No.4 Bearkats Knocks Off No.2 Eagles 49-33
Courtesy: Brandon K. Scott/SHSU Athletics
In a meeting between two of the top-ranked Football Championship Subdivision teams in the country Saturday, No. 4 Sam Houston State beat No. 2 Eastern Washington, 49-34.
SHSU running back Timothy Flanders ran for 280 yards, two touchdowns and became just the 22nd back in FCS history to record 5,000 career yards on the ground.
Brian Bell completed just four of eight pass attempts, but two of those went for touchdowns of 18 and 50 yards, respectively.
Both offenses jumped out to strong starts with each scoring a touchdown in the first three offensive plays.
Richard Sincere, lined up in the read option set, faked the handoff to running back Timothy Flanders and took a 51-yard run to the end zone.
Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams responded with a pass in the middle of the field to Cory Mitchell, who went for a 48-yard reception down to the SHSU 2-yard line.
The Eagles took the lead with a 33-yard pass play to Ashton Clark.
But the Kats dominated the second quarter.
Bell kept the ball on a read option play to score from eight yards out.
De’Antrey Loche intercepted a pass by Adams and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown.
Bell and Williams connected for an 18-yard touchdown pass with just 21 seconds to play in the second quarter.
Cooper Kupp caught a 59-yard pass from Adams earlier in the quarter and the Kats took a 28-20 into halftime.
SHSU picked up where it left off after intermission.
Flanders scored on a 60-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter.
After Eastern Washington running back Demitrius Bronson rushed for a three-yard touchdown, Bell and Williams connected for another score, this time on a 50-yard pass.
Flanders ran for his second touchdown of the day in the fourth quarter, taking it from 12 yards out.
The win improves the Kats record to 4-1. For the Eagles (2-2), it’s the first loss of the season against a non-FBS opponent.
Bearkats Got Their Groove Back With 55-17 Victory Over Tigers
Courtesy: Brandon K. Scott/SHSU Athletics
Sam Houston State improved to 2-1 with a 55-17 win against Texas Southern on Saturday.
Senior running back Timothy Flanders became the Southland Conference all-time touchdown leader after posting two touchdowns and 108 yards on the ground.
Both teams struggled with turnovers early in the game as the first quarter ended scoreless.
Texas Southern was first on the scoreboard with a 27-yard field goal in the second quarter by Eric Medina.
It was all Sam Houston from there.
Flanders surpassed Brent Grimes of Central Arkansas for the Southland Conference all-time touchdown record (59) with a two-yard run to give the Bearkats their first score of the game.
Flanders’ two scores set the conference touchdown record at 61.
On the following drive, quarterback Brian Bell found Torrance Williams in the end zone for a six-yard score.
Bell ran for a three-yard touchdown and Flanders scored from one yard out to give SHSU a 27-3 halftime lead.
Shane Young scored on a five-yard pass from Bell in the third quarter. Keshawn Hill ran for a 23-yard touchdown.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Ragan Henderson caught a five-yard touchdown throw from Bell.
Texas Southern recorded touchdowns on a 50-yard run by Daveonn Porter in the third quarter, then quarterback Homer Causey ran from 10 yards out.
SHSU senior running back Ryan Wilson scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Bearkats improved to 2-1 on the season. The Tigers dropped to 0-2.
Sam Houston returns to the field next Saturday to host Incarnate Word at 6 p.m.
A&M Got What They “Deserved”
By Cheval John
Saturday’s matchup between defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas A&M Aggies featuring Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel will be one for the ages.
The Tide is looking for revenge after last year’s shocking 29-24 defeat to the Aggies at their home field, Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
What makes this game so “hyped” is the fact that A&M surprised everyone, including me when they went 11-2 in their first year in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the most difficult conference in the country.
Many believed that A&M was making a mistake of leaving the Big 12 Conference and thought or “hoped” that they were going to get creamed in the SEC.
Instead, the Aggies are shining in the national media limelight and are “laughing” now.
For the fans, this is what they dreamed of.
For the A&M media department staff, this is a nightmare
According to a report by Allen Reed of the Bryan-College Station Eagle, Aggies’sports information director Alan Cannon said that the Kyle Field press box, which seats 102, is filled to capacity.
ESPN, for example, arrived early on the A&M campus to begin their coverage of the showdown.
In addition to shooting the “College Game Day” show this Saturday, “College Football Live” is broadcasting their program on location.
A&M are basking in the spoils as well since moving to the SEC.
In the same report, A&M received $6.5 million of media exposure last year when the Florida Gators visited College Station in A&M’s SEC debut.
Senior athletics director Jason Cook told Reed that this game will exceed it exponentially.
As for the game itself, it will be a good old fashion slug fest between two great teams.
My prediction is that Alabama will not lose to A&M two years in a row because head coach Nick Saban is a master of preparation.
Saban will have his team ready because he has done his homework on “Johnny Football.”
Roll Tide, Roll.
A New Beginning In Bearkat Athletics
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
The Bearkat Champions Fund, now the sole fundraising arm for Sam Houston athletics kicks off its inaugural “Proud to be a Bearkat” membership drive this month.
Looking to set the stage for an era of even stronger intercollegiate athletic success in all sports, the Bearkat Champions Fund will build upon the momentum established by SHSU’s back-to-back NCAA Division I Football National Championship finals appearances.
“The momentum of athletics at Sam Houston right now is contagious,” Sam Houston State University President Dana Gibson said. “Our success in the past two years has been reflected in growth in all aspects of the University community. It’s time for everyone to show they are Proud to be a Bearkat.”
The inaugural Bearkat Champions Fund Drive began this week with a mailing to more than 6,000 past donors, season ticket purchasers and select alumni.
The goal for the fund drive is to raise $500,000 to benefit all of the 350 student-athletes who represent Sam Houston on the playing field.
“We believe we are on the verge of something special at Sam Houston,” Bearkat Director of Athletics Bobby Williams said. “But to realize our vision and continue our success on the field and in the classroom, Sam Houston State needs the help of our community, alumni, lettermen and friends. We are committed to providing our student-athletes with exceptional educational and athletic opportunities designed for their long-term personal development.”
The fund drive will include Bearkat Champions specials events in the coming year such as the Night of Champions celebration and the Bearkat Invitational Golf Tournament at Sterling Country Club at Houston National next spring.
“Donations and external revenues already account for one-third of the annual athletic operating budget at Sam Houston,” Williams said. “For our football program to continue as an FCS power and set the stage to build on the success of our all sports, Sam Houston must generate from seven to eight million additional dollars in external revenues each year.”
The athletic success that has generated so much national exposure for Sam Houston State University and Huntsville (eight ESPN national telecasts in two years) costs money.
Expenses are on the rise.
The Bearkat Champions Fund will help provide important benefits for the athletic program including fifth-year and summer scholarships, equipment upgrades and sports enrichment opportunities.
“Everyone who is Proud to be a Bearkat is crucial in order for Sam Houston to achieve new heights both athletically and as a university,” Williams said.
Sam Houston athletics also is announcing the implementation of The Bearkat Champions Fund Priority Points System to enhance the rewards of being Proud to Be a Bearkat.
The priority points system recognizes the Bearkats’ most loyal supporters and season ticket holders by awarding points for each contribution made to Sam Houston Athletics.
Points are accumulated when a Bearkat makes a gift to the athletics general fund or to a specific sports enrichment fund.
Rewards include priority for season tickets, parking NCAA playoffs, premium games (versus Texas A&M or LSU, for example) and special invitation-only events.
Members score two points for each $100 donated to the Academic Fund; one for each $200 donated to a sport’s Enrichment Funds; one for each season ticket purchased (all sports) and a point for each consecutive year of giving.
To kick off the priority points program, donors and season ticket holders from the past three seasons already have been awarded points for their participation.
“There has never been a more important time to become part of the momentum that is sweeping Sam Houston sports into the national spotlight,” Williams said. “It is time to become a Bearkat Champion and to encourage your friends and family to do so as well. I’m Proud to Be A Bearkat. Show you are too.”
The Bearkat Champions Fund Drive is being conducted in cooperation with Sam Houston State University Advancement.
Individuals or businesses can show they are “Proud to be a Bearkat” by going online to www.gobearkats.com to contribute or by contacting J. R. Ohr at (936) 294-2362 or Ashten Ackerman at (936) 294-2364.
To Return Or Not To Return?
By Cheval John
It seems as if everyone is so fascinated with whether Brett Favre is going to make a return to the National Football League (NFL).
According to a report by Gabe Zaldivar of the Bleacher Reporter, Favre’s agent Bus Cook commented that the future Hall-of-Famer can make a comeback to the NFL.
Favre, who retired officially three years ago, seems like a person who loves the limelight.
Cook says that he is not trying to start any rumors about Favre’s possible return.
Really? And I’m not trying to say that pigs can fly.
Could it be that Mr. Favre, who also does the Wrangler Jeans commercials, is a little envious of the attention that Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is receiving after he dissected the Oakland Raiders on Monday Night Football?
Or is it the fact that Manning became the first quarterback to throw for an NFL-record 12 scores and no interceptions by week 3 and has the possibility to break Favre’s career touchdown record?
I don’t know.
But the only thing I can say is that I don’t want a guy, who purposely held the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings hostage, to make a return to the NFL.
Mr. Cook’s announcement shows that Favre is willing to step over people to bring attention to himself.
If it was anyone else, you would hear an outcry on how selfish they are to get their agent to put out a report in the middle of one of the greatest accomplishments by Manning.
I understand that he is a future Hall-of-Famer and has passed for over 70,000 yards, 500 touchdowns, won a SuperBowl and is considered the “Iron Man” because of his consecutive games played.
Because it was Favre, he gets a pass and that will encourage him to continue doing what he does best:Grabbing as much attention as he can possibly get.
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