STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE (4-3; 2-2) VS. HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (3-4; 1-1)
WHEN: Oct. 26 (SAT.) 6:00 P.M.
WHERE: Nacogdoches, Texas (Homer Bryce Stadium)
TV: ESPN+
Homecoming (why does it feel this way every weekend?)
SERIES HISTORY
FOOTBALL HISTORY VS HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FROM OCTOBER 18, 2014 - OCTOBER 20, 2018
WINS: 4
LOSSES: 1
TIES: 0
Home Record: 2-0
Streak: 2-Wins
SFA has won 4 of the last 5 meetings
W 42-14 (2018 Away)
W 27-10 (2017 Home)
L 24-31 (2016 Away)
W 55-20 (2015 Home)
W 59-27 (2014 Away)
It's homecoming week at SFA, that brings with it a festive purple and white jubilation for all Lumberjack Alumni new and old. And of course that includes football, as this Saturday the SFA Lumberjacks welcome the Huskies of HCU to Home Bryce Stadium.
In 2023 the Huskies finished the season with a 5-5 overall record and a 4-3 conference record, placing fourth in the conference, it was their first winning conference record and non-losing season in program history.
This season the Huskies under first year head coach Jason Bachtel were picked to finish seventh in the Southland Conference preseason poll.
Bachtel who also calls the offense, likes to use a pro-spread offensive scheme that is spread out among multiple QB's such as Cutter Stewart, Eli Brickhandler, and C.J. Rogers (who almost committed to SFA in 2021, and Bachtel was his OC at Argyle High) who have combined for 78 completions for 1,083 yards 8 TD's with 5 picks and among many RB's such as Darryle Evans, Calvin Hill, Jesse Valenzuela, and Champ Dozier who have combined on 187 carries for 991 yards (5.3 Average) and 8 TD's. QB Eli Brickhandle is 3rd on the team in rushing with 233 yards and a TD. As a team the Huskies average 26-points per game averaging 179 on the ground and 166 through the air which ranks 4th in the conference in total offense.
The defense managed by DC Zach Wilkerson who likes to run a 3-4 base defense, that features defensive lineman Zae Smith, who was selected to the second team preseason all-conference selection. As a team the defense gives up 33-points a game (8th in the SLC), 247 rushing yards a game (last in the SLC) and 195 passing (3rd in the SLC) which ranks 8th in total defense in the conference.
On special teams the Huskies have the 2nd best kicker in the conference in Dillon Fedor who was selected to the 2024 preseason all-conference first team. So far Fedor is 8 of 8 this season with a long of 45 yards, which could prove critical in close game situations that SFA has grown accustomed to.
After 7-games in 2024 the Lumberjacks stand at 4-3 a team that could be 7-0, or easily 6-1 and frustratingly so with the talented personel this team fields.
#1 ranked scoring offense (40-points a game)
#1 total offense (470 yards a game)
#1 in the run (183.4 yards)
#1 in passing (286 yards)
#1 in red zone offense (100%; 18 TD;s; 28-28)
On the other side of the ball
#1 scoring defense (18.7 points)
#2 in total defense (345 yards)
#2 in rushing (123 yards)
#7 in passing defense (222 yards) but only giving up 9-passing TD's which leds the conference.
Sam Vidlak leads the conference in passing efficiency (169.4), completion percentage (68.3%), and TD's (18) 2nd in completions (140), yards (1,809), average (258.4), and fewest INT's (2)
Qualan Jones 4th in the conference in rushing yards (578) 2nd in average (6.6) 3rd in TD's (5) and 3rd in game average (96.3)
Kylon Harris 2nd in the conference in receptions (51) yards (617), TD's (5), and average yards per game (88.1)
Jaheim Mullen leads the conference in INT's (3)
Think of it now as a 5-game season (3 at home and 2 on the road) and SFA has to run the table to have a shot at the SLC Title and a playoff birth.
HCU is first up and hopefully the first down as we check off this 5-game season.
Axe'Em
