By Gene Schallenberg, Huntsville Item Sports
The Bearkats defense that gave up more than 600 yards of offense and 63 points to McNeese State last week looked like a completely different team on Saturday. Sam Houston State picked up its first-ever victory over the Central Arkansas Bears with a 17-14 win.
The Bears entered Saturday's game boasting one of the Southland Conference's top offenses, averaging more than 30 points and 429 yards of offense in league play.
But the Bearkats stood tall and shut down Central Arkansas from the opening kickoff.
"We knew we needed to tackle better and we really stepped up and got it done," Sam Houston State head coach Todd Whitten said. "We just got back to basics this week. The defense is why we won.
"We thought we matched up a little better this week. Thankfully, we did. It's just a great win for us."
Trailing by three with less than a minute to play, Central Arkansas (3-3 in Southland Conference, 5-5 overall) had one last-ditch effort. With 40 seconds to play and no timeouts, Bears quarterback Robbie Park looked downfield, but was picked off by junior cornerback Jarvis Pippins, the second interception of the day for SHSU, at the UCA 44-yard line to essentially clinch the game for the Bearkats.
That was icing on the cake for the SHSU defense, which held Central Arkansas to 243 yards and below 20 points for the first time all season.
"We were so embarrased after our performance last week," said sophomore linebacker Will Henry, who recorded six tackles against UCA, including a 13-yard sack. "I felt like today that we had to come out and show what we could do."
Sam Houston State made it difficult on the Central Arkansas backfield as it continually penetrated the offensive line and applied pressure.
"If you're going to be on this defense and you're going to be starting, you're going to go hard," Henry said. "You've got to give effort. The main focus is going hard, give effort and play your heart out. Plus, it was our seniors' last home game, so we had to send them out with a bang."
Throughout the first half it was an offensive grind for both Sam Houston State and the Bears as neither defense bent very much.
"We knew it was going to be tough," said Poullard, who rushed for 56 yards and had five receptions for 37 yards. "They had the number one defense in the conference coming in. It was a battle from the opening snap until the end of the game."
But minutes into the third quarter, the Bearkats, who trailed 7-3 at halftime, got a big boost from their special teams.
On fourth-and-23 from SHSU's 49-yard line, Central Arkansas lined up to punt. The speedy Vincent Dotson was able to break in from the corner and block Jonathan Beard's punt. Dotson then scooped up the ball and sprinted toward the end zone 36 yards for the score.
"We just worked so hard all week on specials. Our main goal was executing," Dotson said.
"I saw that they had only one person on my side, so I saw that I could move in a little closer. That's what gave me the edge to get closer to the ball and block it."
Leading for the first time all game, the Bearkats offense started to show signs of life.
"After that blocked punt, it gave the defense momentum, that they already had and it gave the offense some momentum. We just kept it together," Poullard said.
Central Arkansas punted the ball away later in the third quarter after the Bearkats forced a three-and-out.
Sam Houston State took over at its 46-yard line and three plays into the drive, senior quarterback Blake Joseph hit senior receiver Jason Madkins along the sideline for a 36-yard gain.
Within striking distance of the end zone, junior running back Chris Poullard got the pitch on an option and ran 11 yards to the 1. Poullard then finished off the drive, barreling up the middle and scored.
Central Arkansas scored on the next possession on a 9-yard run by Brent Grimes to get within three points at 17-14. But the offense put together some lengthy drives to burn time off the clock and make sure the Bears had a long field to navigate.
"We knew all along that we could move the ball, we just had to execute," Poullard said. "In the second half, we came along and got some first downs."
Saturday's contest was the final home game for Sam Houston. The Bearkats will complete the season next week at Texas State.
Bearkat fans already are looking ahead to the 2010 season and the "Battle of the Piney Woods" game with Stephen F. Austin at Reliant Stadium on October 23, 2010. Tickets for the "Battle of the Piney Woods" contest at Reliant go on sale Monday.
Order "Battle of the Piney Woods" Tickets at Reliant Stadium -- October 23, 2010
For information about other Bearkat home athletic events go on-line at www.gobearkats.com or contact the SHSU Athletic Ticket Office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House 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.
