Stephen F. Austin Overwhelms North American University in Historic Blowout
Nacogdoches, Texas – Stephen F. Austin University kicked off its season with a decisive 77-0 victory over North American University on Thursday night. The game, heavily one-sided from the start, was shortened to 5-minute quarters in the second half after the Lumberjacks built an overwhelming 70-0 lead by halftime.
The Lumberjacks, competing at the FCS level, dominated every aspect of the game, scoring touchdowns on 11 consecutive drives and outgaining their NAIA opponent by a staggering margin of 675-40 in total yardage. SFA quarterback Sam Vidlak set the tone early, completing all eight of his pass attempts for 288 yards and five touchdowns, helping his team to a 42-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. With the game well in hand, the Lumberjacks shifted focus to their ground game, racking up 292 rushing yards on 8.1 yards per carry.
North American University, a private institution in Stafford, Texas, struggled to find any offensive rhythm, managing just 45 passing yards and finishing with -5 rushing yards. Despite the lopsided score, the Stallions avoided multiple turnovers, committing only one in the game. The second half, shortened by mutual agreement, saw minimal action, with both teams combining for just 18 offensive plays.
NAU, which began its football program in 2020 and joined the NAIA in 2022, is still in the early stages of its development. The Stallions faced a challenging 1-10 season last year, which included a 91-0 loss to FCS opponent Portland State.
This dominant win by Stephen F. Austin is reminiscent of their 98-0 victory over NAIA Warner University in 2022, reinforcing their strength at the FCS level and highlighting the disparity in competition as NAU continues to build its program.
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