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

THIBODAUX, La. -- , 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.