SFA (5-3) vs. PITTSBURG STATE (1-1)
WHEN: NOV. 14 (SAT.) 4:00 P.M.
WHERE: NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS (HOMER BRYCE STADIUM)
TV: ESPN3
It was one of those games where you saw everything coming together, a team leaving no doubt in your mind about where they were headed and a team also leaving you with a cause for excitement and a long for the future.
I think we can all agree that we had some good vibes about the Lumberjacks going into the EKU game, but I don't think many ever thought SFA would dominate as they did in every facet of the game against the Colonels in Richmond.
In the last two games our Lumberjack defense has been lights out
64-7 WCU Total Offense 230 yards 2 of 14 (3rd down conversions)
24-6 EKU Total Offense 214 yards 2 of 17 (3rd down conversions)
We see in our future a defensive front that features a true freshman in DT Caleb Fox TKL:17; TFL:7.0; SCK:2.5; QBH:1 junior BJ Thompson TKL:23; TFL:6.5; SCK:5.0; FR:1; QBH:4; INT:1 the swarming speed of our linebackers featuring Brevin Randle TKL:53; TFL:6.5; SCK:2.0; FF:1; FR:2; BU:1; INT:1 and the coverage of a secondary featuring an all sophomore crew of Tkai Lloyd, Myles Heard, Willie Roberts, Myles Brooks, and Bruce Harmon that have combined for 7 INTs; and 15 BU.
Basketball season may not be on the front burner much longer in Nac. when it comes to November and that is OK.
We now turn our attention to the Gorillas of Pittsburg State, as the Lumberjacks go for 6 straight wins this weekend, a feat SFA football has not accomplished since the SLC Championship season of 2010.
Pittsburg State (1-1) of the MIAA Conference are coming off a 20-7 road victory, against Missouri Western after suffering a 5-point loss (26-31) in their season opener at home against Nebraska-Kearney.
Pittsburg State is a storied Division II program that has won more division two games than any other Division II program with 4 national championships, 31 post season appearances, and 31 Conference Championships and they have not had a losing season since 2009.
The Gorillas are coached by former Toledo OC Brian Wright who lead a Toledo offense that averaged a school record 517.8 yards per game. This is Coach Wright's first season as a head coach, after several years serving as OC and QB coach for programs such as Florida Atlantic, Montana State, and Youngstown State.
Coach Wright must bring together a young team that only has 10 returning seniors, as they loss plenty of experience from last season's 6-5 team.
To help the situation will be the return of leading passer Sophomore QB Mak Sexton 6-1; 210 out of Leander, Texas (Cedar Park) who played in 10 games last season completing 123 passes for 1,694 yards and 13 TDs with 7 INTs. In his first two games of the 2020 season Sexton has completed 43 passes for 539 yards with 5 TDs and no INTS with his favorite targets being freshman WR Christian Carter 6-0; 170 (REC:10; YDS:166; TD:1) and big Iowa State senior transfer WR Jalen Martin 6-3; 215 (REC:14; YDS:124; TD:2)
The ground game is led by 5th year senior and 2X all conference player RB Tyler Adkins 5-10; 210 (ATT:38; YDS:121; TD:1; REC:6; YDS:52)
Leading tackler on defense is 3X all conference player and Division II All-American senior LB Morgan Selemaea 5-11; 204 who has a career of 138 tackles, 24 for a loss, 13 sacks, 6 INTs, and 12 BU. Add to the mix South Dakota State senior transfer LB Kaden Roy 6-5; 232 another All MIAA player from 2019.
In the secondary you have Tyler Junior College transfer CB Jermaine Brealy Jr. 5-11; 190
and freshman CB Antione Nunn Jr. 5-9; 165.
This is a program that has lots of pride and as I said before a storied history and they will come to play their A game with the desire to knock off a division I team, the only one on their schedule (a homecoming for 16 Texas players on their roster) and they demand to not be over looked, just ask ACU about Angelo State.
Axe'Em
