Courtesy: Paul Ridings,Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Timothy Flanders became the all-time Southland Conference rushing leader in Sam Houston State’s 52-21 win against Incarnate Word on Saturday.

Flanders, who ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, passed Claude Mathis of Southwest Texas with a 41-yard touchdown run in the third quarter before setting the new league record at 4,720 yards.

SHSU senior quarterback Brian Bell also had a career night, throwing four touchdown passes.

Bell tied his previous career best in the first half alone with three touchdown tosses.

Incarnate Word took an early lead on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Trent Brittain to Casey Jennings in the first quarter.

The Bearkats responded with a 19-yard field goal to cut the Cardinals lead to 7-3.

Bell connected with wide receiver Chance Nelson late in the first quarter and Nelson made two Cardinal defenders miss to work his way to the end zone.

Incarnate Word regained the lead in the second quarter with a 1-yard score by running back Junior Sessions.

Then, SHSU took over by outscoring Incarnate Word 42-7 the rest of the way.

Flanders scored on a 7-yard run with 8:52 to go in the second quarter and the Bearkats did not trail from there.

Bell came back with touchdown passes to Richard Sincere and Torrance Williams for 26 and 39 yards, respectively.

The Kats took a 31-14 lead into halftime.

Bell and Williams connected again in the third quarter for a 16-yard touchdown play.

The 41-yard record breaking run by Flanders led to a 45-14 lead for the Kats.

Brittain threw for a 19-yard touchdown to tight end Cole Wick with 3:08 to go in the third quarter.

Bell ran from one yard out in the fourth quarter to score his only rushing touchdown.

SHSU improved to 3-1 on the season.

Incarnate Word dropped to 2-2 and 0-2 against Southland Conference opponents this season.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

True freshman Breanna Homer has been named as Southland Conference volleyball “Defensive Player of the Week” after leading Sam Houston to a victory in its Southland Conference opener and a runner-up finish in the SHSU Invitational this weekend.

Moving to the libero position, Homer led the Bearkats with 51 digs in three matches, an average of 5.7 digs per set. The LaGrange, Texas, native also posted 55 successful service receptions in 56 attempts during the tournament.

Sam Houston defeated Lamar in three sets in the Bearkats’ Southland opener which also doubled as the team’s opening match in the tournament Friday night. SHSU also blanked Jackson State in three sets Saturday afternoon. Washington State won the event, defeating the Kats in the final match.

She totaled 19 digs in the Jackson State match and 18 against Washington State.

Homer was a four-year varsity player who earned All-District honors in volleyball, softball and basketball at LaGrande. She earned All-State honors in both volleyball and as third baseman in softball.

Sam Houston continues Southland Conference action Thursday and Saturday with road matches at Nicholls State and McNeese State. The next Bearkat home volleyball match is Thursday, Sept. 26, at 7 p.m. at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Sam Houston linebacker Tanner Brock has been named as Southland Conference “Defensive Player of the Week.”

The award comes after the Bearkats’ 55-17 victory over Texas Southern last Saturday in Huntsville.

Brock recorded seven tackles and two tackles for loss in leading the defense against the Texas Southern Tigers.

The senior from Copperas Cove, Texas (Copperas Cove H.S.), sacked the quarterback twice for losses totaling 10 yards.

In the first half, Sam Houston limited Texas Southern to minus-23 yards rushing and 29 yards passing.

The Bearkats caused four fumbles and recovered three with each turnover setting up the team’s first three touchdowns.

The victory upped the Kats’ season record to 2-1 and set a school record, extending SHSU’s string of consecutive home wins to 16.

The 16-game home winning streak also is the longest current string of wins in FCS play.

Sam Houston’s Timothy Flanders and Torrance Williams both were honorable mention selections this week’s Southland voting for offensive and special teams players of the week.

The Kats play the second in a series of four consecutive home games this Saturday, Sept. 21, when UIW (Incarnate Word) comes to Elliott T. Bowers Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Tickets for all remaining five home games at Bowers Stadium this season plus the 88th “Battle of the Piney Woods” vs. SFA in Reliant Stadium Nov. 2 are available now online at www.gobearkats.com .

Fans also can purchase tickets by visiting or calling the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.

Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Sam Houston State is ranked No. 4 in both the Sports Network and NCAA Coaches FCA national polls this week.

North Dakota State remains the top team in both polls after stunning defending Big 12 champion Kansas State on the road 24-21.
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Eastern Washington moved No. 2 in both boths after its 49-46 upset win over No. 25 Oregon State. The Eagles used 518 total yards from quarterback Vernon Adams to become first FCS team to knock off a ranked FBS opponent since James Madison defeated Virginia Tech 21-16 in 2010.

Sam Houston and Eastern Washington will meet in a showdown at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium on Saturday Sept. 28.

Montana State stands No. 3 in both ratings.

Sam Houston has been ranked among the FCS top 25 for 26 consecutive polls since debuting in the national rankings on Sept. 9, 2011. During an 11-0 regular season in 2011, the Kats rose all the way to No. 1 at the end of the regular season.

The Bearkats have finished No. 2 in the past two final FCS national rankings after consecutive Southland Conference championships and trips to the NCAA Division I National Championship game in Frisco.

The No. 4 ranking this week after a 74-0 victory over Houston Baptist in SHSU’s season opener Saturday marks the 22nd consecutive week Sam Houston has stood among the nation’s Top 10 FCS programs.

Two other Southland Conference teams are rated among the top 25 this week.

Central Arkansas is No. 5 in the coaches’ poll and No. 7 in the Sports Network rating. McNeese tabbed at No. 18 by Sports Network and No. 20 by the coaches.

Sam Houston travels to College Station to face Cotton Bowl champion Texas A&M this Saturday at 6 p.m.

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