(#15) STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE (8-2; 6-0) VS. (#14) LAMAR (8-2; 5-1)
WHEN: NOV. 15 (SAT.) 4:00 P.M.
WHERE: NACOGDOCHES, TEXAS (HOMER BRYCE STADIUM)
MEDIA: ESPN+/JACKS RADIO NETWORK
SERIES
Football History vs Stephen F. Austin from Oct 6, 1951 - Oct 12, 2024
Lamar leads the overall series 16-15-0 but has lost the last 3 in a row and 4 of the last 5.
SFA is 7-2 against Lamar since the reinstating of the Cardinal football program back in 2010. Lamar's last win (24-17) against SFA was at Homer Bryce Stadium in 2018.
Lamar win-loss 8-2; 5-1; Home: 5-0; Away: 3-2; Streak: Won 1
L @North Texas 0-51
W #4 South Dakota 20-13
W @Texas Southern 31-7
W Central Arkansas 35-32
W Nicholls 24-17
W @East Texas A&M 33-23
W UTRGV 23-21
W @Northwestern State 41-14
L @UIW 17-24
W #19 Southeastern Louisiana 14-12
3rd year head coach Pete Rossomando has the Cardinals improving every year, enjoying success with 3-straight winning seasons, taking a once 1-10 program from 2022 to a 6-5 winning team in 2023, 7-5 in 2024 (including a 17-16 win over #20 Weber State and a near upset of Texas State in a 27-34 loss) to 8-2 in 2025 with wins over #4 South Dakota, Central Arkansas, and #19 Southeastern Louisiana. Rossomando now has the Cardinals on the verge of a possible SLC Championship and a trip the NCAA Playoffs, something that has not happened since 2018.
Lamar has the #7 scoring offense in the SLC averaging 24 points a game, and #8 in total offense with 292.3 yards per game (134.8 rushing (#5), 157.3 passing (#8).
On the defensive side of the ball the LU defense rank's #4 in overall scoring defense, giving up 21 a game.
Special teams should be interesting as SFA and Lamar are the two top teams in the SLC in punt returns, with the Lumberjacks at #1 in PR with 19 yards per return having scored 4 TD's to #2 Lamar's 16 yards per return and 2 scores.
Contrasting in the red-zone, SFA's #1 red zone defense (68%) going against Lamar's #1 red zone offense (90.3%).
Opponent 3rd down conversions has Lamar at #1 (27.8%) and SFA #2 (29.7%)
Lamar's offense is lead by sophomore QB #14 Aiden McCown 6-2; 200 out of Rusk, Texas and senior #4 Robert Coleman 6-0; 200 out of Menifee, California both have combined for 1,564 yards (60%) and 10 TD's with 7 INT's.
Impact players on defense are junior DE #14 Andrew Huff 6-2; 240 out of Stafford, Texas, who leads the team in sacks with 6.5, along with 10.5 TFL's. Also, look for the big senior transfer from Texas State DB #6 Ronnie Hamrick II 6-1; 201 out of Lilburn, Georgia, who leads the team with 11.0 TFL's.
So here we are, SFA looking to make program history, for the first time in the over 100 years of Lumberjack Football, 9-straight wins, and we all wait eagerly for Saturday to bare witness to it, and to forgetting the many disappointing seasons of the past, coming down to this one season, a season to remember.
Axe'Em
