Offensive Minded SFA Dangerous Foe
10/31/2013 5:00:00 PM | Football
Rankings don't mean much where the “Battle of the Piney Woods” is concerned.
That's why Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz and the Bearkats cannot take Stephen F. Austin lightly this Saturday in the 88th meeting of the two rivals.
Kickoff at Reliant Stadium is 3 p.m. SFA enters the tilt with a 3-4 record standing 1-2 in Southland action. The Bearkats are 6-2 for the year and are ranked No. 8 in the FCS.
The game marks the 17th time in the two school's FCS histories that at least one of the teams has entered the Piney Woods battle nationally ranked.
The lesser ranked or unranked squad has pulled off the upset in six of those games. SFA knocked off Sam Houston squads that were ranked No. 5 in 1991 and No. 18 in 1994. The Bearkats upset Jack squads that stood No. 4 in 1996, No. 7 in 1997, No. 24 in 2000 and No. 23 in 2002.
“SFA is very dangerous,” Fritz said. “They're going to throw the ball 60 or more teams. They keep everything at a fast pace. We're going to have to do a great job of tackling and not giving up big plays.”
Stephen F. Austin ranks second the nation in total offense and passing offense.
Lumberjack quarterback.
Brady Attaway continues to move up in the conference record book. He now has 1,520 passing attempts and ranks second on the SLC career list behind 2010 Walter Payton Award winner and former Lumberjack Jeremy Moses. Moses finished his career with 1,893 passes.
Attaway also earlier this season moved into second on the league's all-time completion list, passing former Central Arkansas quarterback Nathan Brown (856) against Nicholls State, completing 35-of-50 passes and then adding 41 to give him 908 for his career. The Whitehouse, Texas, native, also ranks third on the SLC's list of career passing yards (10,016) and passing touchdowns (78).
“We know SFA is going to get some first downs,” Fritz said. “We just can't give up the big play. Offensively we can help our defense by putting together some long drives and eat up the clock. If we can get some eight, nine or ten-play drives and score and then get a couple of three-and-outs on defense, they will make a huge difference for us.”
The winner of the “Battle of the Piney Woods” the last four years as gone on to win the Southland Conference title and advance to the FCS playoffs. Last year's Sam Houston victory came in a 51-43 shootout.
Stephen F. Austin has shown they can play well against top-ranked teams. Earlier this year, the Jacks defeated No. 2 ranked Montana State, their first victory over a top three ranked team since 1996.
Tickets for the “Battle of the Piney Woods” at Reliant Stadium are still available online at www.gobearkats.com . For more information call the SHSU athletic ticket office at (936) 294-1729.
