Courtesy: Paul Ridings,Jr., SHSU Sports Information

Sam Houston State swept the weekly Southland Conference football player of the week honors after its 51-43 win over Stephen F. Austin in the 87th “Battle of the Piney Woods” at Reliant Stadium in Houston Saturday.

Junior quarterback Brian Bell was the offensive player of the week, junior cornerback Bookie Sneed won defensive honors and senior punter Matt Foster was the special teams player of the week.

Bell picked up 22nd career victory as starting quarterback for Sam Houston.

He directed the offense to 566 total yards in a 51-43 win over rival Stephen F. Austin.

The junior from China Spring, Texas (China Spring H.S.), completed 12 of 20 passes for 168 yards and totaled 69 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. He passed for scores of 5, 31 and 30 yards and scored on runs of 1 and 9 yards and accounted for 237 yards total offense.

Sneed returned an interception 92 yards for touchdown that put Sam Houston State in the lead, 20-14, with 5:55 remaining in 2nd quarter. The return by the junior from Conroe, Texas (Conroe H.S.), was a school record, topping the previous mark of 90 yards set by Paul Wenzel against Sul Ross in 1968. He added 11 tackles against SFA.

Foster helped Sam Houston win the field position battle with a 45.1 average, including long of 61 yards. The senior from Melbourne, Australia, landed three punts inside the 20 that includes a high 43-yard punt with 3:10 left to play in the fourth quarter.

That put SFA on its own 15-yard line, forcing them to drive 85 yards in order to score a touchdown and go for a two-point conversion.

Sam Houston travels to Thibodaux, La., to take on the Nicholls State Colonels this Saturday at 6 p.m.

The Bearkats return to Huntsville in two weeks for their Homecoming battle with the McNeese State Cowboys. The game will be played at 7 p.m. on Nov. 20 at Bowers Stadium.