2020 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 2020
| team = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| sport = football
| image = Stephen F. Austin Athletics wordmark.svg
| image_size = 150
| conference = Southland Conference
| short_conf = Southland
| record = 6–4
| conf_record = 1–0
| head_coach = Colby Carthel
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach = Matt Storm
| oc_year = 2nd
| off_scheme = Spread
| def_coach = Scott Power
| dc_year = 2nd
| def_scheme = 4–3
| captain =
| stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
}}
{{2020 Southland Conference football standings}}{{2020 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings}}
The 2020 Stephen F. Austin football team represented Stephen F. Austin State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Lumberjacks were led by second-year head coach Colby Carthel and played their home games at Homer Bryce Stadium. The team finished 6–4 for the program's first winning season since 2014. All four losses were against NCAA Division I FBS teams.
Preseason
=Preseason poll=
The Southland Conference released their original preseason poll in July 2020. The Lumberjacks were picked to finish eighth in the conference, prior to their schedule split from the rest of the league.{{cite web |title=Nicholls Favored to Win Southland Football Spring Season |url=https://www.southland.org/news/2021/1/26/nicholls-favored-to-win-southland-football-spring-season.aspx |website=www.southland.org |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}} In addition, one Lumberjack was chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team{{cite web |title=Southland Announces 2020 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams |url=https://www.southland.org/news/2020/7/14/southland-announces-2020-preseason-all-conference-football-teams.aspx |website=www.southland.org |access-date=8 August 2021 |language=en}}
| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks|Predicted finish|Team|Votes (1st place)}} | ||
| align="center"
| 1 | Central Arkansas* | 190 (12) |
| align="center"
| 2 | Sam Houston State | 170 (4) |
| align="center"
| 3 | Nicholls | 169 (6) |
| align="center"
| 4 | Southeastern Louisiana | 157 |
| align="center"
| 5 | McNeese State | 113 |
| align="center"
| 6 | Incarnate Word | 104 |
| align="center"
| 7 | Abilene Christian* | 101 |
| align="center"
| 8 | Stephen F. Austin* | 60 |
| align="center"
| 9 | Houston Baptist* | 59 |
| align="center"
| 10 | Northwestern State | 49 |
| align="center"
| 11 | Lamar | 38 |
(*) These teams opted out of playing in the revised spring 2021 Southland schedule, and instead played as Independent in the fall of 2020.
=Preseason All–Southland Teams=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
Offense
2nd Team
- Xavier Gipson – Wide Receiver, SO
{{col-break}}
Defense
2nd Team
- Xavier Gipson – Kick Returner, SO
{{col-end}}
Schedule
Stephen F. Austin had a game scheduled against Alabama A&M, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |last1=Visser |first1=David |title=SWAC Suspends Fall Football Season|url=https://www.si.com/college/fsu/football/swac-suspends-fall-football-season|website=FBSchedules.com |accessdate=July 20, 2020 |date=July 21, 2020}}
{{CFB schedule
| rankyear = 2020
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FCS
| poll = STATS
| timezone = Central
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|September 5}}
| time = 8:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = UTEP
| site_stadium = Sun Bowl
| site_cityst = El Paso, TX
| tv = ESPN3
| score =14–24
| attend =6,047
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 19
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = UTSA
| site_stadium = Alamodome
| site_cityst = San Antonio, TX
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 10–24
| attend =6,611
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 26
| time = 6:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = SMU
| site_stadium = Gerald J. Ford Stadium
| site_cityst = University Park, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 7–50
| attend =7,898
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 3
| time = 4:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = West Texas A&M
| site_stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 34–6
| attend =5,035
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 17
| time = 5:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2020|team=Angelo State Rams|title=Angelo State}}
| site_stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 31–12
| attend = 4,376
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 24
| time =
| w/l = w
| neutral = y
| opponent = Abilene Christian
| site_stadium = Globe Life Field
| site_cityst = Arlington, TX
| tv = FloSports
| score = 35–32
| overtime = OT
| attend = 5,211
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 31
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = {{cfb link|year=2020|team=Western Colorado Mountaineers|title=Western Colorado}}
| site_stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 64–7
| attend = 3,165
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 7
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Eastern Kentucky
| site_stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 24–6
| attend = 2,569
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 14
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Pittsburg State
| site_stadium = Homer Bryce Stadium
| site_cityst = Nacogdoches, TX
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 26–7
| attend = 5,126
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 21
| time =
| w/l = l
| away = y
| nonconf = y
| opponent = Memphis
| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 14–56
| attend = 9,684
}}
}}
Game summaries
=At UTEP=
{{see also|2020 UTEP Miners football team}}
| class="wikitable" | |
| align="center"
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}|Pregame line!!style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}|Over/under | |
| align="center"
| UTEP –4 | 54{{cite web|title=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs UTEP Miners|url=https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/stephen-f-austin-utep-odds-september-5-2020-1292191|website=Odds Shark|access-date=October 23, 2020|language=en}} |
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|bg=#fff
|bg2=#eee
|title=Game One – Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at UTEP Miners
|date=Saturday, September 5, 2020
|time=8:05 p.m. CDT
|road=Lumberjacks
|R1=7|R2=7|R3=0|R4=0
|home=Miners
|H1=3|H2=14|H3=0|H4=7
|stadium=Sun Bowl • El Paso, Texas
|attendance=6,047
|weather= Sunny • Temperature: {{convert|88|F|C}} • Wind: E 15 mph
|referee= Rodney Burnette • Umpire: Stephen Marshal • Linesman: Lea Bailey • Line judge: Joshua Fath • Back judge: Brandon Spencer • Field judge: Parker Anderson • Side judge: Adrian Carson • Center judge: Nathan Jastram
|TV=ESPN3
|TVAnnouncers=Erik Elken, Trevor Vittatoe
|reference=
|scoring=
;First quarter
- (12:01) SFA – Lawton Rikel 17-yard pass from Trae Self, Chris Campos kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:59; Stephen F. Austin 7–0)
- (3:25) UTEP – Gavin Baechle 22-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 49 yards, 4:22; Stephen F. Austin 7–3)
;Second quarter
- (12:03) SFA – Da'leon Ward 1-yard run, Chris Campos kick (Drive: 12 plays, 84 yards, 6:17; Stephen F. Austin 14–3)
- (2:08) UTEP – Justin Garrett 4-yard pass from Gavin Hardison, Gavin Baechle kick (Drive: 16 plays, 83 yards, 9:51; Stephen F. Austin 14–10)
- (0:20) UTEP – Deion Hankins 10-yard run, Gavin Baechle kick (Drive: 2 plays, 9 yards, 0:52; UTEP 17–14)
;Third quarter
:No scoring
;Fourth quarter
- (3:51) UTEP – Deion Hankins 10-yard run, Gavin Baechle kick (Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:18; UTEP 24–14)
}}
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Float = left
| Visitor = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| VisitorDisplay = SFA
| Home = UTEP Miners
| HomeDisplay = UTEP
| VisFirsts = 14
| VisPlaysYds = 44–230
| VisRushing = 97
| VisPassYds = 133
| VisPassing = 14–21–1
| VisTOP = 23:13
| HomeFirsts = 19
| HomePlaysYds = 65–364
| HomeRushing = 152
| HomePassYds = 212
| HomePassing = 17–28–1
| HomeTOP = 36:47
}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Float = right
| Visitor = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| VisitorDisplay = Stephen F. Austin
| Home = UTEP Miners
| HomeDisplay = UTEP
| VisPasser = Trae Self
| VisPassStats = 14–21–1–133
| VisRusher = Da'Leon Ward
| VisRushStats = 14–51
| VisReceiver = Quenty Borders
| VisReceivingStats = 2–41
| HomePasser = Gavin Hardison
| HomePassStats = 17–28–1–212
| HomeRusher = Deion Hankins
| HomeRushStats = 17–133
| HomeReceiver = Jacob Cowing
| HomeReceivingStats = 7–116
}}
{{clear}}
=At UTSA=
{{see also|2020 UTSA Roadrunners football team}}
| class="wikitable" | |
| align="center"
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}|Pregame line!!style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}|Over/under | |
| align="center"
| UTSA –17 | 54.5{{cite web |title=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs UTSA Roadrunners |url=https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/stephen-f-austin-utsa-odds-september-19-2020-1289571 |website=Odds Shark |accessdate=6 October 2020 |language=en}} |
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|bg=#fff
|bg2=#eee
|title=Game Two – Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at UTSA Roadrunners
|date=Saturday, September 19, 2020
|time=2:42 p.m. CDT
|road=Lumberjacks
|R1=0|R2=7|R3=3|R4=0
|home=Roadrunners
|H1=3|H2=14|H3=0|H4=7
|stadium=Alamodome • San Antonio, Texas
|attendance=6,611
|weather= Indoors • Temperature: {{convert|72|F|C}}
|referee= Chris Bynum • Umpire: Joe Nanus • Linesman: Tony Sands • Line judge: Nicholas Therio • Back judge: Sean Woodson • Field judge: Lark Jones • Side judge: Dustin Drawhorn
|TV=ESPN2
|TVAnnouncers=Lincoln Rose, LaDarrin McLane
|reference=
|scoring=
;First quarter
- (11:34) UTSA – Hunter Duplessis 28-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 64 yards, 3:26; UTSA 3–0)
;Second quarter
- (13:01) UTSA – Frank Harris 3-yard run, Hunter Duplessis kick (Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, 5:10; UTSA 10–0)
- (0:35) UTSA – Joshua Cephus 4-yard pass from Frank Harris, Hunter Duplessis kick (Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 1:50; UTSA 17–0)
- (0:02) SFA – Xavier Gipson 10-yard pass from Trae Self, Chris Campos kick (Drive: 4 plays, 72 yards, 0:33; UTSA 17–7)
;Third quarter
- (6:06) SFA – Chris Campos 32-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 3:58; UTSA 17–10)
;Fourth quarter
- (7:08) UTSA – Frank Harris 23-yard run, Hunter Duplessis kick (Drive: 7 plays, 90 yards, 2:31; UTSA 24–10)
}}
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Float = left
| Visitor = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| VisitorDisplay = SFA
| Home = UTSA Roadrunners
| HomeDisplay = UTSA
| VisFirsts = 15
| VisPlaysYds = 61–344
| VisRushing = 59
| VisPassYds = 285
| VisPassing = 21–33–0
| VisTOP = 27:34
| HomeFirsts = 25
| HomePlaysYds = 84–498
| HomeRushing = 229
| HomePassYds = 269
| HomePassing = 23–36–1
| HomeTOP = 32:26
}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Float = right
| Visitor = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| VisitorDisplay = Stephen F. Austin
| Home = UTSA Roadrunners
| HomeDisplay = UTSA
| VisPasser = Trae Self
| VisPassStats = 21–33–1–285, 1 TD
| VisRusher = Da'Leon Ward
| VisRushStats = 12–42
| VisReceiver = Xavier Gipson
| VisReceivingStats = 6–94, 1 TD
| HomePasser = Frank Harris
| HomePassStats = 23–36–1–269, 1 TD
| HomeRusher = Frank Harris
| HomeRushStats = 17–110, 2 TD's
| HomeReceiver = Joshua Cephus
| HomeReceivingStats = 8–89, 1 TD
}}
{{clear}}
=At SMU=
{{see also|2020 SMU Mustangs football team}}
| class="wikitable" style="margin-right: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none;" | |
| align="center"
! style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}|Pregame line!!style={{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}|Over/under | |
| align="center"
| SMU −31.5 | 58.5{{cite web |title=Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs SMU Mustangs |url=https://www.oddsshark.com/ncaaf/stephen-f-austin-smu-odds-september-26-2020-1241740 |website=Odds Shark |accessdate=27 September 2020 |language=en}} |
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|bg=#fff
|bg2=#eee
|title=Game Three – Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at SMU Mustangs
|date=Saturday, September 26, 2020
|time=6:05 p.m. CDT
|road=Lumberjacks
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=7|R4=0
|home=Mustangs
|H1=22|H2=7|H3=7|H4=14
|stadium=Ford Stadium • Dallas, Texas
|attendance=7,898
|weather= Sunny • Temperature: {{convert|85|F|C}} • Wind: SE 12 mph
|referee= Nate Black • Umpire: Michael Powell • Linesman: Adam Loudin • Line judge: Lance Thompson • Back judge: Victor Firth • Field judge: Glen Wilson • Side judge: Ryan Robinson
|TV=ESPN+
|TVAnnouncers=David Saltzman, LaDarrin McLane
|reference=
|scoring=
;First quarter
- (12:34) SMU – Ulysses Bentley IV 33-yard run, Chris Naggar kick blocked (Drive: 7 plays, 63 yards, 2:26; SMU 6–0)
- (6:52) SMU – Danny Gray 11-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Chris Naggar kick (Drive: 10 plays, 69 yards, 3:36; SMU 13–0)
- (4:49) SMU – Team Safety, 14 yards (SMU 15–0)
- (2:23) SMU – Kylen Granson 9-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Chris Naggar kick (Drive: 5 plays, 44 yards, 2:12; SMU 22–0)
;Second quarter
- (2:21) SMU – Danny Gray 6-yard run, Chris Naggar kick (Drive: 10 plays, 68 yards, 3:19; SMU 29–0)
;Third quarter
- (9:42) SMU – Ulysses Bentley IV 13-yard run, Chris Naggar kick (Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:14; SMU 36–0)
- (1:22) SFA – Trae Self 6-yard run, Chris Campos kick (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 8:20; SMU 36–7)
;Fourth quarter
- (8:44) SMU – Terrance Gipson 3-yard run, Chris Naggar kick (Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 2:16; SMU 43–7)
- (6:01) SMU – TaMerik Williams 5-yard run, Chris Naggar kick (Drive: 3 plays, 30 yards, 1:30; SMU 50–7)
}}
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Float = left
| Visitor = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| VisitorDisplay = SFA
| Home = SMU Mustangs
| HomeDisplay = SMU
| VisFirsts = 14
| VisPlaysYds = 67–216
| VisRushing = 51
| VisPassYds = 165
| VisPassing = 16–27–1
| VisTOP = 34:25
| HomeFirsts = 24
| HomePlaysYds = 65–432
| HomeRushing = 260
| HomePassYds = 172
| HomePassing = 16–27–0
| HomeTOP = 25:35
}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Float = right
| Visitor = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| VisitorDisplay = Stephen F. Austin
| Home = SMU Mustangs
| HomeDisplay = SMU
| VisPasser = Trae Self
| VisPassStats = 14–23–1–133
| VisRusher = Turner JaQuarion
| VisRushStats = 24–52
| VisReceiver = Jeremiah Miller
| VisReceivingStats = 4-41
| HomePasser = Shane Buechele
| HomePassStats = 14–25–0–141, 2 TD's
| HomeRusher = Ulysses Bentley IV
| HomeRushStats = 6–104, 2 TD's
| HomeReceiver = Kylen Granson
| HomeReceivingStats = 5–38, 1 TD
}}
{{clear}}
=West Texas A&M=
{{see also|2020 West Texas A&M Buffaloes football team}}
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= {{CollegeSecondaryStyle|Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks}}; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|bg=#fff
|bg2=#eee
|title=Game Four – West Texas A&M Buffaloes at Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
|date=Saturday, October 3, 2020
|time=4:00 p.m. CDT
|road=Buffaloes
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=3|R4=3
|home=Lumberjacks
|H1=17|H2=0|H3=7|H4=10
|stadium=Homer Bryce Stadium • Nacogdoches, Texas
|attendance=5,035
|weather= Sunny • Temperature: {{convert|79|F|C}} • Wind: SE 8 mph
|referee= Scott Hardin • Umpire: Jeremy Epps • Linesman: Justin Gragg • Line judge: Matt Stellges • Back judge: TJ Riley • Field judge: Chris Bailey • Side judge: Nolan Dumas
|TV=ESPN3
|TVAnnouncers=Luke Hamilton, John Wilkowski
|reference=
|scoring=
;First quarter
- (13:34) SFA – Da'leon Ward 69-yard run, Chris Campos kick (Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 1:26; SFA 7–0)
- (11:25) SFA – Xavier Gipson 28-yard pass from Trae Self, Chris Campos kick (Drive: 4 plays, 51 yards, 1:14; SFA 14–0)
- (0:30) SFA – Chris Campos 22-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 7:00; SFA 17–0)
;Second quarter
:No scoring
;Third quarter
- (10:14) WT – Mauricio Gonzales 35-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards, 4:40; SFA 17–3)
- (9:03) SFA – Remi Simmons 63-yard pass from Trae Self, Chris Campos kick (Drive: 3 plays, 78 yards, 1:04; SFA 24–3)
;Fourth quarter
- (13:39) SFA – Chris Campos 29-yard field goal (Drive: 17 plays, 67 yards, 8:29; SFA 27–3)
- (9:05) WT – Mauricio Gonzales 44-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 19 yards, 1:22; SFA 27–6)
- (5:25) SFA – Turner JaQuarion 12-yard run, Chris Campos kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:40; SFA 34–6)
}}
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Float = left
| Visitor = West Texas A&M Buffaloes
| VisitorDisplay = WT
| Home = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| HomeDisplay = SFA
| VisFirsts = 17
| VisPlaysYds = 70–294
| VisRushing = 120
| VisPassYds = 174
| VisPassing = 16–36–1
| VisTOP = 30:01
| HomeFirsts = 21
| HomePlaysYds = 64–498
| HomeRushing = 234
| HomePassYds = 264
| HomePassing = 14–26–1
| HomeTOP = 29:59
}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Float = right
| Visitor = West Texas A&M Buffaloes
| VisitorDisplay = WT
| Home = Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks
| HomeDisplay = SFA
| VisPasser = Nick Gerber
| VisPassStats = 16–36–1–174
| VisRusher = Khalil Harris
| VisRushStats = 14–61
| VisReceiver = Devin Neal
| VisReceivingStats = 3-61
| HomePasser = Trae Self
| HomePassStats = 12–24–1–234, 2 TD's
| HomeRusher = Da'leon Ward
| HomeRushStats = 11–114, 1 TD
| HomeReceiver = Xavier Gipson
| HomeReceivingStats = 4–124, 1 TD
}}
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks football navbox}}