No.5 Bearkats Dismantled Lions 70-0

by Cheval John

Whether it was rain or shine, the Sam Houston State Bearkat football team came ready to play.

The Bearkats totaled 575 yards of offense in the 70-0 beat down of Southeastern Louisiana Lions in their last regular season home game at Bowers Stadium.

The win increased their streak at Bowers to 14 games since 2010 and have kept them in the hunt for a share of the Southland Conference (SLC) title.

The majority of those yards came on the run, especially in the second half when they ran for 275 yards and scored 28 points without attempting a pass.

The massacre began when running back Tim Flanders ran for a 14-yard touchdown that capped a 7-play, 48-yard drive for a 7-0 lead.

That was only the beginning.

After a three and out by the Lions, the Bearkats (5-1 SLC, 7-2 overall) started their second drive with a 2-yard run by utility man Richard Sincere.

Later, junior quarterback Brian Bell threw it up the middle and wide receiver Chance Nelson dove and made the catch for a 23-yard gain for a first down.

A few plays later, Sincere ran with the blockers and cut to the left for an 8-yard touchdown that increased the lead to 14-0.

The Lions (3-2 SLC play, 3-6 overall) had their best chance of the day to score when they drove it down the field to the Bearkat 21 yard line.

After a five-yard penalty that moved them back to the 26, defensive back Robert Shaw blocked the potential field goal and defensive back Kenneth Jenkins recovered it and took it 72-yards for the touchdown that increased the lead to 21-0.

Jarrett Brown’s interception on the Lions 34 put the Bearkats in great field position.

It seemed as if the Bearkats were going to settle for a field goal as they were only moved 7-yards on three plays.

But an offside penalty on the Lions on 4 and 3 allowed the drive to stay alive and a few plays later, junior running back Ryan Wilson went up the middle for a 10-yard touchdown that increased the lead to 28-0.

The Bearkats added two more scores on a 70-yard touchdown pass from Bell to Nelson and a 23-yard pass from Bell to wide receiver Torrance Williams to increase the lead to 42-0 by halftime.

After an hour lighting/rain delay, the Bearkats got back to it as Flanders found a seam and exploded for 71-yards for the score that made it 49-0.
They added three more scores on a touchdown run by freshman quarterback Chris Grett and two TD runs by sophomore running back Keyshawn Hill (8, 55) that sealed the deal at 70-0.

Flanders finished with 146-yards and two scores on 9 carries while Bell went 8 of 9 for 170 yards and two touchdowns.

Hill totaled 132 yards and two scores on 15 carries.

The Bearkats finishes SLC play on Saturday when they go on the road against Northwestern State Demons.

If the Bearkats win against the Demons, they will have a share of the SLC title with Central Arkansas.

The start time for the game was moved to 3 p.m. instead of 6 p.m. due to the fact that it will be televised on the Southland Conference Television Network.