RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The home finale has arrived for The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros football team, and it brings another opportunity to show the growth and potential of a second-year program. 
 
The Vaqueros (5-5, 3-4 Southland Conference) are back in the national eye as they are receiving votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll following a 52-7 win at Northwestern State. They're about to play their third consecutive ranked opponent at Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. as the #3/7/7 Stephen F. Austin (SFA) Lumberjacks (9-1, 6-1 SLC) come to town for the first-ever ranked vs. ranked contest in Edinburg. The 'Jacks are coming off a loss at #7/8 Lamar but remain in the top 10 in both the AFCA and Stats Perform Top 25 polls. 
 
One month ago, UTRGV earned its first-ever ranked win over RP/#25 Southeastern at Vackar Stadium. But two weeks ago, the Vaqueros suffered the first loss at home to then-#15/13 Lamar. UTRGV responded and snagged the first back-to-back road wins in program history to get momentum back on its side as it prepares to face its highest ranked opponent ever. 
 
This game will be the biggest test of the fourth quarter of UTRGV's season, and the Vaqueros are eager to have another crack at a top team in the country in front of the home fans. UTRGV is 10-1 at Vackar Stadium and striving to get back in the win column on home turf.
 
"You love opportunities like this, a top 10 team in the country coming to your turf, your fans, your stadium. Our guys are confident there. Hopefully those stands are packed and everyone is excited to have these guys in our stadium," head coach Travis Bush said. "We're going to have to play our best football and not have any mistakes, if a few. We'll need some things to go our way, but that's why you play this game. We're going to plan, prepare, practice to win this ballgame and hope to be 1-0 at the end of the week." 
 
UTRGV is aiming to string together consecutive wins for the first time this season. The Vaqueros are averaging 26.6 points and 393.6 yards per game heading into this contest and boast the No. 1 overall defense in the conference with the No. 3 scoring defense, allowing just 23.6 points per game to opponents. Junior linebacker Jaiden Haygood has been the star of the dominant defense. He leads the Southland in total (107) and solo (48) tackles, resetting his own program records in both categories with two games left to raise those bars. 
 
Stephen F. Austin has the top scoring offense in the conference, averaging 39.6 points per game, behind the No. 1 run game accumulating 203.6 yards on the ground per game. The 'Jacks are holding opponents to 16.6 points per game, which leads the SLC. The 'Jacks defeated UTRGV, 41-17, when these teams faced off for the first time last season in Nacogdoches, Texas. SFA leads the conference in six stat categories, including rushing defense, sacks, and tackles for loss. 
 
"SFA is solid across the board. They're a fast team – big, physical, fast football team that executes well offensively and defensively. Their defense is going to be a lot like Lamar, very hard to manage up front. They're extremely talented on the d-line and at linebacker. Our rosters don't match up yet, but we love our team and we love our guys and we'll put everything we've got into this ballgame right here," Bush said. 
 
UTRGV's dynamite defense will be tested against SFA's explosive offense, but lucky for the Vaqueros, the #JACKBOYZ are ready to go. UTRGV leads the nation with 15 interceptions (tied with Harvard) and is the only team in the FCS to have four games with three interceptions. The Vaqueros returned two interceptions for touchdowns last week courtesy of TJ Neal and Alijah Prosser at Northwestern State, becoming the first team in the SLC to have two pick-sixes in the same game this season. Neal leads UTRGV with a single-season program-best of four interceptions. 
 
"As good as they are and as explosive as they are, you got to try to find a way to steal possessions. Whether it's creating turnovers, extending drives, special teams, when you get the opportunity to make plays, you got to make them," Bush said. "The big thing is getting to the quarterback. You look at what we did last week, got some pressure, got him out of the pocket, forced him into throwing balls when he wasn't ready. It's all part of the package. It's everyone's job. Some of those interceptions are on the guys up front creating that pressure and forcing windows and guys being where they're supposed to be on the back end, being able to get the DBs in position there and recognizing the routes." 
 
Bush expects the speed of the game to be a challenge Saturday, but it's one the Vaqueros will be better prepared for this year than last. The Vaqueros have done a good job all season responding to adversity and answering challenges, and this will be another chance to show that the youthful team is improving and maturing. 
 
UTRGV will recognize 23 seniors ahead of the game and play for those who have helped set the foundation for the program. 
 
"It's a great opportunity for us in the final home game to see where we stack up against one of those upper echelon teams in FCS and a chance to go make a statement against those guys and get after them. Got nothing to lose and guys will be ready and excited to play," Bush said. "Last one for our seniors. It's a chance to leave a mark. The ones that have been here for the first two years and what they've done, the standards they've set across the board, not only on the field but in the locker room, the culture they've built, just proud of those guys. That's the hardest part, when you got to let guys go. But just proud of everything they've done since they've been here." 

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