STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE (6-4; 4-2) VS. #6 INCARNATE WORD (8-2; 5-0)

WHEN: Nov. 16 (SAT.) 2:00 P.M.
WHERE: Nacogdoches, Texas (Homer Bryce Stadium)
TV: ESPN+

FOOTBALL HISTORY VS INCARNATE WORD FROM SEPTEMBER 6, 2014 - NOVEMBER 27, 2021

WINS: 5
LOSSES: 2
TIES: 0

Home Record: 4-0
Streak: 1-Loss

The series has been tied in the last 4 meetings

L: 28-35 OT (Neutral) 2021
W: 31-24 (Home) 2019
L: 7-31 (Away) 2018
W: 37-31 (Home) 2017

What an amazing run the Cardinals have had since the 2021 season, putting together a 23-3 record in conference play, two conference championships (most likely three), and soon to be their 3rd Division I FCS playoff birth in the last 4 seasons, and all with three different head coaches in that time frame.

2024: 5-0; 8-2; Current Ranking #8
2023: 6-1; 9-2; Final Ranking #22
2022: 5-1; 12-2; SLC Champions; Semifinals; Final Ranking #3
2021: 7-1; 10-3; SLC Champions; Quarterfinals; Final Ranking #12

The Cardinals of Incarnate Word are a perfect 5-0 in conference play, currently riding a 7- game win streak into Nacogdoches to take on the Lumberjacks of SFA.

UIW's two road losses came earlier in the season to #1 South Dakota State (24-45) and #8 Southern Illinois (28-35).

The Cardinals are lead by pre-season Walter Payton Award and past finalist Zach Calzada, the Texas A&M transfer from Buford, Georgia. Calzada now leads the nation in touchdown passes (29) after completing 23 passes for a season high 402 yards and 5 TD's last Saturday against Lamar. For the season Calzada has completed 247 passes for 2,813 yards with only 4 INT's.

The offense averages 38-points a game with 165 rushing yards and 288 passing yards a game.

The SFA secondary will be put to the test against a talented receiving group lead by WR Jalen Walthall who leads the team in receiving yards with 996 yards and 13 TD's, along with WR Roy Alexander who leads the team in catches with 65 to go along with his 813 yards receiving and 10 TD's.

On the ground the Cardinals have Longview, Texas native and leading rusher Dekalon Taylor with 835 yards (6.0 average) and 8 TD's.

UIW on defense gives up 23-points a game, 140 yards on the ground and 230 through the air. As a team they have 68 TFL's and 27 sacks with 10 INTs.

This will be look at, as the what could have been season with the Lumberjacks, who were firing on all pistons going into the final 3-games of the season. So many close losses to discuss and some of them under the most strangest of occurrences.

It will also be interesting to see how SFA bounces back and performs, going from loosing to the worst team in the conference, to taking on the best.

Axe'Em

Hard to think we have a chance in this one. Every athletic endeavor involves injuries. The Lumberjacks as an athletics program seem to be highly susceptible to injuries.

I am pointing to the last couple years of Lumberjack basketball and to a lesser degree women's basketball. What is going on with our conditioning. Am I barking up the wrong tree.

Every team has injuries. East Texas announcers last night said the 22 starting offensive players was up to 39 different starters due to all the injuries they have had.
Our problem was/ is that our star QB got hurt on a run at Nicholls and obviously couldn't play yesterday and perhaps rest of season. Then we had to go to our backup who had 5 days to prepare and the lack of experience showed. Some coaching moves did not help him any. I don't believe SFA football has any more injuries than anybody else.

Now you may have a point on MBB. We seem to have more than our share of injuries there, but I don't really know as I don't follow other basketball programs.

It's hard to consistently win with your best players injured, and as you said, for whatever reason SFA tends to have that issue across the board every year.

It's hard to really judge the fault for it. Could it be conditioning? Maybe. But I'd chalk it up more to no one else's fault but bad luck. Many of the consistent injuries we've had aren't things that can be avoided by conditioning. The football/basketball gods just have not been a big SFA fan the past few seasons in terms of our guys staying healthy.

On to UIW it's simple. With Vidlak we have a chance. Without him, I just don't think we can keep up. We probably would've had to win a shootout, and Vidlak's gun shoots a lot straighter than Rutherford's.

Vidlak might benefit from sitting the remainder of the year anyway, heal up, and get ready for next fall. The playoffs are gone now, so these last two games are just a formality at this point.

SFASawmillGuy said:

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Knowing SFA football and college football like I do now that the game doesn't mean anything I'm sure we'll probably end up beating UIW.

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Sawmill Guy,

We need some karma.

He is going to be difficult to stop.

OFFENSIVE CLINIC

After posting a season-high 402 yards passing and five touchdowns through the air, UIW quarterback Zach Calzada has been named the @jerseymikes Southland Football Offensive Player of the Week!#GTL pic.twitter.com/HL8dCDDbb1

— Southland Conference (@SouthlandSports) November 11, 2024

Funny to reflect that the last time the Jacks took on UIW, it was against current Heisman hopeful Cam Ward... Despite the loss, it was a close game even going up against a really good Q. I know without Vidlak that it's a long shot but is it time for our get-back?

UIW rises to #6 in the latest polls, while ACU is now at #14, taking on #13 Tarleton State this Saturday.

Fingers crossed.

So what were the "distractions" before the East Texas A&M game that caused the team not to be prepared? Sounds like there is a lot happening behind the scenes..
Interesting perspective from 4460 yesterday. I agree with some of his thoughts but I am DONE with mediocre at SFA in Football!! I have watched us flounder for 28 years and I am sick of it!

AxeEm99 said:

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So what were the "distractions" before the East Texas A&M game that caused the team not to be prepared? Sounds like there is a lot happening behind the scenes..
Interesting perspective from 4460 yesterday. I agree with some of his thoughts but I am DONE with mediocre at SFA in Football!! I have watched us flounder for 28 years and I am sick of it!

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I feel that. I know people want Carthel to be fired. But he is a leader for our team and our atheltes like others have mentioned. If Carthel can atleast stay in the top 3 in the division its a win for me. After so many years in my undergraduate with Conque at the helm and just playing bottom of the barrel football.

I truly hope that McBroom, Weaver and the UT System will not settle for Top 3 mediocrity while Tarleton, ACU, IW, continue achieving success!!