Football hosts North Dakota State Saturday
9/10/2009 2:00:00 AM | Football
Order SHSU vs. North Dakota St. Tickets On Line
BEARKATS FACE ANOTHER MISSOURI VALLEY FOE
For the second week in a row, Sam Houston hosts a top NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) foe at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville when the Kats play host to North Dakota State at 6 p.m.
The Bearkats lost a 35-28 nail-biter to Western Illinois Thursday, Sept. 3. This week, they face off with North Dakota State, members of the MVC since 2008 .
The Bison lost to Iowa State of the Big 12 Conference 34-17 on the road in their season opener Sept. 3, so both squads will be looking for their first victory of the 2009 season.
REMATCH OF 2007 FARGODOME THRILLER
Sam Houston and North Dakota State have played only once previously, but the contest played in Fargo, ND, ranks as one of the most exciting in NCAA Division I FCS history.
The Bison defeated the Bearkats 41-38 before 18,961 fans at the Fargodome on Sept. 15, 2007. The two teams combined for 909 yards total offense and 79 points. Both teams scored go-ahead touchdowns in the final 30 seconds.
Sam Houston's Rhett Bomar became the eighth quarterback in FCS history to pass for more than 300 yards and rush for more than 100 in a single game as he rolled up 461 yards total offense (358 passing and 103 rushing). Bomar threw for four scores.
The Kats trailed 34-21 going into the fourth quarter but rallied to take a 38-34 lead as Darnell Jones caught a seven-yard scoring pass from Bomar with 26 seconds to play. After a short kickoff, Bison quarterback Steve Walker completed a three-play, 54-yard drive with a game-winning 27-yard TD throw to Kole Heckendorf with six seconds remaining.
BEARKAT RADIO
KSAM 101.7 FM broadcast all Sam Houston football games again in 2009. Kooter Roberson and Leroy Wilkinson will be the voices of the Bearkats. The broadcast also can be heard anywhere in the world on the web at www.gobearkats.com.
PARENTS' WEEKEND
Saturday marks the 25th annual Parents' Weekend football game at Bowers Stadium. The Bearkats are 19-5 in their previous Parents' Weekend games.
NORTH DAKOTA STATE BISON
As an NCAA Division II powerhouse, North Dakota State won eight national championships and was ranked in the top 20 Division II national rankings 22 times in 40 years. The Bison moved up to the NCAA Division I FCS level in 2004 and joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 2008.
North Dakota State ranked No. 5 in the 2006 FCS final national rankings and No. 9 in 2007 after back-to-back 10-1 seasons. The Bison have rolled up a 41-14 overall record in their four seasons of NCAA Division I play.
SHSU LOSES THRILLER IN SEASON OPENER
Sam Houston's 35-28 loss to Western Illinois in the season opener Sept. 3 literally went down to the final gun.
Attempting to force overtime with the ball at the WIU three-yard-line and no time remaining after a penalty, quarterback Blake Joseph's pass for wide receiver Jason Madkins fell short.
Joseph had converted two third downs and a fourth down play to move the Bearkats 65 yards in 12 plays to set up the final script. The quarterback hit Madkins for a 20-yard gain that was stopped just inches short of the end zone. That gave the Kats first and goal with 21 seconds to play. The Bearkats threw an incomplete pass and had a one-yard loss on a rushing play before the two teams traded penalties to set up the final play.
The game was filled with several positives for Sam Houston.
Running back James Aston carried 18 times for 126 yards including touchdown runs of 6 and 10 yards. Joseph completed 16 of 27 passes for 173 yards.
The defense contributed a pair of scores as Victor Carmichael returned a fumble 21 yards to give SHSU a 14-7 lead and Chris Brown put the Kats up 28-21 with a 64 yard interception return at the 10:17 mark of the third quarter.
Madkins led the Bearkats in receiving with 5 catches for 60 yards including a long of 22 to give the Bearkats an opportunity to tie the game and force overtime with seconds remaining. Jake Lebens also had five catches for 46 yards and Aston pulled in four passes for 46 yards.
Bearkat special teams performed well with Michael Capparelli punting four times for a 45.5 average including a long of 51. Freshman Miguel Antonio converted on all four extra points.
Concerns following the game were the 554 total offense yards the Leathernecks rolled up against Sam Houston's young defense and three lost fumbles by the offense.
BEARKAT SQUAD BREAKDOWN
Sam Houston State returned 44 lettermen from the 2008 Bearkat squad. Eleven of those letter winners were starters last year - season on offense and three on defense.
While the Bearkats' 4-6 season mark and sixth place Southland Conference finish in 2008 were disappointing, eight points were all that separated Sam Houston from a 7-3 record and a tie for the Southland crown.
The Kats lost their last two home games in overtime, both by field goals, and dropped their league opener to nationally-ranked Central Arkansas by the margin of a late failed two-point conversion.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
James Aston and Chris Poullard return at running back. Aston ranked No. 4 in Southland rushing last year with 886 yards and 11 TDs and Poullard was No. 4 in SLC rushing in 2007 with 1,038 yards and 13 TDs.
Aston rushed 18 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns in the first game. He also caught four passes for 46 yards and returned a kickoff for 25 yards. Poullard carried four times for 27 yards, an average of 6.8 yards per carry.
All-Southland guard Hunter Schmidt leads a offensive line that has been depleted by injuries. The Bearkats will require some younger players to step up here as well.
Chris Lucas and Jason Madkins are set to lead the receiving corps. Lucas ranked No. 9 in receptions per game in the SLC last year. Madkins, a big target at 6-5, caught 23 passes for 319 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2008. Senior Jake Lebens had a good showing in the season opener with five catches for 43 yards.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Senior defensive end Chris Brown, linebacker Luke McCall and defensive tackle Kevin Smith are the only returning starters. McCall led the Bearkats in the season opener with Western Illinois, totaling 10 stop including a sack.
Brown, a two-time first team All-Southland pick, has 14 QB sacks to his credit in two seasons since transferring from Texas. Brown had four tackles including one for a loss and returned an interception for a touchdown against WIU.
The Bearkats must replace five defensive players who earned either All-SLC second team or honorable mention in 2008.
Sophomore linebacker Will Henry had eight tackles and junior cornerback Brandon Bruce was credited with seven stops in the contest last week against the Leathernecks.
GAME INFORMATION
Ticket Prices West Side Reserved Seats $20
General Admission $10
SHSU Student (with student ID) Free
Children age 5 and under Free
