Each week leading up to the 85th "Battle of the Piney Woods" at Reliant Stadium in Houston October 23, GoBearkats.com presents the 20 greatest games in Piney Woods history. 

Game #19
October 19, 2002 - Sam Houston 10, Stephen F. Austin 7

In 2002, when an unranked Sam Houston team upset another nationally ranked SFA squad at Lumberjack homecoming in Nacogdoches, a sports writer for the Houston Chronicle suggested that, perhaps, Stephen F. Austin should quit scheduling the Bearkats for homecoming.

He reasoned this was a good idea since the Lumberjacks hadn't had much to celebrate in the past several years against their Southland Conference rival.

That Saturday night in 2002 was no exception for Stephen F. Austin, which came into the game ranked 23rd among the nation's Division I-AA teams while the Bearkats had lost four of six games.

Shut out for three quarters, Sam Houston State scored 10 fourth-quarter points to surprise Stephen F. Austin 10-7 at Homer Bryce Stadium, defeating the Lumberjacks for the third consecutive year.

"I played in two overtime games in high school that we won but this is the most exciting thing, to beat SFA," said Bearkat quarterback Travis Tobaben, who passed for 216 yards. "The team just kept on fighting. A lot of guys grew up today."

Maurice Harris' two-yard touchdown run with 6:36 left proved to be the difference for Sam Houston State (3-4, 1-1), which failed to score on three possessions after advancing to SFA's six-, 13- and eight-yard lines.

"We just kept hanging in," Bearkats coach Ron Randleman said. "Wow. That was fun."

Lumberjacks coach Mike Santiago had a different perspective, especially after seeing a turnover by his team set up Sam Houston's State game-winning TD drive.

"We let it get away," Santiago said. "They (Sam Houston) were playing with momentum in the second half. They didn't look like a 2-4 team ... especially on defense."

Neither team could get untracked to start the game and played a scoreless first half.

But the turning point came with 9:41 remaining and the Lumberjacks (4-3, 1-1) ahead 7-3. Facing third-and-two from the SFA 47, Lumberjacks quarterback Michael Williams dropped back but was pressured by Michael Saumell-Baston. Williams' pass was intercepted by Michael Thompson, who returned the ball 13 yards to the Lumberjacks' 37.

From there, Sam Houston State needed eight plays to take the lead, getting a touchdown on Harris' two-yard plunge off left tackle. Tobaben's seven-yard pass to Marcus Carter on fourth-and-two from the 29 kept the drive alive.

"That pass on fourth down goes on the list of unforgettable big plays for Sam Houston in this series" Randleman said.

On their previous possession, the Bearkats converted a fourth down that led to Joey Price's 42-yard field goal, cutting SFA's lead to 7-3 with 11:28 left in the fourth.

Williams, who completed 10 of 17 passes for 83 yards and ran for 31 yards, directed the Lumberjacks' only scoring drive as SFA marched 86 yards in 14 plays, taking 6:25 off the clock to open the second half.

Williams connected with Kevin Landry on a three-yard scoring pass, and Stephen Coker's extra point with 8:35 remaining in the third quarter gave the Lumberjacks a 7-0 lead.

Williams, a senior from Cypress Springs, got off a 64-yard punt to the Sam Houston State two with 5:13 left and the Lumberjacks trailing 10-7. Facing fourth-and-four from his 34, Williams was in shotgun formation, but the Bearkats were not sure what SFA was going to do and had no one back to field a punt. So Williams took the snap and punted the ball, where it died at the Sam Houston State two.

The Lumberjacks were hoping to hold the Bearkats and get the ball back after a punt, but Sam Houston State had other ideas.

The Bearkats picked up two first downs, including a 39-yard pass from Tobaben to Michael Darnell, before having to punt with 47 seconds remaining. But with no timeouts, SFA was left stranded at its 24 as the clock ran out.

A new chapter in the "Battle of the Piney Woods" football rivalry begins Saturday, Oct. 23 when Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin meet at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

The move of the series to Reliant Stadium for the next four seasons comes from a partnership between Lone Star Sports & Entertainment (LSSE) and the two universities. LSSE is an independent event management company which is closely affiliated with the NFL's Houston Texans.

Battle of the Piney Woods tickets are now on sale through the university's athletic websites at www.gobearkats.com. Fans also can purchase tickets at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone at Bowers Stadium or by calling ticket office at (936) 294-1729.

Ticket prices range from $15 to $35. Sam Houston State season ticket holders will have premium ticket locations included in their packages. Only lower bowl seating will be open at Reliant Stadium for the "Battle of the Piney Woods." Sam Houston fans will be seated on the west side of the stadium while the SFA section will be on the east side.

Previous articles in this series

Battle of the Piney Woods -- Greatest Games:
1.  Sam Houston's first victory over SFA -- Bearkats 6, Jacks 0 -- 1925.
2.  Kats earn first conference title -- Bearkats 20, Jacks 0 -- 1930
3.  Thanksgiving Day thriller -- Bearkats 13, Jacks 6 -- 1938
4.  Win earns Kats' first post-season game -- Bearkats 32, Jacks 20 -- 1952
5.  Mac Moore runs over Lumberjacks -- Bearkats 25, Jacks 14 -- 1953
6.  Victory gives Sam first Lone Star title -- Bearkats 26, Jacks 6 -- 1955
7.  Shutout of SFA completes first unbeaten season -- Bearkats 31, Jacks 6 -- 1956
8.  Rain soaked upset spoils SFA Homecoming -- Bearkats 6, Jacks 0 -- 1959
9.  Halloween win paves way to national title  -- Bearkats 21, Jacks 8 -- 1964
10. Kats grind out win on way to 8-win season -- Bearkats 25, Jacks 18 -- 1970
11.) SFA forced to share league title with Kats -- Bearkats 28, Jacks 21 -- 1985
12.) Last minute heroics earn SHSU league title -- Bearkats 30, Jacks 26 -- 1986
13.) Victory in first Southland Piney Woods battle -- Bearkats 31, Jacks 17 -- 1987
14.) Sam Houston wins see-saw Homecoming victory -- Bearkats 34, Jacks 23 -- 1992
15.) Late punt return sinks No. 4 SFA -- Bearkats 14, Jacks 10 -- 1996
16.) Fourth down TD run powers upset -- Bearkats 33, Jacks 28 -- 1997
17.) Teams combine for 93 points in 2000 -- Bearkats 52, Jacks 41 -- 2000
18.) Quarterback duel highlights regional TV win -- Bearkats 24, Jacks 21 -- 2001

Next week, victory No. 20 as Sam Houston wins a thriller in Nacogdoches on way to 2004 Southland title