SFA turned the ball over three times and trailed 24-0 at one point late in the first half in a 44-28 loss to Montana State in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. The loss snapped an 11-game winning streak for the Jacks, who finished the season with a 12-3 record and the Southland Conference championship. Montana State (13-2) will face the winner of Montana vs. South Dakota next week in the semifinals. 

SFA turned the ball over on both of its first quarter drives, the first on a strip sack on third down while in field goal position, and the second on a dropped pass that turned into a Montana State interception. The Bobcats took advantage both times and held a 14-0 lead with 14:04 left in the 1st quarter. That lead grew to 17-0 with 1:50 left in the 2nd quarter and then to 24-0 only 17 seconds later after another SFA fumble set up Montana State with great field position. 

The Lumberjacks did respond with a six-play, 75-yard drive that was capped with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Sam Vidlak to Clayton Wayland with 11 seconds left in the first half. A successful two-point conversion cut the Montana State lead to 24-8 at half with SFA receiving to start the third quarter. The Jacks stormed out of halftime with a 14-play, 76-yard drive that culminated in a Jaylen Jenkins touchdown run to move within 10 points early in the third quarter. 

That was as close as SFA could get, however, as Montana State scored the next 10 points and led 41-21 by the 14:36 mark of the fourth quarter. SFA pulled within 13 with just over 10 minutes left in the final frame bout could never close the gap. Montana State gained 473 yards, including 227 on the ground. Vidlak threw for 242 yards and a touchdown for the Jacks. SFA only ran for 92 yards on 29 carries. 

The SFA loss means Tarleton State is the lone Texas program remaining in the FCS playoffs. The Texans face Villanova on Saturday on the other side of the bracket. The winner of that game will face the winner of Illinois State and UC Davis in the semifinal.