THE GAME
Tarleton will open the season as a top 10 team for the first time in school history as the No. 7 Texans hit the road for a showdown against Division I FCS Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches on Saturday, September 7 at 6 p.m. It will be the first home game of the season for the Lumberjacks.
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GAME COVERAGE
A complete broadcast of the game can be heard on the Tarleton Sports Network presented by
the North Texas Ford Dealers. The Tarleton Sports Network team of
Byron Anderson, Kyle Masters,
Jarrett Bopp, and Keltin Wiens have the call on the flagship station of Tarleton Athletics – KTRL 90.5 FM in Stephenville – and worldwide at TarletonSports.com/ListenLive. A link to live stats can be found on the football schedule of TarletonSports.com. A video broadcast of the game can be seen on ESPN3, which is an online streaming service at WatchESPN.com.
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TICKET INFORMATION
The Stephen F Austin Ticket Office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and can be reached by telephone at 936-468-5225. Cash, check, and cards are all accepted. The football box office will open an hour and a half before kickoff. Ticket prices range from $25 for chairback seating down to $8 youth admission.
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ABOUT THE TEXANS
Tarleton is coming off the greatest season in program history as the Texans won more games than any team in Tarleton history (12) and advanced to the third round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs for the first time. This season, the Texans return a loaded and talented roster with 14 all-conference players and four all-Americans that ranked fifth nationally in offense and ninth in defense. All-LSC quarterback
Ben Holmes returns for his senior year after combining for 3,100 yards and 30 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Also returning is senior running back
Daniel McCants, who ran for 1,141 yards and eight touchdowns. Wide receiver
Zimari Manning is coming off a junior season where he led the team with 947 yards on 44 catches and an LSC-leading 12 touchdowns.
J.F. Thomas enters his junior year after a sophomore campaign that featured 539 yards on 23 catches and six TDs. The Texans also have all-conference and four-year starters
Noah Perez and
Brant Bailey returning for their senior years. Defensively, the Texans return the majority of its playmakers, including its secondary trio that combined for 13 interceptions. The defending LSC Defensive Back of the Year and All-American,
Devin Hafford, will enter his senior year after recording four interceptions and 14 pass breakups. All-American safety
Jai Edwards had four interceptions and 88 tackles while All-American cornerback
Prince Robinson led the team with five interceptions and four different touchdowns (interception return, kickoff return, punt return, fumble return).
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ABOUT THE 'JACKS
Stephen F. Austin opened the season with a 56-17 loss at the hands of Baylor in Waco last weekend. SFA had 277 yards of total offense while the defense surrendered 518 yards to Baylor. Quarterback Trae Self threw for 140 yards on 15-of-19 passing and an interception. Thomas Hutchings led the 'Jacks in rushing with 68 yards while Josh McGowen and Self each had a rushing touchdown. Xavier Gipson was Self's top receiving target, hauling in three catches for 61 yards. Quin Jones led the Lumberjacks defensively with 10 tackles and a forced fumble. The 'Jacks are coming off a 2-8 season in 2018 and are under the direction of first-year head coach Colby Carthel. Carthel spent the last six years as the head coach at Texas A&M-Commerce.
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SERIES HISTORY
Tarleton and Stephen F Austin have met 11 times in their history, including twice as NCAA rivals. The Texans won the last meeting, which came in 2007 in Nacogdoches. The Texans pulled out a 27-24 overtime win on a Stephen Arnold 37-yard field goal to upset the 'Jacks at Homer Bryce Stadium. The 'Jacks lead the all-time series 8-3, which dates back to 1963.
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UP NEXT FOR TARLETON
Tarleton will return home to debut in its new state-of-the-art football stadium, the
Lonn Reisman Athletic Center at Memorial Stadium, against Doane University on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. For more information, follow @TarletonSports on Twitter.
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