NACOGDOCHES -- In his first game as Stephen F. Austin s starting quarterback, Brady Attaway helped produce a record performance.
The Whitehouse product completed 27 of 37 passed for 275 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. Most of that occurred in the first half as Attaway watched comfortably from the sideline in an 82-6 win over McMurry on Thursday at Homer Bryce Stadium.
It was the second-most points ever scored by SFA as the Lumberjacks dealt McMurry its biggest loss in school history. The 82 points were also the second-most allowed by an American Southwest Conference School. Texas Lutheran lost 83-6 to Mary Hardin-Baylor in 1998.
Replacing the graduated Jeremy Moses, a Walter Payton Award winner, Attaway piloted the Lumberjacks to 24 points by throwing TD passes of 19, 43 and 18 yards. The Lumberjacks also had a 41-yard interception return for a TD to lead 31-0 after one quarter of play.
"I feel like I did well," Attaway said. "There were a couple of plays, like the two picks, where I made bad reads, but I came back and did what I had to do."
SFA's defense held McMurry to 128 yards of total offense, forcing three fumbles and an interception. Robert E. Lee product Josh Aubrey had a fumble recovery, but the highlight of the night was a hit from linebacker Ryan Epperson. The Brownsboro product timed a quick pass perfectly to hammer the receiver, forcing a fumble.
"We have a plan that we go by and the first thing on it is to outhit," Epperson said. "I was (talking) to my coach (when we were watching film) and he said if they run that play, it's not going to be pretty. It was the right coverage, right play. I do not even know if he went back in the game."
All told, SFA outgained the War Hawks 668-128. The Lumberjacks (1-0) next face Northern Illinois, a team SFA edged 22-20 last year. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at Homer Bryce Stadium.
NOTES: Many East Texans shined in the game. A few of note were Westwood s Gralyn Crawford, who caught two TD passes and finished with eight catches for 77 yards; Gilmer s Gus Johnson, who scored on a 30-yard run; and Robert E. Lee s Marquis Mosley, who in his first collegiate game as a true freshman, caught six passes for 70 yards.