While the Southland Conference football season won't pass the midway mark until after Saturday's games, the upcoming flip of the calendar from October to November signifies that the race is intensifying.
SFA, the only unbeaten team in the league, will need a sharp performance Saturday when it plays Texas State, one of four SLC teams with one loss.
Two other one-loss teams — Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana — will battle in Hammond, La., in what could be a survival game and an elimination game, depending on which side of the ledger the teams fall.
The other league team with one loss — McNeese — is matched up against Nicholls.
The other league game has Northwestern State visiting Sam Houston State.
To the games of the week:
SFA (6-1, 3-0) at Texas State (4-3, 2-1): SFA's much-improved defense finds itself in a tough spot in this match up, because of the Bobcats' versatility.
Texas State has scored 114 points against SFA in the past two games, including a 62-21 decision last season at Homer Bryce Stadium.
"Our heads were spinning," SFA head coach J.C. Harper said of playing Texas State.
While SFA's history with the Bobcats is brutal, Texas State coach Brad Wright said this season's version of the Lumberjacks has his attention.
"This week — it's scary," the coach said. "Their defense is really improved and is the reason why they are doing so well.
"Where we see the biggest difference is on the defensive side, with their front four. Their receivers — those guys are crazy good."
While Texas State lost leading tailback Karrington Bush with a knee injury, the Bobcats still have balance with senior quarterback Bradley George and backup tailbacks Alvin Canady and Frank Reddic.
Considering SFA's recent success with sending its front four on pass rushes and rarely blitzing, the Lumberjacks probably are probably more concerned with covering receivers than stopping Canady and Reddic.
If the Lumberjacks' defense can limit Texas State's big plays on offense, getting to 4-0 is certainly within reach.
A huge Texas State homecoming crowd in the stands will just add more spice to a game that has plenty of attractions on the field.
Central Arkansas (5-2, 2-1) at Southeastern Louisiana (4-3, 2-1): Central Arkansas, one of the more physical teams in the league, will try to stay alive in the league race while going against one of the most athletic league teams.
Southeastern Louisiana has to forget last week's 36-35 loss to McNeese, or risks being an afterthought in the league race by Sunday.
"We had a broken hearted locker room after the game," SLU coach Mike Lucas said.
Two weeks removed from its home loss to SFA, Central Arkansas isn't a team that is fretting on the past. The Bears have allowed just 98 points this season and have an offense that has scored 28 touchdowns, second in the league to SFA.
"We aren't as sexy as we were last year, but we're still scoring 32 points a game," UCA coach Clint Conque said.
McNeese State (5-2, 2-1) at Nicholls (1-6, 0-3): While Nicholls has struggled because of injuries and generally inconsistent play on both sides of the football, the Colonels seem to give the Cowboys trouble.
Nicholls defeated McNeese 38-35 just last season.
Nicholls coach Jay Thomas said his team is starting to get healthy, which could be enough for the Colonels to test the Cowboys for awhile.
But if McNeese's offense (36 ppg) shows up, it's hard to see an upset brewing here.
Northwestern State (0-7, 0-3) at Sam Houston (3-4, 1-2): The under card game of the league pits winless NSU going against a Sam Houston team that should have senior quarterback Blake Joseph back in the lineup, after he missed last week's 42-3 loss to SFA with a sore ankle.
Sam Houston defensive coordinator Scott Stoker, who was fired as head coach of the Demons after last season, is familiar with NSU's players and their talent level.
But first-year Demon coach Bradley Dale Peveto said that's not an issue with him.
"That's not an angle, not an approach," he said. "It's not something I'm using, just so you know."
This looks like NSU's chance to break out and secure a win. The Demons had two 100-yard rushers against Texas State last week in a 20-17 loss. The Demons' defense is starting to show signs of improvement.
"Everything is going really well, except the wins," Peveto said. "We just have to find a way to get a win."
Considering Sam Houston's defensive troubles last week, Peveto's team may get one Saturday.
Kevin Gore's e-mail address
is kgore@dailysentinel.com.
