Raymond Steward
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Stephen F. Austin scored 17 points off three McNeese turnovers which ended up being the difference of the game as the Lumberjacks defeated McNeese 34-17 on Saturday night in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.
The loss was the fourth straight suffered by McNeese who fell to 1-4 on the season. SFA improved to 3-2 while remaining unbeaten at home, now at 3-0.
SFA out-gained McNeese 381-303 in total offensive yards with 257 of those coming in the second half. McNeese finished with 89 yards rushing and 214 passing.
Quarterback Jake Strong completed 21 of 36 passes and had one interception on a ball that was off the hands of his receiver.
SFA quarterback Sam Vidlak completed 15 of 29 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns while running back Jerrell Wimbley rushed for 171 yards on 29 carries and had 110 of those yards and a TD in the fourth quarter alone.
McNeese jumped on the board early after both teams traded punts through the first six possessions.
Tre’Vonte Citizen gave the Cowboys a 7-0 lead with 53 seconds to play in the first quarter on a 20-yard TD run, his third score of the season.
The Lumberjacks tied the game on a 40-yard reception by Baine Green from Vidlak after two McNeese backs ran into each other to leave Green open. The lead grew to 14-7 when Vidlak found Kylon Harris on a 14-yard score after the Cowboys fumbled the ball on the SFA 5 in an attempt to take a touchdown lead. The Lumberjacks went 95 yards for the drive.
SFA got a 76-yard touchdown catch and run by Harris early in the third quarter after McNeese’s cornerback slipped down to leave the receiver open for the score.
McNeese added a 37-yard field goal by Fabrizio Pinton to cut the lead to 21-10 then was driving the ball into SFA territory when Strong’s pass was intercepted on a pass that was off the hands of his receiver. That led to two straight Lumberjack field goals to build the lead to 27-10.
The Cowboys got another score with 2:27 to play when Strong found Logan Mauldin on a 26-yard touchdown pass to make it a 27-17 game. SFA recovered the ensuing on-side kick and capped the scoring on a 43-yard touchdown run by Wimbley.
**MCNEESE PRESS RELEASE**
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