ABILENE – Abilene Christian football plays its first football game in three weeks Saturday when it faces longtime in-state and Southland Conference rival Stephen F. Austin at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The game will kickoff at 12:30 p.m. and be livestreamed on ESPN3.
The two schools have the distinction of playing the very first NCAA football game at the Texas Rangers' former home ballpark. The venue earlier this year was home to the XFL's Dallas Renegades, and this fall has played host to more than 20 Arlington ISD high school football games.
The weather also is expected to be ideal for late October with the forecast calling for partly cloudy skies and a high of 61 degrees.
The Wildcats last played Oct. 3 at Army, and since coming home have coped with a horiffic car accident that's landed beloved team captain Sema'J Davis in a Fort Worth Hospital in addition to a cancelled Homecoming football game vs. West Texas A&M.
The program has received an outpouring of support from the football community folllowing Davis' accident, and his teammates have dedicated the remainder of this season in his honor using the hashtag #PlayFor4.
“(The accident) … it's something that has been bringing our team together,” said senior team captain and cornerback Koy Richardson. “Our common goal is to pray for him every day. Everybody wants him back. He was such a great teammate to all of us: defense, offense, special teams and coaches - everybody cares for him. We're all on the same page for wanting to dedicate our season to him.”
“It's been hard hearing what he's been going through, but we've been raising up each other's spirits through constant prayer,” added senior offensive lineman and fellow team captain Nico Russolillo. "My heart goes out to him and his family. I'm praying for them every day. They are a strong family, and Sema'J is a strong person. I have no doubt in my mind he's going to recover."
In the most recent update on the family's GoFundMe.com page from Oct. 21, family friend Kaylee Nunez posted, “Not one day without positive progressions. Praise the Lord! Minute by minute, moment by moment, Jesus is showing himself strong in Sema'j. It's a Good Day for a Miracle. Only Believe!”
ACU leads its all-time series with SFA, 11-9, following last October’s double-overtime thriller won by the Wildcats, 31-24.
Kobe Clark caught the game-winning touchdown to finish with seven catches for 60 yards, and the defense forced three turnovers - fumble recoveries by Richardson and Jeremiah Chambers and an interception from Ryan Stapp. Richardson's forced fumble and recovery led to a game-tying score early in the second quarter, and Chambers' recovery (Richardson forced fumble) killed an SFA drive before halftime.
SFA and ACU played for 13 consecutive seasons from 1973 to 1985, and once again in 1999, before resuming their annual series when ACU joined the Southland Conference in 2014. Each side has three wins against the other in Southland competition.
The Lumberjacks come into Saturday's game on a two-game winning streak following decisive victories over DII schools West Texas A&M (34-6) and Angelo State (31-12). ACU is scheduled to meet the Rams at home on Nov. 7.
SFA started the year with losses to UTEP, UTSA and SMU.
