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.
Bearkat Volleyball Team Wins 13th Straight Game
by Cheval John
The Sam Houston State Bearkat volleyball team extends their winning streak to 13 games as they swept Nicholls State Colonels 25-21, 25-13, 25-16.
The win streak is the longest since the Bearkats moved up to the NCAA Division I in 1986.
Three Bearkats (13-2 SLC play, 18-9 overall) totaled double-digit kills; senior outside hitter Kendall Cleveland (13), senior outside hitter Kaylee Hawkins (12) and sophomore outside hitter Devene Wells-Gibson (11).
Both teams fought tooth and nail early in the first set as they were five ties and two lead changes.
With the Colonels (5-12 SLC play, 10-18 overall) leading 14-9, the Bearkats scored the next eight out of ten points to take a 17-16 lead and went on to win the first set 25-21.
It seemed as if the second set was going to be the same as both teams traded a total of six points to open it at 3.
Then the Bearkats exploded for 9 straight points to lead it 12-3 and cruised to a 25-13 win.
They kept up the momentum in the third set as they scored the first six of the seven points on a kill and three service aces by Wells-Gibson and a kill by Hawkins.
They continued to dominate the Colonels as with their defense that allowed them to extend their lead and eventually take the third set and the match.
Setter Tayler Gray had 37 assists and 20 digs.
The Bearkats go on the road on Tuesday as they face Northwestern State.
Bearkats-Aggies Football Matchup To Be “Televised”
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
COLLEGE STATION— Texas A&M University, Sam Houston State and the Southeastern Conference announced today the Nov. 17 football game between the Aggies and the Bearkats will be televised on a pay-per-view basis by FOX Sports Southwest for distribution in the state of Texas, as well as on ESPN GamePlan nationwide.
The football game will kick at 2:30 p.m. central from Kyle Field.
Additional details regarding distribution and cable systems will be available in the coming weeks.
One thing about the broadcast that is for certain is the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band performance will be seen in its entirety.
Hambleton Named SLC’s “Freshman Of the Year”
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton earned conference “Freshman of the Year” honors and six Bearkats were named to the all-league team as the 2012 women’s soccer All-Southland Conference team was announced.
Seniors defender Kayla Anderson and midfielder Kirby Zak and freshman Katie Ferrera were selected to the All-Southland second team.
Seniors defender Amanda Biega and Tricia Mallory and Hambleton were honorable mention award winners.
Ferrara was the Bearkats’ leading scorer with four goals this season. Mallory and Zak each scored three goals apiece.
Anderson, Biega and Hambleton were the heart of a Bearkat defense that set a school season record allowing only 18 goals in 18 matches this year.
The Kats shutout seven opponents.
In goal, “Freshman of the Year” Hambleton ranked second in the conference in saves per game (5.36), third in save percentage (.843) and fourth in shutouts (6).
She played in net for 14 of Sam Houston’s 18 matches this season.
Sam Houston faces Oral Roberts in the first round of the Southland Conference post-season tournament at Cowgirl Field in Lake Charles, La., Thursday.
“It’s great to see three of our six seniors earn All-Southland Conference honors,” SHSU head coach Tom Brown said. “This year’s senior class is the first in the 10-year history of the Bearkat soccer program to lead the team to the conference tournament each of the four seasons here.”
2012 All-Southland Conference Soccer Teams
First Team
G Lacey Lee SFA
D Lauren Parks ORU
D Breanne Vernon SFA
D Megan Dunnigan SFA
M Kylie Louw SFA
M Laura Sadler SFA
M Jennifer Abernathy ORU
F Adriana Lucar Central Ark
F Chelsea Raymond SFA
F Zuri Prince SFA
F Maiya Cooper SE La.
SECOND TEAM
G Lacey Bockhaus SE LA
D Leslie Shurtleff SFA
D Amber Thornhill Lamar
D Kayla Anderson SHSU
M Kristin Bos Lamar
M Katie Ferrara SHSU
M Kelsey Salcido SE La.
M Kirby Zak SHSU
F Sarah LaLanne McNeese
F Megan Giles ORU
F Jannet Hernandez Lamar
Honorable mention: Kimmy Albeno, F, LU; Kayla Keller, F, ORU; Spencer Valdespino, F, NICH; Whitney Booth, F, ORU; Ashlee Savona, F, NWLA; Tricia Mallory, F, SHSU; Kayla Vera, F, SLU; Lisa Topping, MF, LU; Becky Johnson, MF, SFA; Lauren Stillians, MF, SLU; Karly Dagys, MF, SLU; Allison Hall, D, ORU; Shanyce Shaw, D, SLU; Amanda Biega, D, SHSU; Cheyenne Maxwell, D, SLU, Alejandra Amador, D, LU; Megan Snelling, D, MCN; Kylie Hambleton, GK, SHSU; Bailey Fontenot, GK, LU; Helen Erb, GK, ORU.
Player of the Year – Kylie Louw, Stephen F. Austin
Freshman of the Year – Kylie Hambleton, Sam Houston State
Newcomer of the Year – Adriana Lucar, Central Arkansas
Coach of the Year – Tony Amato, Stephen F. Austin