Stephen F. Austin 2022 Football Season Preview
Stephen F. Austin 2022 Football Season Preview
DENVER – As the countdown concludes prior to the start of the 2022 NCAA football season, the predicted favorite of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) closes out the football preview series, Stephen F. Austin.
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN SELECTED BY THE COACHES AS THE 2021 WAC FOOTBALL FAVORITE
Stephen F. Austin received four first-place votes and 16 total voting points to sit atop the 2022 WAC Preseason Football Coaches Poll. The Lumberjacks posted an 8-4 record overall and a 4-1 mark in conference play last season to finish second in the WAC behind rival Sam Houston.
LUMBERJACKS SUITED UP THE TOP SCORING DEFENSE IN THE CONFERENCE A SEASON AGO
Allowing 311.4 yards per game and 18.8 points per contest over 12 starts in 2021, Stephen F. Austin ranked as the top scoring defense in the WAC. The Lumberjacks also led the conference with 15 interceptions, 24 total defensive takeaways and four combined defensive touchdowns.
COACH CARTHEL CONTINUES THE REBUILD IN NACOGDOCHES
Head coach Colby Carthel has led Stephen F. Austin to record improvements in each of the past two seasons, leveling his record at 17-17 (.500) entering his fourth campaign at the helm of the Lumberjacks. Carthel, who guided Texas A&M-Commerce to an NCAA Division II National Championship in 2017, has compiled 75-35 (.682) career record in nine total seasons as a head coach.
GIPSON READY FOR A STANDOUT SEASON FOR SFA
Wide receiver Xavier Gipson was among 35 FCS players to be included on the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, awarded each year to the national offensive player of the year. Gipson also landed on the first team as part of the annual preseason 2022 Phil Steele FCS All-America Teams.
Gipson, selected as the unanimous WAC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, was a 2021 finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Gipson led the WAC with 75 receptions, 1,377 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns last season, averaging 144.0 all-purpose yards per game. Gipson logged eight 100-yard receiving games a year ago, highlighted by a nine-catch, 218-yard and two-touchdown showing in a Stephen F. Austin win at Utah Tech on Oct. 23.
2022 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Aug. 27 vs. Jacksonville State, 2:30 p.m. CT (FCS Kickoff Classic)
Sept. 3 at Alcorn State, 6 p.m. CT
Sept. 10 at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m. CT
Sept. 24 vs. Warner (Fla.), 6 p.m. CT
Oct. 1 vs. Sam Houston, 2:30 p.m. CT (Battle of the Piney Woods, Conference game)
Oct. 8 vs. Abilene Christian, 6 p.m. CT
Oct. 15 vs. Tarleton, 6 p.m. CT (Conference game)
Oct. 22 at Southern Utah, 2 p.m. CT (Conference game)
Oct. 29 vs. Utah Tech, 2 p.m. CT (Conference game)
Nov. 12 vs. Central Arkansas, 4 p.m. CT
Nov. 19 at Abilene Christian, TBA (Conference game)
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