251 yards passing and 334 total yards for the half.

Everything you could want on that opening drive. Ate a bit of clock and scored.

So...after the slow start, this game has turn into one of domination.

This SFA team IS that good. We beat ourselves in our only 3 losses. We should be 8-0.

Can't let up now. Need to stomp on their throat. We are playing for style points now. Need to make our resume as pretty as possible.

Can someone explain to me how HCU beat McNeese by three touchdowns? Anybody??

I do like your optimism Sawmill Guy.....that said can't agree with you on UNT game. Offense was completely shut down far too much.
On SELA, I'm not sure how we beat ourselves? Although I did not get to watch and only listened to half but it seemed to be a real back n forth battle. We didn't really lead until late in the game then allowed that long drive.

30 you TD pass
1.09 3rd Q
45 .. 6

Certainly has turned out to be a very entertaining and successful Homecoming show.

30 you FG
11..11 4th
48 ..6

10 you run by Rutherford
5. 41 4th
55 ..6

Not sure why HCU didn't use timeouts to try and give their guys a little boost with a late score.

Nice win for Homecoming. Whole different animal next week when we go to Nicholls. Can we use this win and take out the Colonels??

Vidlak 316 yards passing 5 TD's 71.4%

SFAXE93 said:

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Vidlak 316 yards passing 5 TD's 71.4%

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That guys a pretty good QB. (Understatement of the year.)

Ljacks&Longnecks said:

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I do like your optimism Sawmill Guy.....that said can't agree with you on UNT game. Offense was completely shut down far too much.
On SELA, I'm not sure how we beat ourselves? Although I did not get to watch and only listened to half but it seemed to be a real back n forth battle. We didn't really lead until late in the game then allowed that long drive.

---

I felt like HCU played some really good schemes early on. Once we started to started to stretch them with the passing game it started to slip away.

Ljacks&Longnecks said:

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I do like your optimism Sawmill Guy.....that said can't agree with you on UNT game. Offense was completely shut down far too much.
On SELA, I'm not sure how we beat ourselves? Although I did not get to watch and only listened to half but it seemed to be a real back n forth battle. We didn't really lead until late in the game then allowed that long drive.

---

Eh. Remember we're a dropped wide open 4th down play away from going into the locker room up 10 on UNT at halftime, and still left 6 points off the board in field goals we didn't go for. That game was closer than the already pretty close score indicated.

SLU was a very evenly matched game, which says a lot because SLU is a team who could make a playoff run. They have the talent to win a couple of playoff games, maybe not play for the natty, but better than a one and done team. Really the only instance of us "beating ourselves" was that final drive defensively. Had we played our base defense I don't see SLU driving down the field like they did.

I really, really hope we can keep the key players on this team from transferring after the season is over. Vidlak, Wimbley and Jenkins, and most of our receivers. We will realistically lose a couple of guys, but if we can keep the bulk of this roster together for next season this team will be terrifying to play.

And this isn't a "wait til next year" post. The season isn't over. Like I said, we're not out of the At Large bid talk yet. This team is capable of doing it, but we need to play the next 4 games like we played the last 3 quarters of this one.

Hot take: Vidlak is the best QB we've had since Moses and is probably better at the deep ball than Moses ever was.

That being said, my thoughts:


-we stunk it up offensively in the 1st quarter, no question about it. Couldn't find rhythm, couldn't get open, and couldn't run block to save our life. That being said after that we saw the offense we know we are capable of. Completely outmatched the HCU defense at every position, and took advantage of it. Vidlak even showed a bit of mobility, something he's struggled with this season.

-The defense contained a scrambling QB. That's something I haven't seen us effectively do in years at SFA. HCU's athletic QB couldn't get going, and their offense crumbled and fell apart. This is the key to a game in a few weeks against another Christian school we once said didn't deserve to be D1.

-The team handled the 1st quarter adversity well. We didnt trail, but in the past we've seen SFA teams fall apart when they can't get it going early. This team didn't flinch, stayed cool, and the coaches made the adjustments needed to take control and dominate the last 45 minutes of the game. That's a huge step in the right direction.

-The 2024 playoff dream isn't dead yet. One down, 4 more to go. UIW beating SLU probably clinched them the conference, but If we win out, it would be hard to deny a 9-3 team a spot in the playoffs. I don't think we sneak in at 8-4. But 9-3 with wins over UIW and ACU to finish the season would make for a damn good resume.

And the Jacks are doing it without the contributions of their (arguably) best RB in Qualon Jones and one of their best receivers in Blaine Green. Does anyone know their current status? It would be fabulous to get one or both of them back on the home stretch.

By the way, that call for a bomb on first down at our own four-yard line after a HCU punt had pinned us down was a thing of beauty. It was nap time for HCU's secondary. SFA's Offensive Coordinator had better get the FCS Offensive Coach of the Year award or there's no justice in the football world.

SFAJack_76 said:

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SFA Jack Fanatic said:

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And the Jacks are doing it without the contributions of their (arguably) best RB in Qualon Jones and one of their best receivers in Blaine Green. Does anyone know their current status? It would be fabulous to get one or both of them back on the home stretch.

By the way, that call for a bomb on first down at our own four-yard line after a HCU punt had pinned us down was a thing of beauty. It was nap time for HCU's secondary. SFA's Offensive Coordinator had better get the FCS Offensive Coach of the Year award or there's no justice in the football world.

---

Good seeing you yesterday. Glad that your first VB experience was a good one.

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Same here. Thanks for the parking suggestions. I thoroughly enjoyed the Ladyjacks VB game. I developed a greater appreciation of the skill and athleticism of those ladies. Wish I lived closer to Nac so I could attend more.

Called it!

SFASawmillGuy said:

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This SFA team IS that good. We beat ourselves in our only 3 losses. We should be 8-0.

---

Yes. Uh. Yes. Or the way I would put it , "We have a 7-1 roster and 4-4 coaching decisions". Therefore , we are 5-3.

HCU is not that bad. A couple of there running backs are pretty shifty. The QB from Argyle has an arm. And knows when to tuck and run.

I was perplexed that we didn't go to the air earlier, but as the 2nd quarter opened you could start to see HBU giving up space. Especially on the edges. That Nabors TD was pretty flawless. Even with the pull on the shirt. Almost lost it in the SLC ref crew. But, Nabors was true and pulled that ball in like a sweet little baby. I almost felt like the route was on but had to see how we started off the 2nd half.

I didn't see too much to ***** about regarding the defense. Gave up a few long pass plays, but tightened up.

Regarding the crowd. It was solid raucous and the Purple Haze section was likely the best I've seen since 2018. It feels like the students are significantly more engaged Optimistic

Their QB has an arm?? He didn't show it last night. And he's not at all accurate. He threw 5 or 6 passes to nowhere.

After 8

QB: #15 SAM VIDLAK 6-1; 207 (JR.)
G:8;ATT:233;CMP:160;CMP%:68.67;YDS:2,125;TD:23;INT:3
QB: #13 GAVIN RUTHERFORD 6-3; 210 (R/FR.)
G:5;ATT:11;CMP:15;CMP%:73.3;YDS:174;TD:1;INT:0;/R:8;YDS:19;TD:3
QB: #12 DALTON MCELYEA 6-3; 196 (JR.)
G:4;ATT:3;CMP:2;CMP%:67.0;YDS:35;TD:2;INT:0;/R:1;YDS:6;TD:0

RB: #23 QUALAN JONES 5-10; 242 (JR.)
G:6;ATT:87;YDS:578;AVG:7.0;TD:5/REC:5;YDS:40;TD:0
RB: #24 JAYLEN JENKINS 5-11; 185 (SO.)
G:7;ATT:77;YDS:471;AVG:6.1;TD:3/REC:3;YDS:48;TD:0
RB: #10 JERRELL WIMBLEY 5-11; 195 (JR.)
G:7;ATT:45;YDS:251;AVG:6.0;TD:2/REC:4;YDS:39;TD:0
RB: #28 DEAGO BENSON 5-11; 205 (R/FR.)
G:6;ATT:17;YDS:94;AVG:5.5;TD:0/REC:0;YDS:0;TD:0
RB: #35 CHRIS MARTINEZ 5-11; 195 (FR.)
G:5;ATT:9;YDS:56;AVG:6.2;TD:0/REC:1;YDS:14;TD:0
RB: #8 ANTHONY WILLIAMS 6-1; 211 (JR.)
G:7;ATT:7;YDS:41;AVG:6.0;TD:0/REC:11;YDS:97;TD:2
RB: #30 LUKE ULLRICH 5-10; 190 (FR.)
G:1;ATT:1;YDS:11;AVG:11.0;TD:0/REC:0;YDS:0;TD:0

WR: #4 KYLON HARRIS 5-11; 160 (JR.)
G:8;REC:57;YDS:654;TD:6
WR: #7 BLAINE GREEN 6-1; 213 (SO.)
G:6;REC:22;YDS:395;TD:3
WR: #18 JORDAN NABORS 5-11; 185 (SO.)
G:8;REC:19;YDS:328;TD:5
WR: #17 ROHAN FLUELLEN 5-11; 170 (R/FR.)
G:8;REC:19;YDS:202;TD:2
WR: #14 ISAIAH DAVIS 6-3; 190 (SO.)
G:8;REC:11;YDS:192;TD:2
WR: #21 CLAYTON WAYLAND 6-3; 200 (FR.)
G:5;REC:5;YDS:117;TD:2
WR: #19 TY LOVE 6-2; 200 (SR.)
G:8;REC:4;YDS:38;TD:1
WR: #87 TA'ERIK TATE 6-1; 180 (FR.)
G:3;REC:2;YDS:30;TD:0
WR: #82 TYJUAN ATKINS 6-0; 190 (SR.)
G:3;REC:1;YDS:25;TD:1
WR: #81 CHRIS TAYLOR 5-10; 175 (JR.)
G:4;REC:2;YDS:23;TD:1
WR: #84 DAX BRIDGES 5-10; 190 (JR.)
G:2;REC:1;YDS:17;TD:1
WR: #83 CANNON LEMBERG 6-0; 170 (FR.)
G:6;REC:1;YDS:13;TD:0
WR: #11 DERRICK BOHLER 6-2; 201 (R/FR.)
G:4;REC:1;YDS:8;TD:0

TE: #88 LAVAR LINDO 6-4; 245 (JR.)
G:7;REC:4;YDS:54;TD:0

OL: #71 ROBERT KELLER 6-7; 310 (JR.) GP:8
OL: #55 ERIK GRAY 6-1; 280 (SO.) GP:7
OL: #73 NATE ADAMS 6-7; 321 (SR.) GP:8
OL: #56 JAKE HENRY 6-3; 290 (G-SR.) GP:7
OL: #72 DARREN WIANCKO 6-2; 300 (JR.) GP:8
OL: #57 JARED MANOS 6-0; 250 (JR.) GP:7
OL: #77 JAYMON LAMB 6-5; 250 (R/FR.) GP:7
OL: #61 JASON CROWDER 6-1; 290 (R/FR.) GP:6
OL: #74 GIOVANNY ALEGRIA 6-6; 335 (JR.) GP:4
OL: #68 SETH MARTIN 6-3; 285 (SO.) GP:3
OL: #54 CHIMDIA NWAIWU 6-6; 255 (SO.) GP:5
OL: #50 WILL THOMPSON V 5-11; 265 (JR.) GP:3
OL: #51 IAN MORGAN 6-4; 250 (SO.) GP:2
OL: #52 ZAVIER LEONARD 6-7; 310 (JR.) GP:1
OL: #67 KOLT DE LA TORRE 6-2; 310 (R/FR.) GP:1
OL: #66 CAMERON VARGAS 6-4; 280 (FR.) GP:1

DL: #3 EDWARD BOBINO III 6-2; 340 (SO.)
G:8;TKL:34;TFL:5.0;SCK:1.5;QBH:2;FF:0;FR:1;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #2 AARON AUSTIN 6-2; 210 (SO.)
G:8;TKL:33;TFL:5.0;SCK:1.5;QBH:4;FF:1;FR:0;PD:1;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #22 XAVIER POTTS 6-0; 315 (R/FR.)
G:8;TKL:21;TFL:3.0;SCK:0.5;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:1;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #97 KY THOMAS 6-3; 250 (SR.)
G:8;TKL:15;TFL:4.0;SCK:0.5;QBH:4;FF:0;FR:0;PD:2;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #23 TREVION SNEED 6-1; 260 (SO.)
G:7;TKL:15;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:3;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #99 VICTOR IDUSUYI 6-1; 325 (JR.)
G:8;TKL:13;TFL:4.0;SCK:1.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #91 ELIJAH FIELDS 5-11; 270 (SO.)
G:7;TKL:13;TFL:2.0;SCK:1.5;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:2;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #49 TIM MUHAMMAD 6-4; 230 (R/FR.)
G:8;TKL:10;TFL:2.5;SCK:1.0;QBH:1;FF:0;FR:0;PD:2;INT:1;BLK:0
DL: #95 K'MARD KIMBLE 6-2; 300 (FR.)
G:7;TKL:9;TFL:2.0;SCK:0.5;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:1;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #58 JOEY FINLEY 6-3; 240 (SO.)
G:5;TKL:6;TFL:1.0;SCK:1.0;QBH:1;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DL: #96 KAIDEN TURNER 6-2; 250 (R/FR.)
G:3;TKL:3;TFL:0.5;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:1;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0;TD:1
DL: #92 NICHOLAS PEREZ 6-2; 255 (FR.)
G:2;TKL:2;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0

LB: #14 JOSIAH COTTON 5-11; 232 (G/SR.)
G:8;TKL:46;TFL:5.0;SCK:0.5;QBH:4;FF:0;FR:0;PD:3;INT:0;BLK:0
LB: #0 JERMAINE BROWN 6-1; 210 (SR.)
G:6;TKL:37;TFL:3.0;SCK:1.0;QBH:1;FF:0;FR:0;PD:1;INT:1;BLK:0
LB: #36 JAYDON SOUTHARD 6-0; 210 (JR.)
G:8;TKL:37;TFL:2.5;SCK:0.0;QBH:1;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
LB: #25 LUKE WATSON 6-2; 225 (JR.)
G:8;TKL:21;TFL:2.5;SCK:1.0;QBH:2;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:1;BLK:0
LB: #26 TONY ANYWANU 6-2; 246 (JR.)
G:8;TKL:14;TFL:4.5;SCK:2.5;QBH:3;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
LB: #11 LANE LEWIS 6-2; 215 (SR.)
G:7;TKL:9;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:1;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
LB: #45 JEMARI SEALS 6-0; 210 (SO.)
G:6;TKL:4;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
LB: #29 RYAN WILLIAMS 6-1; 195 (SO.)
G:3;TKL:3;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
LB: #32 DANIEL ANENIH 6-2; 230 (JR.)
G:2;TKL:3;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
LB: #39 LOWOTE JURKIN 6-4; 220 (FR.)
G:3;TKL:1;TFL:1.0;SCK:1.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
LB: #42 MICHAEL WOODS 6-3; 220 (FR.)
G:1;TKL:1;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0

DB: #15 TRASHAWN ADAMS 5-11; 190 (SR.)
G:8;TKL:40;TFL:3.0;SCK:1.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:3;INT:0
DB: #20 JAHEIM MULLEN 6-0; 204 (G/SR.)
G:8;TKL:30;TFL:2.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:1;FR:1;PD:0;INT:3
DB: #5 JEREMIAH WALKER 6-0; 200 (SR.)
G:8;TKL:23;TFL:1.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:4;INT:0
DB: #27 TYLER HUTCHERSON 5-9; 160 (R/FR)
G:8;TKL:14;TFL:1.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:1;FR:0;PD:1;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #29 MIKE PATTERSON 5-11; 162 (R/FR.)
G:8;TKL:14;TFL:0.5;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:1;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #1 BRUCE HARMON 6-0; 200 (SR.)
G:6;TKL:13;TFL:1.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:1;FF:0;FR:1;PD:0;INT:1
DB: #9 DYLAN TOOKER 5-9; 190 (SR.)
G:6;TKL:13;TFL:1.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #13 AARON SEARS 5-10; 190 (SO.)
G:4;TKL:12;TFL:1.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #6 CHARLES DEMMINGS 6-1; 185 (JR.)
G:7;TKL:8;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:2;INT:1;BLK:0
DB: #34 CHANCE SAUTTER 5-10; 179 (R/FR.)
G:6;TKL:7;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #24 AZARIAH LEVELLS 6-0; 185 (JR.)
G:5;TKL:6;TFL:2.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0
DB: #38 KAMERON REDDIC 6-0; 185 (FR.)
G:5;TKL:5;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0
DB: #12 MONTEGO JOHNSON 5-11; 187 (SR.)
G:5;TKL:3;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #28 JAKE GILLESPIE 5-9; 180 (FR.)
G:5;TKL:3;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0
DB: #30 HOLLIS ROBINSON 5-11; 181 (SO.)
G:7;TKL:3;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #31 JALON HUNTER 5-11; 190 (JR.)
G:1;TKL:3;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:1;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #17 DONOAVAN LANG 6-0; 175 (FR.)
G:2;TKL:2;TFL:1.5;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:1;INT:0
DB: #35 JORDAN JACKSON 6-1; 177 (SO.)
G:2;TKL:2;TFL:0.5;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0;BLK:0
DB: #37 JAYVIN MAYFIELD 6-0; 175 (FR.)
G:2;TKL:2;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:0
DB: #89 COLE LEMONS 6-3; 185 (SO.)
G:8;TKL:1;TFL:0.0;SCK:0.0;QBH:0;FF:0;FR:0;PD:0;INT:1;BLK:0

LS: #47 TUG SANFORD 6-0; 200 (SO.) GP:8
LS: #00 BLAKE ROBINSON 6-1. 220 (FR.) GP:1

P: #22 CALLUM EDDINGS 5-11; 155 (JR.)
G:8;ATT:28;YDS:1,204;LNG:58;AVG:43.0;TB:3;FC:11;I20:8;50+:8;BLK:0
P: #81 BRODY MCNEW 6-2; 175 (SO.)
G:1;ATT:1;YDS:36;LNG:36;AVG:36.0;TB:0;FC:0;I20:0;50+:0;BLK:0
RB: #35 CHRIS MARTINEZ 5-11; 195 (FR.)
G:5;ATT:1;YDS:56;LNG:56;AVG:56.0;TB:0;FC:0;I20:1;50+:1;BLK:0

K: #41 CHRIS CAMPOS 5-11; 255 (SR.)
G:8;FGA:13;FGM:14;LNG:43;EXPA:42;EXPM:42
K: #40 JACOB HAND 5-10; 160 (R/FR.)
G:8;KO:62;YDS:3,924;AVG:63.3;TB:37;OB:3

Ljacks&Longnecks said:

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"I was perplexed that we didn't go to the air earlier, but as the 2nd quarter opened you could start to see HBU giving up space. Especially on the edges. That Nabors TD was pretty flawless. Even with the pull on the shirt. Almost lost it in the SLC ref crew. But, Nabors was true and pulled that ball in like a sweet little baby. I almost felt like the route was on but had to see how we started off the 2nd half.

I didn't see too much to ***** about regarding the defense. Gave up a few long pass plays, but tightened up."

The ESPN+ announcers told us a few times that HCU has the worst run defense in the SLC but had the best pass defense in SLC. So my take on 1st quarter drives is that the plan was to run the ball down their throat all day. Well that didn't happen early so then, starting with the 96 yard bomb, we went back to the mixed offense attack and quickly turned things into a rout.

Nobody could complain about defense last night. Sure gave up 2 -4 big gains but never allowed HCU a TD. Made a couple of penalties that allowed HCU to continue drives but that's it. Top notch job by Defense all night.

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No complaints here !

Ladies and Gentlemen, your national FCS leader in touchdown passes, @SamVidlak7!

Vidlak is now tied with Southeastern Missouri QB Paxton DeLaurent for most touchdown passes this season, and he’s done it in one less game! #AxeEm #VidlakForPayton pic.twitter.com/kPtwaGwbHx

— The Sawmill (@SFASawmill) October 28, 2024

• #1 passing TD's (23)
• #5 passing efficiency (175.28)
• #7 passing yards (2,125)
• #8 passing yards per game (266)
• #10 passing completion (69%)

Vidlak is legit! Best QB that Carthel has had.

VIDLAK MAGIC 🪄

My GOODNESS have a first half Sam Vidlak!

He somehow keeps this play alive, evading defenders, and fires to Anthony Williams for 6! His third touchdown pass of the first half!#GTL x @SFA_Football pic.twitter.com/ouvUeh4hTk

— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) October 27, 2024

AN OFFENSIVE FIREWORK SHOW

After going 20-for-28 with 316 yards and five touchdowns, including a 96-yard TD pass, SFA QB Sam Vidlak has been named the @jerseymikes Offensive Player of the Week!#GTL pic.twitter.com/38hn4W0Apf

— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) October 28, 2024

Our players of the week 🪓#AxeEm x #EastTexasTough pic.twitter.com/7VjK6gQDMk

— Lumberjack Football (@SFA_Football) October 28, 2024