Someone once said it?s lonely at the top.
That said, the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks have to like the company they?re keeping these days.
After Saturday?s 42-3 blasting of rival Sam Houston at Homer Bryce Stadium, SFA finds itself all alone atop the Southland Conference standings.
Always playing a late home game, McNeese rallied for the game?s last 12 points to defeat Southeastern Louisiana 36-35 in Lake Charles, La.
That leaves SFA as the only unbeaten team in the Southland at 3-0.
Southeastern Louisiana, McNeese State, Central Arkansas and Texas State are 2-1. Sam Houston is 1-2. Nicholls State and Northwestern State are 0-3.
SFA players haven?t been bashful in stating their goals — winning a Southland Conference championship — since the team arrived for fall camp in mid-summer.
While I had the Lumberjacks slotted fourth in the early polls and third a few days before the league race began, two 3-point wins and Saturday?s 39-point laugher against Sam Houston put SFA in the driver?s seat.
SFA?s decision against Sam Houston as a 21-point favorite ended a perfect afternoon homecoming celebration that saw the stadium splashed with purple and featured the return of several SFA old-timers.
The game was really never in doubt. Playing without its starting quarterback, Sam Houston?s offense was pedestrian while going against a stout SFA defense. SFA?s offense compiled 566 yards, led by quarterback Jeremy Moses? 372 yards passing and five touchdown passes.
While SFA savored the win against Sam Houston after the game, there?s really no time to get caught up in beating Sam Houston.
There?s plenty of challenges head.
SFA?s final four-game stretch includes three games on the road and two games against league contenders — Texas State and Southeastern Louisiana.
SFA?s 2 p.m. road game against Texas State Saturday looms large.
The Bobcats have won back-to-back road games in Louisiana the last two weeks with decisions over Nicholls State and Northwestern State, respectively.
While the Bobcats didn?t exactly light up a winless Northwestern State team in a 20-17 game Saturday, they will welcome SFA and its polished 3-0 league record with open arms for homecoming.
That game will be followed by SFA?s final home contest against Nicholls State and then road games with Southeastern Louisiana (Nov. 14) and Northwestern State (Nov. 21).
The best medicine for a first-place team is to continue to do what got it there. Win some more.
Here?s a quick recap of Saturday?s other league games.
Southeastern Louisiana 36, McNeese 35: SLU reeled off 28 straight points in the game, only to lose when McNeese rose up and scored the game?s final 12 points.
SLU committed four turnovers and missed a field goal in the fourth quarter that proved to be crucial.
Texas State 20, Northwestern State 17: Texas State defeated NSU, despite giving up 285 yards rushing, including 121 yards to William Griffin and 118 yards to Paul Harris.
Quarterback Bradley George threw for 291 yards and running back Alvin Canady rushed for 92 for Texas State.
Central Arkansas 42, Nicholls State 13: Coming off a rare home loss, Central Arkansas put up 545 yards and overcame 11 penalties in a convincing decision over Nicholls State.
Kevin Gore?s e-mail address
is kgore@dailysentinel.com.
Southland Conference
Football Standings
Team SLC All
SFA 3-0 6-1
C. Ark. 2-1 5-2
McNeese 2-1 5-2
SLU 2-1 4-3
Texas St. 2-1 4-3
Sam Houston 1-2 3-4
Nicholls 0-3 1-6
NSU 0-3 0-7
Saturday?s results
SFA 42, Sam Houston 3
McNeese 36, SLU 35
Texas Staet 20, NSU 17
Central Arkansas 42, Nicholls 13
Saturday?s schedule
SFA at Texas State, 2 p.m.
Central Arkansas at SLU, 3 p.m.
McNeese at Nicholls, 2 p.m.
NSU at Sam Houston, 7 p.m.
