FRISCO – Stephen F. Austin outlasted Abilene Christian in an instant classic to punch its ticket to the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals, where the Lumberjacks will face Montana State on the road Friday at 8 PM CT on ESPN. Here is this week’s Round 2 Playoff Rundown.
#7 SFA 41, #10 Abilene Chrisitan 34
In what Stephen F. Austin head coach
Colby Carthel described postgame as a “prize fight,” the No. 7 Lumberjacks (11-2) went the distance, landed the final blow, and outlasted No. 10 Abilene Christian (9-5), 41–34, in Saturday afternoon’s FCS second-round playoff game — a rematch of a Week 2 bout — inside a raucous Homer Bryce Stadium. Thousands of purple-clad fans packed the stands for the Lone Star State tilt, marking SFA’s first home playoff game since 2010 and its first non-opening-round playoff game at HBS since 1989.
The final 15 minutes delivered three lead changes. The ’Jacks took a 31–27 advantage with just under 12 minutes remaining when Jerrell Wimbley weaved left untouched from ten yards out for his second rushing score of the afternoon, capping an 11-play drive that consumed nearly five minutes of clock. ACU countered immediately with a big play — a 66-yard burst from Jordon Vaughn on 3rd-and-1 — to reclaim a 34–31 lead.
The back-and-forth continued on SFA’s next possession. Facing 3rd-and-5, veteran teammates Sam Vidlak and Kylon Harris connected on a massive 55-yard strike down the sideline, setting the ’Jacks up inside the ACU 10. Two plays later, Harris delivered a jaw-dropping, body-twisting, one-handed snag on a touch throw from Vidlak to put SFA back in front, 38–34.
Opponents may sneak a question or two past Charles Demmings, but few ever pass the full exam. That held true again three plays into ACU’s next possession. With just under eight minutes to play and HBS at full roar, a third-down pressure by Tim Muhammad forced quarterback Stone Earle to take a shot up the visiting sideline — only for Demmings, the Senior Bowl invitee, to pick it off. The takeaway set up a drive ending in a 26-yard field goal by Carlos Alvarado, extending the SFA lead to 41–34.
With one ACU timeout remaining and two minutes left, a holding penalty put the Wildcats behind schedule. On 3rd-and-11, Ky Thomas delivered a crushing sack of Earle, and on the next snap Jaydon Southard batted down the fourth-down pass — again with Muhammad applying pressure — to seal the victory.
SFA dominated the second and fourth quarters, registering eight first downs in each frame, surpassing 180 yards of offense in both, and converting a combined 6-of-9 on third down. Sam Vidlak threw for a season-high 357 yards on 26-of-35 passing (74%), while Kylon Harris matched his career high with 11 receptions for 183 yards and a touchdown. Four additional Lumberjacks recorded multiple catches, including five from Wimbley and four from Clayton Wayland.
The win extends the Lumberjacks’ streak to 11 straight victories, the longest in program history.