SFA notes 8/18

[ALEX LIFESON]

SFA's Record-Setting Quarterback Gets Set for Another Season
Lumberjack offense looking to improve upon a record-setting 2008 campaign


Aug. 18, 2009


NACOGDOCHES, Texas - No one could have guessed how successful the 'Jacks' new-look offense was going to be heading into the 2008 season. In fact, most people probably assumed the offense would be as ineffective as it was the year before. Everyone, except for maybe head coach J.C. Harper and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, probably assumed the worst. But Harper turned the ball over to Dawson, who in turn handed the ball over to sophomore quarterback Jeremy Moses who ran a similar offense in high school. The rest is record-setting SFA history.

Following a season that saw SFA average only 19 points per game, rank at or near the bottom of every statistical category and knowing the team only had spring and preseason camp to insert the new look, optimism was low for the '08 campaign. But it didn't take fans long to see that the sophomore gunslinger was ready to lead the offense.

Moses threw six touchdown passes in the season opener, and the records began to fall on almost a weekly basis. Moses set Southland Conference single-season records for touchdown passes (41), completions (352) and pass attempts (598). He also set a new school record for completions last season.

Moses took his record-breaking campaign to a whole new level against Sam Houston State. The sophomore completed 57-of-85 passes, setting a new NCAA single-game mark in both categories.

By season's end, Moses was setting the standard for quarterbacks. Moses led the NCAA Division I FCS level with 41 touchdown passes (second overall among NCAA Division I FCS and FBS schools), led NCAA FCS with 4,026 yards passing, led the nation averaging 21.67 points responsible for, was second nationally averaging 29.33 completions per game, was third nationally averaging 335.5 passing yards per game and third nationally in total offense (329.3 ypg).

"Obviously the system works because we were putting up yards and points, but it didn't translate into wins they way we wanted it to." said Dawson. "Hopefully the records will cause more people to pause and take notice of the program. Also, the second year in a system guys become more comfortable with their roles, and we as coaches know more of what to expect from our guys. Now we need to convert that into more wins."

Moses enters his junior campaign on pace to rewrite the school's record books this season. Moses returns to Nacogdoches currently second all-time with 462 completions, fourth with 47 touchdown passes, sixth with 5,331 passing yards and seventh all-time with 5,104 yards of total offense. He has also recorded 10 300-yard games, three 400-yard games and one 500-yard contest in only 17 games.

The record-setting accolades didn't belong to Moses alone, receivers Dominique Edison and Duane Brooks also joined the fun. Brooks set a single-season school record with 68 receptions despite missing two games due to injury, while Edison became one the nations' top wideouts. Edison finished second in the country and set an SLC single-season record with 18 touchdown receptions. He also finished second all-time in conference history with 28 career TD receptions and 182 career receptions.

Edison set a new career and school record with 182 receptions, and set a new single-season record with his 18 touchdown receptions. He also finished second all-time in school history with 28 career touchdown receptions and 2,696 receiving yards. The 2008 All-American closed out his career by becoming only the fourth Lumberjack to record 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.

It would be unfair to place the same type of standards on the 2009 version of the Lumberjack offense, especially with the loss of Edison to the NFL's Tennessee Titans. But with nine returning starters, and another year of experience under Dawson, the Lumberjack offense should once again be at the top of the conference stat sheet.

"If you look at the stats from last season we passed for a lot of yards and touchdowns, but we also threw for a ton of interceptions," said Dawson. "The interceptions are a reflection of being in the first year of the system. The positive thing is Moses threw 41 touchdowns, which is a testament to his ability. The interceptions have to be cut in half, and that will happen just being in the system for another year, and through repetition. Also, we have to improve in the run game as well. As coaches we have placed an emphasis on improving the run game and it will come around."

-SFA-

[SMU21TCU10]

48-35 we win

[westexSMU]

SMU 57 SFA 24

[KnuckleStang]

SMU 276
SFA 1

[SmooBoy]

So what are the chances we see Dallas resident and (kinda) SFA alum Don Henley @ Ford? I say 0.013%

Everyone Take it Easy.
Ponies 38
Flapjacks 17

[MustangLaxer]

63-28

[StallionsModelT]

SMU 52
SFA 17

[PerunaPunch]

SMU 276
SFA 1

Did we recruit Ditka? Does he have any eligibility left?

[PerunaPunch]

SMU gets hot early and goes up by 17. SFA comes back after a BLM INT. The Jack's high-powered O keeps the Mustangs' O off the field and keeps it close.
Final Score
SMU: 37
SFA: 27