# 2024 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team

The 2024 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team represented Stephen F. Austin State University as a member of the Southland Conference (SLC) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Lumberjacks were coached by sixth-year head coach Colby Carthel and played at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas.
On May 29, 2024, Stephen F. Austin announced it would leave the United Athletic Conference (UAC) after accepting an invitation to join the Southland Conference as a full-time member effective July 1. Stephen F. Austin had previously left the Southland Conference in 2021 to join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The WAC and Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) officially merged their football leagues to form a football-only conference in 2022.

## Preseason
### Preseason poll

The Southland Conference released their preseason poll on July 22, 2024. The Lumberjacks were picked to finish fifth in the conference.
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Nicholls | 119 (9) |
| 2 | Incarnate Word | 113 (8) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 94 |
| 4 | Lamar | 88 (1) |
| 5 | Stephen F. Austin | 72 |
| 6 | McNeese | 64 |
| 7 | Houston Christian | 41 |
| 8 | East Texas A&M | 37 |
| 9 | Northwestern State | 25 |

### Preseason All–Southland Teams

The Southland Conference announced the 2024 preseason all-conference football team selections on July 22, 2024. SFA had a total of two players selected.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 29 | 7:00 pm | North American* | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | W 77–0 | 2,014 |
| September 7 | 6:30 pm | at North Texas* | DATCU StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | L 20–35 | 23,510 |
| September 14 | 7:00 pm | at McNeese | Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA | ESPN+ | L 24–28 | 8,223 |
| September 21 | 7:00 pm | Northern Colorado* | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | W 48–7 | 7,683 |
| October 5 | 7:00 pm | Northwestern State | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX (Chief Caddo) | ESPN+ | W 59–17 | 5,793 |
| October 12 | 3:00 pm | at No. 22 Lamar | Provost Umphrey StadiumBeaumont, TX | ESPN+ | W 27–20 | 8,368 |
| October 19 | 4:00 pm | at Southeastern Louisiana | Strawberry StadiumHammond, LA | ESPN+ | L 23–24 | 4,622 |
| October 26 | 6:00 pm | Houston Christian | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | W 55–6 | 6,246 |
| November 2 | 3:00 pm | at Nicholls | Manning Field at John L. Guidry StadiumThibodaux, LA | ESPN+ | W 28–12 | 5,676 |
| November 9 | 3:30 pm | at East Texas A&M* | Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial StadiumCommerce, TX | ESPN+ | L 14–19 | 3,652 |
| November 16 | 2:00 pm | No. 6 Incarnate Word | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | L 20–27 | 4,116 |
| November 23 | 2:00 pm | No. 11 Abilene Christian* | Homer Bryce StadiumNacogdoches, TX | ESPN+ | W 32–19 | |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from STATS Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### North American (NAIA)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Stallions (NAIA) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lumberjacks | 42 | 28 | 0 | 7 | 77 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas
* Date: August 31
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 2,014
* Referee: Andre Coleman
* TV: ESPN+
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | NOAM | SFA |
| First downs | 3 | 32 |
| Plays–yards | 41–40 | 51–675 |
| Rushes–yards | 19–(-5) | 36–385 |
| Passing yards | 45 | 383 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 11–22–1 | 14–15–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:41 | 30:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| North American | Passing | Jesper Korkalanien | 7/11, 36 yards |
| North American | Rushing | Jesper Korkalanien | 1 rush, 6 yards |
| North American | Receiving | Jordan Green | 3 receptions, 15 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 8/8, 288 yards, 5 TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Qualan Jones | 9 rushes, 121 yards, TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Kylon Harris | 4 receptions, 115 yards, TD |
The Lumberjacks jumped out to a 77–0 lead at halftime, scoring touchdowns on eleven consecutive drives. The third and fourth quarters were shortened to five minutes each.

### at North Texas (FBS)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
| Mean Green (FBS) | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
at DATCU Stadium, Denton, Texas
* Date: September 7
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C) • Wind: W 12mph
* Game attendance: 23,510
* Referee: Reid Jackson
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Peter Sousa and Doc Holliday
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | SFA | UNT |
| First downs | 14 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 70–248 | 77–504 |
| Rushes–yards | 31–67 | 33–182 |
| Passing yards | 181 | 322 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 20–39–1 | 26–44–3 |
| Time of possession | 26:08 | 33:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 20/39, 181 yards, TD, INT |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 12 rushes, 44 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Kylon Harris | 9 receptions, 74 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Chandler Morris | 26/44, 322 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT |
| North Texas | Rushing | Damashja Harris | 10 rushes, 142 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | D. T. Sheffield | 6 receptions, 74 yards, 3 TD |

### at McNeese

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
at Cowboy Stadium, Lake Charles, Louisiana
* Date: Saturday September 14
* Game time: 7:02 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 87 °F (31 °C) • Wind: SW at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
* Game attendance: 8,223
* Referee: James Brookhart
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Jeff Palermo (play-by-play) and Chaston Tavares (analyst)
* Box score, Recap
| Statistics | SFA | MCN |
| First downs | 24 | 19 |
| Total yards | 453 | 449 |
| Rushing yards | 212 | 136 |
| Passing yards | 241 | 313 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–28–1 | 18–29–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:51 | 30:09 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 18/28, 241 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Qualan Jones | 27 carries, 155 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Isaiah Davis | 3 receptions, 87 yards, TD |
| McNeese | Passing | Clifton McDowell | 18/29, 313 yards, 2 TD |
| McNeese | Rushing | Coleby Hamm | 8 carries, 45 yards |
| McNeese | Receiving | Jer'Michael Carter | 5 receptions, 67 yards |

### Northern Colorado

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Lumberjacks | 14 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 48 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 7:02 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 7,683
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score
| Statistics | UNCO | SFA |
| First downs | 12 | 26 |
| Plays–yards | 66–242 | 68–509 |
| Rushes–yards | 45–224 | 40–250 |
| Passing yards | 18 | 259 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 13–21–0 | 18–28–0 |
| Time of possession | 33:34 | 26:26 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northern Colorado | Passing | Kia'i Keone | 10/14, 20 yards |
| Northern Colorado | Rushing | Kia'i Keone | 17 carries, 76 yards |
| Northern Colorado | Receiving | Brayden Munroe | 3 receptions, 16 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 16/26, 219 yards, 3 TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 6 carries, 80 yards, 2 TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Blaine Green | 5 receptions, 93 yards |

### Northwestern State (Chief Caddo)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Demons | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
| Lumberjacks | 24 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 59 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas
* Date: October 5
* Game time: 7:02 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C)
* Game attendance: 5,793
* Referee: Gary Leeper
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score
| Statistics | NWST | SFA |
| First downs | 13 | 24 |
| Plays–yards | 61–379 | 70–623 |
| Rushes–yards | 29–49 | 34–256 |
| Passing yards | 330 | 367 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 19–32–3 | 27–36–0 |
| Time of possession | 30:23 | 29:37 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Northwestern State | Passing | J. T. Fayard | 18/29, 322 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Northwestern State | Rushing | Zay Davis | 9 carries, 55 yards |
| Northwestern State | Receiving | Kenard King | 3 receptions, 83 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 23/29, 307 yards, 4 TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 10 carries, 113 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Blaine Green | 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD |

### at No. 22 Lamar

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks | 10 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
| No. 22 Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 20 |
at Provost Umphrey Stadium, Beaumont, Texas
* Date: October 12
* Game time: 3:02 pm
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 87 °F (31 °C) • Wind: NE at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
* Game attendance: 8,368
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score
| Statistics | SFA | LAM |
| First downs | 24 | 25 |
| Plays–yards | 64–443 | 78–456 |
| Rushes–yards | 27–114 | 36–162 |
| Passing yards | 329 | 294 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 26–37–0 | 23–42–1 |
| Time of possession | 27:08 | 32:52 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 26/37, 329 yards, TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Qualan Jones | 21 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Kylon Harris | 10 receptions, 106 yards, TD |
| Lamar | Passing | Robert Coleman | 22/41, 279 yards, TD, INT |
| Lamar | Rushing | Khalan Griffin | 11 carries, 59 yards, TD |
| Lamar | Receiving | Sevonne Rhea | 6 receptions, 166 yards, TD |

### at Southeastern Louisiana

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks | 7 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 23 |
| Lions | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
at Strawberry Stadium, Hammond, Louisiana
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 4:03 pm
* Game weather: Sunny Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: E at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 4,622
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score
| Statistics | SFA | SELA |
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Plays–yards | 66–337 | 68–348 |
| Rushes–yards | 28–93 | 33–114 |
| Passing yards | 244 | 234 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 29–38–0 | 24–35–0 |
| Time of possession | 26:41 | 33:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 29/38, 244 yards, 1 TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jerrell Wimbley | 11 carries, 83 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Kylon Harris | 13 receptions, 116 yards |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | Eli Sawyer | 24/35, 234 yards, 1 TD |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Rushing | Antonio Martin, Jr. | 21 carries, 87yards, 1 TD |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Receiving | Darius Lewis | 11 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD |

### Houston Christian

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Huskies | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Lumberjacks | 3 | 21 | 21 | 10 | 55 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 6:02 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 83 °F (28 °C)
* Game attendance: 6,246
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score
| Statistics | HCU | SFA |
| First downs | 15 | 29 |
| Plays–yards | 68–208 | 67–561 |
| Rushes–yards | 38–82 | 38–231 |
| Passing yards | 126 | 330 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 13–30–1 | 21–29–1 |
| Time of possession | 26:55 | 29:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Houston Christian | Passing | Eli Brickhandler | 4/12, 69 yards, INT |
| Houston Christian | Rushing | Eli Brickhandler | 9 carries, 31 yards |
| Houston Christian | Receiving | Deuce McMillan | 2 receptions, 47 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 20/27, 316 yards, 5 TD, INT |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jaylen Jenkins | 21 carries, 110 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Jordan Nabors | 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD |

### at Nicholls

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks | 0 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
| Colonels | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
at Manning Field at John L. Guidry Stadium, Thibodaux, Louisiana
* Date: November 2
* Game time: 3:02 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 5,676
* TV: ESPN+
* Box Score
| Statistics | SFA | NICH |
| First downs | 11 | 23 |
| Plays–yards | 49–301 | 98–413 |
| Rushes–yards | 23–39 | 48–165 |
| Passing yards | 262 | 248 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 14–26–1 | 27–50–3 |
| Time of possession | 17:57 | 42:03 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Sam Vidlak | 14/25, 262 yards, 4 TD, INT |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Jerrell Wimbley | 8 carries, 47 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Kylon Harris | 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD |
| Nicholls | Passing | Pat McQuaide | 27/50, 248 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Nicholls | Rushing | Collin Guggenheim | 17 carries, 80 yards |
| Nicholls | Receiving | Miequle Brock | 9 receptions, 89 yards |

### at East Texas A&M

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lumberjacks | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Lions | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium, Commerce, Texas
* Date: November 9
* Game time: 3:30 pm
* Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving |
| East Texas A&M | Passing |
| East Texas A&M | Rushing |
| East Texas A&M | Receiving |

### No. 6 Incarnate Word

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 6 Cardinals | 3 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
| Lumberjacks | 6 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 20 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, TX
* Date: November 16
* Game time: 2:03 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 4,116
* Referee: Craig Heslser
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Chris Simmons (play-by-play) & Courtney Garcia (analyst)
* Box Score Recap
| Statistics | UIW | SFA |
| First downs | 16 | 21 |
| Plays–yards | 66–390 | 79–331 |
| Rushes–yards | 34–185 | 43–122 |
| Passing yards | 205 | 209 |
| Passing: comp–att–int | 15–32–3 | 21–36–2 |
| Time of possession | 25:54 | 34:06 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Incarnate Word | Passing | Zach Calzada | 15/32, 205 yards, TD, 3 INT |
| Incarnate Word | Rushing | Dekalon Taylor | 12 carries, 74 yards, TD |
| Incarnate Word | Receiving | Roy Alexander | 6 receptions, 69 yards, TD |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing | Gavin Rutherford | 21/35, 209 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing | Gavin Rutherford | 17 carries, 47 yards |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving | Kylon Harrs | 6 receptions, 79 yards, TD |

### No. 11 Abilene Christian

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 11 Wildcats | - | - | - | - | 0 |
| Lumberjacks | - | - | - | - | 0 |
at Homer Bryce Stadium, Nacogdoches, Texas
* Date: November 23
* Game time: 2:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Wind: • Weather: • Temp:
* TV: ESPN+
* Statistics
* First downs
* Plays–yards
* Rushes–yards
* Passing yards
* Passing: comp–att–int
* Time of possession
| Team | Category |
| Abeline Christian | Passing |
| Abeline Christian | Rushing |
| Abeline Christian | Receiving |
| Stephen F. Austin | Passing |
| Stephen F. Austin | Rushing |
| Stephen F. Austin | Receiving |