed 330 to Nicholls.
- McNeese State snapped a two-game losing streak when Josh Lewis lifted the Cowboys to a 13-10 victory at Southeastern Louisiana with a 52-yard field goal as time expired. Cody Stroud completed 15-of-29 passes for 172 yards, 81 of which were caught by Diontae Spencer.
- A week after scoring 47 in a quadruple overtime win at Texas State, Nicholls managed just seven points in 24-point loss to Central Arkansas. Despite outgaining the Bears by 100 yards, the Colonels were undone by three turnovers that were turned into 21 points. Nicholls rank 16th nationally in net punting (36.5), while Patrick Dolan ranks 11th in punting (42.5).
- Northwestern State has won on the road each of the last two weeks, beating Central Arkansas Oct. 16 before winning at Texas State last Saturday. The two consecutive road wins are the first for Northwestern since 2002 and the first in conference play since 1998. The Demons have the second best pass defense in the Southland, limiting opponents to only 219.7 yards through the air.
- Sam Houston State had a four-game win streak snapped by Stephen F. Austin, which won 31-28 last Saturday at Reliant Stadium. Tim Flanders had 23 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown, giving him six consecutive games at or above 100 yards rushing. He leads the conference and ranks 14th in the FCS in rushing yards per game. He also is tied for seventh nationally in scoring, averaging 9.4 points per contest.
- Southeastern Louisiana tied McNeese State at 10 in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard field goal by Seth Sebastian, before the Cowboys won a 52-yard field goal as time ran out. Quarterback Tyler Beatty finished 19-for-38 for 212 yards, hooking up with Brandon Collins seven times for 115 yards. Mark Newbill had a game-high 13 tackles to become the school's all-time leader in career tackles.
- Stephen F. Austin ran its win streak to six games after claiming a three-point win, 31-28, over Sam Houston State last Saturday. Cordell Roberson caught five passes for a game-best 162 yards and two touchdowns, while Kris Lott caught eight passes for 99 yards and a score. Gralyn Crawford added 88 yards receiving. SFA leads the FCS in passing offense (357.1), ranks sixth in scoring (36.0) and is 10th in total offense (425.3).
- Texas State is in search of its first conference victory against Stephen F. Austin the Southland's only team yet to lose a conference game. It marks the first time since 2007 the Bobcats have lost three consecutive games, including back-to-back home games. The Bobcats handing the Lumberjacks their only league loss a season ago.
Lamar Joins Southland in 2011
Lamar will rejoin the Southland Conference in 2011, but is playing this season as an FCS Independent. The Cardinals are 3-4 on the year and were 1-3 against teams in the Southland Conference. The lone win, a 29-28 come-from-behind victory against Southeastern Louisiana, came Sept. 18. Lamar sustained losses to McNeese State, Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston State. The Cardinals' other wins have come against Webber International and Langston, while the other loss was to South Alabama Oct. 16. After an open date last week, the Cardinals play at North Dakota on Saturday.
Tickets On Sale Now for NCAA Division I Football Championship Game
Tickets are now on sale for the 2011 NCAA Division I Football Championship game, which will be played Jan. 7, 2011 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Tickets are available online at ncaa.com/fcs. Fans may purchase tickets for any of the three seating locations within the stadium, including midfield ($40), sideline ($35) or end zone ($30). The championship game, which will be hosted by the Southland Conference, the City of Frisco and the Hunt Sports Group, will be played at 23,500-seat, multi-purpose Pizza Hut Park each of the next three years. The championship game will be the culmination of a newly expanded 20-team championship bracket, with the field being announced November 21.
Key Playoff Dates
Nov. 20: Final Regular Season Games
Nov. 21: Playoff Bracket Announced
Nov. 27: First-Round Games at Campus Sites
Dec. 4: Second-Round Games at Campus Sites
Dec. 10-11: Quarterfinal Games at Campus Sites
Dec. 17-18: Semifinal Games at Campus Sites
Jan. 7: NCAA Division I Championship Game
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