Mauldin catch vs. SFA
Raymond Stewart
17
McNeese MCN 1-4 , 0-1
34
Winner SFA SFA 3-2 , 1-0
McNeese MCN
1-4 , 0-1
17
Final
34
SFA SFA
3-2 , 1-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MCN McNeese 7 0 3 7 17
SFA SFA 0 14 10 10 34

Game Recap: Football | | by Matthew Bonnette, Senior Associate AD/Athletic Communications

SFA beats McNeese 34-17 in SLC opener

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.
 
Next Up:
• McNeese returns home next Saturday when it hosts Southeastern at 6 p.m. in Navarre Stadium.
 
Missed Opportunities:
• On SFA's first play from scrimmage, McNeese safety Javon Davis nearly picked off a SFA pass that would have easily been returned for a 35-yard touchdown.
• At the start of the third quarter and trailing 14-7, McNeese forced when Masey Lewis sacked SFA quarterback Sam Vidlak to force a fumble that was recovered by the Cowboys' Jermaine Hargraves. McNeese moved the ball to the SFA 5 but fumbled it away. The Lumberjacks scored four plays later to go up 21-7.
• Beginning of the fourth quarter, McNeese moved the ball to the SFA side of the 50 when Jake Strong's pass to Jessie Campbell was tipped and intercepted.
 
Notebook:
• A total of 10 Cowboys made at least one catch.
• TE Logan Mauldin led McNeese receivers with a career-high 6 grabs.
• With a 20-yard run in the first quarter, Tre'Vonte Citizen now has five runs of 20 yards or more on the season with three going to TDs.
• SFA beat McNeese at home for the first time since 2011 (four straight wins for the Cowboys).
• Three of SFA's touchdowns went for 40 yards or more (40, 76, 46).
• The Lumberjacks scored 17 points off three McNeese turnovers.
 
How It Happened:
1st 00:53 McN – Tre'Vonte Citizen 20 yd run (Pinton kick). 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:26. McN, 7-0.
2nd 09:21 SFA – Blaine Green 7 yd reception by Sam Vidlak (Alvarado kick). 6 plays, 60 yards, 2:20. 7-7.
2nd 02:49 SFA – Kylon Harris 14 yd reception by Vidlak (Alvarado kick). 6 plays, 27 yards, 1:40. SFA, 14-7.
3rd 11:18 SFA – Harris 76 yd reception by Vidlak (Alvarado kick). 4 plays, 95 yards, 1:48. SFA, 21-7.
3rd 04:36 McN – Fabrizio Pinton 37 yd field goal. 14 plays, 60 yards, 6:35. SFA, 21-10.
3rd 00:49 SFA – Alvarado 40 yd field goal. 10 plays, 26 yards, 3:47. SFA, 24-10.
4th 06:43 SFA – Alvarado 24 yd field goal. 12 plays, 61, yards, 6:53. SFA, 27-10.
4th 02:27 McN – Logan Mauldin 26 yd reception by Strong (Pinton kick). 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:16. SFA, 27-17.
4th 01:51 SFA – Jerrell Wimbley 46 yard rush (Alvarado kick). 2 plays, 63 yards, 0:36. SFA, 34-17.
 
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