This Week In WAC Football - Oct. 10
This Week In WAC Football - Oct. 10
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN LEADS ASUN-WAC POWER RANKING
Stephen F. Austin checked in at the top of the ASUN-WAC Power Ranking that was released on Oct. 10, posting a 0.8988 ranking to best ASUN leader Austin Peay (0.7000). The ASUN-WAC Power Ranking is calculated by bracketologist Warren Nolan utilizing a measure similar to the NCAA RPI to determine the recipient of the automatic bid from the WAC and ASUN for the FCS Playoffs. Countable Games include any scheduled contests against FCS teams eligible for the FCS Championship, any team that is reclassifying to FCS and is in the reclassification process, or any FBS or FBS reclassifying teams. Tarleton, Utah Tech, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State are ineligible for the 2022 FCS Playoffs due to reclassification.
TARLETON JUMPS INTO CONFERENCE LEAD WITH THRILLER AT SOUTHERN UTAH
Tarleton won its third game in a row overall and first contest of the WAC schedule on Oct. 8, emerging from Southern Utah with a 42-40 win. The Texans built a 35-13 lead late in the fourth quarter before the host Thunderbirds stormed back to close the deficit to just two with under 30 seconds to play.
Beau Allen completed 15 passes for an impressive 406 yards and three touchdowns, adding 55 yards rushing on 11 carries to pace Tarleton on the ground. Darius Cooper (131 yards, two touchdowns) and Antwoine Ware (101 yards) each went over the century mark for the Texas on three receptions. Qua’Shawn Washington added 10 tackles and three stops for a loss on the Tarleton defense.
Justin Miller completed 32-of-46 passes for 383 yards and two touchdowns, scampering in for a third score as a rusher for Southern Utah. Isaiah Wooden (five for 107 yards) and Steve Jenkins (six for 103 yards and a touchdown) added huge showings in the receiving game for the Thunderbirds.
SFA DEFENDS HOME FIELD IN A SHOOTOUT WITH ACU
In a game that counted as a nonconference matchup due to the second game of the year counting toward the WAC standings, Stephen F. Austin and Abilene Christian left it all on the field on Oct. 8 in Nacogdoches. The Lumberjacks turned back the Wildcats after the visitors twice tied the game in the second half to record the 41-38 win.
Trae Self completed 21-of-33 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown for SFA, running for 31 yards and an additional score in the triumph. Jerrel Wimbley averaged 8.3 yards per carry on 12 attempts, gaining 99 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns for the Lumberjacks. Xavier Gipson hauled in nine catches for 144 yards to lead all players in the game.
Jermiah Dobbins ran for 166 yards and three touchdowns to bring home conference offensive player of the week accolades for ACU for the second straight week.
LARGE LEADS ALMOST OVERCOME LATE
SFA opened a 24-7 lead on ACU with 5:56 remaining in the second quarter, but the Wildcats chipped away at the Lumberjack lead until a 3-yard Jermiah Dobbins touchdown run with 6:28 to play tied the game at 38-all. SFA never lost the lead and took home the win on a 51-yard field goal from Chris Campos as the clock hit 0:00.
Likewise at Southern Utah, Tarleton opened a 35-13 advantage with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter before the host Thunderbirds scored 27 points in the final period and nearly completed the improbable comeback.
OFFENSIVE BARRAGE HIGHLIGHTS WEEK SIX
Three of the four WAC teams in action on Oct. 8 gained more than 500 yards of total offense, with Tarleton (531), ACU (527) and Southern Utah (508) each passing the milestone. Stephen F. Austin put up 397 yards of offense against ACU but did average an impressive 6.2 yards per play from scrimmage.
TEAMS FROM THE WAC RATED HIGHLY IN THE NATIONAL STATISTICS RANKINGS
As of the latest NCAA FCS football national statistics report that was released on Oct. 8, Southern Utah was the top team in the country with 16 total turnovers gained and a 43.49 net punting yards average and ranked second with a 1.67 turnover margin and third in team interceptions with nine. SFA has averaged 29.88 yards per punt return to rank second in the nation and four blocked kicks checked the Lumberjacks in third overall.
Southern Utah’s Jake Gerardi remained the national punting leader with an average of 49.2 yards per boot, and teammate Zach Strand ranked third in the FCS with two fumble recoveries. SFA’s Edward Bobino was fourth in the country with two blocked kicks thus far this season. Southern Utah’s Rodrick Ward’s 1.8 passes defended per game checked in as the third-ranked total in the country.