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Memphis football preps for SFA after week off

The Memphis Tigers (4-2, 3-2) return to competition against a non-conference FCS opponent after a week off due to their previous game against Navy being canceled. 

The Tigers get to host the FCS Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks (6-3, 1-0) for their fifth home game of the season. Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said he and the team knows this game is just as important as any. 

"I think those guys understand they need to be focused," Silverfield said. 

Memphis was previously expected to have a matchup against the Navy Midshipmen, but that game was called off after the Naval Academy showed positive COVID-19 cases. A week later, the Tigers are scheduled to host the Lumberjacks for their senior day.

Stephen F. Austin has been led by junior quarterback Trae Self. Self has passed for 1,877 yards and scored 14 total touchdowns. Stephen F. Austin also holds a talented running back with Jaquarion Turner and a talented wide receiver Xavier Gipson.

Turner has earned 515 rushing yards and has averaged 4.4 yards per carry. Gipson has caught eight touchdowns and earned 773 receiving yards.

Silverfield said he and his staff have recognized Stephen F. Austin's talent.

"They have playmakers," Silverfield said. "There are guys on their team that we tried to recruit. That is pretty eye-opening."

The Tigers have played fewer games than the Lumberjacks, but their offense has achieved high success. Memphis quarterback Brady White has already passed for two thousand yards through six games. White has also scored 22 touchdowns giving him serious attention.

Calvin Austin III has emerged as the leading target for White in the absence of Damonte Coxie. Austin III has 647 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Rodrigues Clark has led the team with rushing yards, getting 476. Clark has also averaged 4.4 yards per carry, just like Turner. 

A few months ago, this matchup was not expected to happen. Memphis has adjusted their schedule several times over the given weeks. The scheduled trip to UTSA and game against Houston didn't happen due to positive COVID-19 cases.

The Cougars were rescheduled to play in December, but the UTSA game was not rescheduled at all. The Tigers then found a way to put another game on the schedule, against an FCS opponent.

The previous and only game between these two programs occurred in 1959 according to Gotigersgo. Memphis hosted and won that game 25-6.

The Lumberjacks had a harsh start to their season with three road losses, all being to FBS teams from Texas. Their first game was 10-point loss to the UTEP Miners. Two weeks later, Stephen F. Austin went to San Antonio and lost 24-10 to the UTSA Roadrunners. Then the Lumberjacks made a trip to Dallas and were soundly beaten 50-7 by the SMU Mustangs. 

Since their 0-3 start, Stephen F. Austin has been perfect in their last six games, winning against: West Texas A&M, Angelo State, Abilene Christian, Western Colorado, Eastern Kentucky and Pittsburg State. The Lumberjacks held four of those teams to seven points or less. 

The Lumberjacks have won their only conference game so far, making them undefeated in the Southland conference. 

The Tigers are still one of the few teams in the American that are undefeated at home. Memphis has gone 4-0 in home games this season. The only other teams in the AAC that have been undefeated at home are Cincinnati and Tulsa. 


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