Rutherford throws 4 TD passes, SFA beats Nicholls St. 56-0 to extend win streaks

THIBODAUX, La. (AP) — Gavin Rutherford threw four touchdown passes, Preston Alford added two rushing touchdowns and Stephen F. Austin beat Nicholls State 56-0 on Saturday night for the Lumberjacks' seventh straight win.

Stephen F. Austin (7-0, 4-0 Southland Conference), ranked No. 3 in the Stats Perform Top 25, tied the program record consecutive wins to open a season set by the 1995 team. The Lumberjacks have won 17 straight regular-season games and 12 in a row in conference play, both program records.

Bugs Mortimer had 103 yards receiving and three touchdowns on six receptions for the Lumberjacks. JT Kitna pulled the handoff on a zone-read play and raced untouched for a 94-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter that made it 49-0.

Nicholls (2-5, 1-3) had just 227 total yards, converted 4-of-15 third downs and went 0 for 3 on fourth-down conversions. The Colonels offense went three-and-out six times.

SFA finished with 642 total yards, 354 rushing. Kitna had four carries for 102 yards, Speed Jones added 100 yards rushing on nine carries and Alford ran eight times for 51 yards.

Nicholls: Plays next Saturday at Northwestern State.

SFA: Hosts Southeastern Louisiana next Saturday.

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