NACOGDOCHES - For the first time since 2003, the Sam Houston State Bearkats came up on the losing end of the Battle of the Piney Woods.
A rivalry that has been mostly one-sided since 2000, went all in the Lumberjacks' favor on Saturday afternoon in a 42-3 win over the Bearkats at Homer Bryce Stadium.
Playing without starting quarterback Blake Joseph, the SHSU offense never got in gear. The Kats managed just 186 yards of total offense, including 67 in the game's opening 30 minutes. Bryan Randolph and Jeff Welch split time at quarterback, with Randolph getting a majority of the snaps. He finished the game completing 14-of-28 for 84 yards.
The Kats put up their only points in the game on a 23 yard field goal by freshman kicker Miguel Antonio early in the fourth quarter. It capped a 16 plays, 51 yard drive for the Kats.
The only real scoring threat for SHSU in the first half came on a 13-play, 52-yard drive on the second possession of the game. But Antonio missed a 35-yard field goal that would have put the Kats on the board first. The Kats managed just 15 yards the rest of the half.
The Lumberjacks amassed 566 yards of offense, with 434 of that coming through the air. Jeremy Moses threw for 372 yards and five touchdowns.
"We are starting a lot of young guys on both sides of the ball right now," SHSU defensive coordinator Scott Stoker said. "When you are playing this young in a big game like this, it is very similar to what happened to SFA three years ago when Sam Houston beat them 45-17. They were all young and now they are grown up and have a good football team."
The Bearkats will return home Saturday to take on Northwestern State. The game will be televised by the Southland Television Network.
Tickets to Sam Houston State football at Bowers Stadium are $25 for reserved chairback seats and $15 for general admission. Order tickets now on-line at www.gobearkats.com.
For more information about all Bearkat sports events, contact the Sam Houston State Athletic Ticket Office located in the Ron Mafrige Field Events Center at 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.
