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.

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.

Offense

2nd Team Kylon Harris – Wide receiver, JR

Defense

2nd Team Jeremiah Walker – Defensive back, SR

Schedule

Game summaries

North American (NAIA)

Statistics NOAMSFA First downs 3 32 Plays–yards 41–40 51–675 Rushes–yards 19–(-5) 36–385 Passing yards 45 383 Passing: –– 11–22–1 14–15–0 Time of possession 29:41 30:19 Team Category Player StatisticsNorth American Passing Jesper Korkalanien 7/11, 36 yards Rushing Jesper Korkalanien 1 rush, 6 yards Receiving Jordan Green 3 receptions, 15 yardsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 8/8, 288 yards, 5 TD Rushing Qualan Jones 9 rushes, 121 yards, TD 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)

Statistics SFAUNT First downs 14 25 Plays–yards 70–248 77–504 Rushes–yards 31–67 33–182 Passing yards 181 322 Passing: –– 20–39–1 26–44–3 Time of possession 26:08 33:52 Team Category Player StatisticsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 20/39, 181 yards, TD, INT Rushing Jaylen Jenkins 12 rushes, 44 yards Receiving Kylon Harris 9 receptions, 74 yardsNorth Texas Passing Chandler Morris 26/44, 322 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT Rushing Damashja Harris 10 rushes, 142 yards, TD Receiving D. T. Sheffield 6 receptions, 74 yards, 3 TD

at McNeese

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 StatisticsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 18/28, 241 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Qualan Jones 27 carries, 155 yards Receiving Isaiah Davis 3 receptions, 87 yards, TDMcNeese Passing Clifton McDowell 18/29, 313 yards, 2 TD Rushing Coleby Hamm 8 carries, 45 yards Receiving Jer'Michael Carter 5 receptions, 67 yards

Northern Colorado

Statistics UNCOSFA First downs 12 26 Plays–yards 66–242 68–509 Rushes–yards 45–224 40–250 Passing yards 18 259 Passing: –– 13–21–0 18–28–0 Time of possession 33:34 26:26 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Colorado Passing Kia'i Keone 10/14, 20 yards Rushing Kia'i Keone 17 carries, 76 yards Receiving Brayden Munroe 3 receptions, 16 yardsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 16/26, 219 yards, 3 TD Rushing Jaylen Jenkins 6 carries, 80 yards, 2 TD Receiving Blaine Green 5 receptions, 93 yards

Northwestern State (Chief Caddo)

Statistics NWSTSFA First downs 13 24 Plays–yards 61–379 70–623 Rushes–yards 29–49 34–256 Passing yards 330 367 Passing: –– 19–32–3 27–36–0 Time of possession 30:23 29:37 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthwestern State Passing J. T. Fayard 18/29, 322 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Zay Davis 9 carries, 55 yards Receiving Kenard King 3 receptions, 83 yardsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 23/29, 307 yards, 4 TD Rushing Jaylen Jenkins 10 carries, 113 yards Receiving Blaine Green 4 receptions, 100 yards, TD

at No. 22 Lamar

Statistics SFALAM First downs 24 25 Plays–yards 64–443 78–456 Rushes–yards 27–114 36–162 Passing yards 329 294 Passing: –– 26–37–0 23–42–1 Time of possession 27:08 32:52 Team Category Player StatisticsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 26/37, 329 yards, TD Rushing Qualan Jones 21 carries, 119 yards, 2 TD Receiving Kylon Harris 10 receptions, 106 yards, TDLamar Passing Robert Coleman 22/41, 279 yards, TD, INT Rushing Khalan Griffin 11 carries, 59 yards, TD Receiving Sevonne Rhea 6 receptions, 166 yards, TD

at Southeastern Louisiana

Statistics SFASELA First downs 21 22 Plays–yards 66–337 68–348 Rushes–yards 28–93 33–114 Passing yards 244 234 Passing: –– 29–38–0 24–35–0 Time of possession 26:41 33:19 Team Category Player StatisticsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 29/38, 244 yards, 1 TD Rushing Jerrell Wimbley 11 carries, 83 yards Receiving Kylon Harris 13 receptions, 116 yardsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing Eli Sawyer 24/35, 234 yards, 1 TD Rushing Antonio Martin, Jr. 21 carries, 87yards, 1 TD Receiving Darius Lewis 11 receptions, 96 yards, 1 TD

Houston Christian

Statistics HCUSFA First downs 15 29 Plays–yards 68–208 67–561 Rushes–yards 38–82 38–231 Passing yards 126 330 Passing: –– 13–30–1 21–29–1 Time of possession 26:55 29:35 Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Christian Passing Eli Brickhandler 4/12, 69 yards, INT Rushing Eli Brickhandler 9 carries, 31 yards Receiving Deuce McMillan 2 receptions, 47 yardsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 20/27, 316 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Jaylen Jenkins 21 carries, 110 yards Receiving Jordan Nabors 3 receptions, 108 yards, TD

at Nicholls

Statistics SFANICH First downs 11 23 Plays–yards 49–301 98–413 Rushes–yards 23–39 48–165 Passing yards 262 248 Passing: –– 14–26–1 27–50–3 Time of possession 17:57 42:03 Team Category Player StatisticsStephen F. Austin Passing Sam Vidlak 14/25, 262 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Jerrell Wimbley 8 carries, 47 yards Receiving Kylon Harris 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TDNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 27/50, 248 yards, TD, 3 INT Rushing Collin Guggenheim 17 carries, 80 yards Receiving Miequle Brock 9 receptions, 89 yards

at East Texas A&M

NB: With East Texas A&M University having adopted its current name on November 7, 2024, this was East Texas A&M's first game under its new name.

Statistics SFAETAM First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: –– Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsStephen F. Austin Passing Rushing Receiving East Texas A&M Passing Rushing Receiving

No. 6 Incarnate Word

No. 11 Abilene Christian

Statistics ACUSFA First downs 17 18 Plays–yards 70–293 71–384 Rushes–yards 23–35 41–124 Passing yards 258 260 Passing: –– 22–47–2 17–30–0 Time of possession 26:33 33:27 Team Category Player StatisticsAbeline Christian Passing Carson Haggard 12/30, 187 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Isaiah Johnson 5 carries, 30 yards Receiving Nehemiah Martinez I 6 receptions, 127 yards, TDStephen F. Austin Passing Gavin Rutherford 17/30, 260 yards, 2 TD Rushing Qualan Jones 17 carries, 62 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jordan Nabors 3 receptions, 104 yards

References