Waxahachie, Texas – August 31, 2017- It has been 301 days since the Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU) football team played their last game of the 2016 season. On Saturday, September 2, the Lions will begin a much-anticipated 2017 season.
SAGU dealt with countless injuries in 2016. One of the most impactful was the season-ending injury of quarterback CJ Collins in game two. Collins, a junior from Bosqueville, Texas , is back and ready to lead.
“I am extremely excited and blessed to be able to step back on the field healthy and ready to compete with the guys. Being able to redshirt last season allowed me to mature and to be able to study the game from a different point of view,” explains Collins.
Along with Collins, the Lions also welcome back four 1 st Team Central States Football League members in senior defensive back Carl Morgan , senior offensive lineman Devon Petty , senior defensive lineman Matt Lighter and sophomore wide receiver Jeremy Carr . SAGU will also welcome back 2 nd Team CSFL recipient’s senior running back JP Lowery, junior offensive lineman Dayne Maclin and senior defensive back Matt Williams .
In the first game of the year, SAGU will host Howard Payne University. There are a lot of unknowns concerning HPU this year says SAGU Head Coach Frank Tristan , “They’ve got a completely new coaching staff so we don’t exactly know how it will all play out with this being their season opener as well. We noticed a lot of offensive returners from their two-deep and a lot of their offensive line will be the same.”
SAGU will have 12 returning starters; seven offensive players and five defensive. Offensively, the Lions will have a new look with first year Offensive Coordinator Sam Harrell . Fans can expect a very balanced attack from SAGU, one with more of an emphasis on tempo.
In the past nine years, SAGU has gone 5-4 against the Yellowjackets. The Lions will host HPU at 7pm. Tickets are $7 for adults. Children 12 and under are free and will receive a free Bleacher Creature t-shirt. The parents accompanying the child will get into the game for $5. Before the game food trucks will be set-up for purchase and free bounce houses will be open for kids.
SAGU Sports Network will be broadcasting the game live at LIVESTREAM/SAGULIVE .
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
Contact: Natalie Tristan, SAGU SID, ntristan@sagu.
