2024 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team explained
The 2024 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team represented Stephen F. Austin State University as a member of the Southland Conference (SLC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lumberjacks were coached by sixth-year head coach Colby Carthel and played at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas.
On May 29, 2024, Stephen F. Austin announced it would leave the United Athletic Conference (UAC) after accepting an invitation to join the Southland Conference as a full-time member effective July 1.[1] Stephen F. Austin had previously left the Southland Conference in 2021 to join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The WAC and Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) officially merged their football leagues to form a football-only conference in 2022.
Preseason
Preseason poll
The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 22, 2024. The Lumberjacks were picked to finish fifth in the conference.[2]
| 1 | Nicholls | 119 (9) |
| 2 | Incarnate Word | 113 (8) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 94 |
| 4 | Lamar | 88 (1) |
| 5 | Stephen F. Austin | 72 |
| 6 | McNeese | 64 |
| 7 | Houston Christian | 41 |
| 8 | East Texas A&M | 37 |
| 9 | Northwestern State | 25 | |
Preseason All–Southland Teams
The Southland Conference announced the 2024 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 22, 2024. SFA had a total of two players selected.[3]
Offense
2nd Team
- Kylon Harris – Wide receiver, JR
Defense
2nd Team
- Jeremiah Walker – Defensive back, SR
Game summaries
North American (NAIA)
See also: North American University.
| Statistics | NOAM | SFA |
|---|
| First downs | 3 | 32 |
| Plays–yards | 41–40 | 51–675 |
| Rushes–yards | 19–(-5) | 36–385 |
| Passing yards | 45 | 383 |
| Passing: –– | 11–22–1 | 14–15–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:41 | 30:19 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North American | Passing | Jesper Korkalanien | 7/11, 36 yards |
| Rushing | Jesper Korkalanien | 1 rush, 6 yards |
| Receiving | Jordan Green | 3 receptions, 15 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 8/8, 288 yards, 5 TD |
| Rushing | Qualan Jones | 9 rushes, 121 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Kylon Harris | 4 receptions, 115 yards, TD | |
The Lumberjacks jumped out to a 77–0 lead at halftime, scoring touchdowns on eleven consecutive drives. The third and fourth quarters were shortened to five minutes each.
[4] at North Texas (FBS)
See also: 2024 North Texas Mean Green football team.
| Statistics | SFA | UNT |
|---|
| First downs | 14 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 70–248 | 77–504 |
| Rushes–yards | 31–67 | 33–182 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 322 |
| Passing: –– | 20–39–1 | 26–44–3 |
| Time of possession | 26:08 | 33:52 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 20/39, 181 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 12 rushes, 44 yards |
| Receiving | Kylon Harris | 9 receptions, 74 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | | 26/44, 322 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Damashja Harris | 10 rushes, 142 yards, TD |
| Receiving | D. T. Sheffield | 6 receptions, 74 yards, 3 TD | |
at McNeese
See also: 2024 McNeese Cowboys football team.
| Statistics | SFA | MCN |
|---|
| First downs | 24 | 19 |
| Total yards | 453 | 449 |
| Rushing yards | 212 | 136 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 313 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–28–1 | 18–29–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:51 | 30:09 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 18/28, 241 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Qualan Jones | 27 carries, 155 yards |
| Receiving | Isaiah Davis | 3 receptions, 87 yards, TD |
| McNeese | Passing | Clifton McDowell | 18/29, 313 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Coleby Hamm | 8 carries, 45 yards |
| Receiving | Jer'Michael Carter | 5 receptions, 67 yards | |
Northern Colorado
See also: 2024 Northern Colorado Bears football team.
| Statistics | UNCO | SFA |
|---|
| First downs | 12 | 26 |
| Plays–yards | 66–242 | 68–509 |
| Rushes–yards | 45–224 | 40–250 |
| Passing yards | 18 | 259 |
| Passing: –– | 13–21–0 | 18–28–0 |
| Time of possession | 33:34 | 26:26 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Northern Colorado | Passing | Kia'i Keone | 10/14, 20 yards |
| Rushing | Kia'i Keone | 17 carries, 76 yards |
| Receiving | Brayden Munroe | 3 receptions, 16 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 16/26, 219 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 6 carries, 80 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Blaine Green | 5 receptions, 93 yards | |
Northwestern State (Chief Caddo)
See also: 2024 Northwestern State Demons football team and Chief Caddo.
| Statistics | NWST | SFA |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 24 |
| Plays–yards | 61–379 | 70–623 |
| Rushes–yards | 29–49 | 34–256 |
| Passing yards | 330 | 367 |
| Passing: –– | 19–32–3 | 27–36–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:23 | 29:37 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Northwestern State | Passing | J. T. Fayard | 18/29, 322 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Zay Davis | 9 carries, 55 yards |
| Receiving | Kenard King | 3 receptions, 83 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 23/29, 307 yards, 4 TD |
| Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 10 carries, 113 yards |
| Receiving | Blaine Green | 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD | |
at No. 22 Lamar
See also: 2024 Lamar Cardinals football team.
| Statistics | SFA | LAM |
|---|
| First downs | 24 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 64–443 | 78–456 |
| Rushes–yards | 27–114 | 36–162 |
| Passing yards | 329 | 294 |
| Passing: –– | 26–37–0 | 23–42–1 |
| Time of possession | 27:08 | 32:52 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 26/37, 329 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Qualan Jones | 21 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Kylon Harris | 10 receptions, 106 yards, TD |
| Lamar | Passing | Robert Coleman | 22/41, 279 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 11 carries, 59 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Sevonne Rhea | 6 receptions, 166 yards, TD | |
at Southeastern Louisiana
See also: 2024 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.
| Statistics | SFA | SELA |
|---|
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 66–337 | 68–348 |
| Rushes–yards | 28–93 | 33–114 |
| Passing yards | 244 | 234 |
| Passing: –– | 29–38–0 | 24–35–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:41 | 33:19 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 29/38, 244 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Jerrell Wimbley | 11 carries, 83 yards |
| Receiving | Kylon Harris | 13 receptions, 116 yards |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Eli Sawyer | 24/35, 234 yards, 1 TD |
| Rushing | Antonio Martin, Jr. | 21 carries, 87yards, 1 TD |
| Receiving | Darius Lewis | 11 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD | |
Houston Christian
See also: 2024 Houston Christian Huskies football team.
| Statistics | HCU | SFA |
|---|
| First downs | 15 | 29 |
| Plays–yards | 68–208 | 67–561 |
| Rushes–yards | 38–82 | 38–231 |
| Passing yards | 126 | 330 |
| Passing: –– | 13–30–1 | 21–29–1 |
| Time of possession | 26:55 | 29:35 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Houston Christian | Passing | Eli Brickhandler | 4/12, 69 yards, INT |
| Rushing | Eli Brickhandler | 9 carries, 31 yards |
| Receiving | Deuce McMillan | 2 receptions, 47 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 20/27, 316 yards, 5 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 21 carries, 110 yards |
| Receiving | Jordan Nabors | 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD | |
at Nicholls
See also: 2024 Nicholls Colonels football team.
| Statistics | SFA | NICH |
|---|
| First downs | 11 | 23 |
| Plays–yards | 49–301 | 98–413 |
| Rushes–yards | 23–39 | 48–165 |
| Passing yards | 262 | 248 |
| Passing: –– | 14–26–1 | 27–50–3 |
| Time of possession | 17:57 | 42:03 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 14/25, 262 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Jerrell Wimbley | 8 carries, 47 yards |
| Receiving | Kylon Harris | 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD |
| Nicholls | Passing | Pat McQuaide | 27/50, 248 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Rushing | Collin Guggenheim | 17 carries, 80 yards |
| Receiving | Miequle Brock | 9 receptions, 89 yards | |
at East Texas A&M
| Statistics | SFA | ETAM |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Plays–yards | | |
| Rushes–yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: –– | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| East Texas A&M | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
No. 6 Incarnate Word
See also: 2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team.
No. 11 Abilene Christian
See also: 2024 Abilene Christian Wildcats football team.
| Statistics | ACU | SFA |
|---|
| First downs | | |
| Plays–yards | | |
| Rushes–yards | | |
| Passing yards | | |
| Passing: –– | | |
| Time of possession | | |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Abeline Christian | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | | |
| Rushing | | |
| Receiving | | | |
[5] [6] [7]
Notes and References
- Web site: SFA Accepts Bid to Southland Conference for 2024-25 Season . May 29, 2024 .
- Web site: Southland Conference Announces 2024 Football Preseason Poll and All-Conference Team . www.southland.org . 24 July 2024 . en.
- Web site: Two Lumberjacks Named to Preseason SLC All-Conference Team . sfajacks.com . Jackson . Pickard . 22 July 2024 . 26 July 2024 . en.
- Web site: . Olson . Max . Stephen F. Austin beats NAIA North American 77-0 in opener . August 30, 2024 . October 5, 2024.
- Web site: Stephen F. Austin 2024 football schedule. FBSchedules. June 13, 2024.
- Web site: SFA Lumberjacks Announces 2024 Football Schedule Tickets on Sale Now. Stephen F. Austin, Department of Athletics. May 30, 2024. June 13, 2024.
- Web site: Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks . ESPN Enterprises Inc. . June 13, 2024.
