Win over Lions sets up showdown with SFA
10/17/2010 7:52:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark Huntsville Item
The Bearkats are hitting their stride at the right moment.
Sam Houston State sent a message to the rest of the Southland Conference by dismantling Southeastern Louisiana 57-7 on Saturday afternoon at Bowers Stadium.
The youthful Bearkats once again dominated in all three phases of the game.
Sophomore safety Robert Shaw returned a blocked punt and an interception for touchdowns. Freshman running back Tim Flanders set a school record with his fifth consecutive 100-yard rushing performance. And Sam Houston's defense was so menacing that the Lions never looked comfortable in a one-sided affair that was 21-0 before the first quarter was finished.
More importantly, the Bearkats (4-2) have now won four straight and are 2-0 in SLC action heading into next weekend's Battle of the Piney Woods showdown with archrival Stephen F. Austin at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
"I told the guys that we played really well in all three phases," SHSU head coach Willie Fritz said. "Offensively, we ran the ball extremely well and threw the ball effectively when we really needed to, hitting some big plays so they couldn't really gang up in the box against us. We started out fast and that really helps.
"Defensively, they would have been under 200 yards, but we had a busted play that went for 95 yards. I thought the defense played really, really well."
The game got out of hand early. The Bearkats shut down Southeastern Louisiana's running game and forced three-and-outs on the Lions' first five possessions of the game.
Sam Houston consistently had Southeastern on its heels with third-and-long situations. The Bearkats were able to pin their ears back and get after quarterback Tyler Beatty, who was pulled late in the second quarter and finished with just 5-of-17 passing for 32 yards.
The Kats took advantage of excellent field position and made the Lions pay. Flanders, who finished with 141 yards on 20 carries, scored on a 15-yard run with 11:44 to go in the first quarter.
For the second week in a row, Sam Houston threw a block party. Senior Vincent Dotson slapped a punt off the foot of Beau Mothe that Shaw recovered and took 24 yards to the house for another score to make it 14-0 seven minutes later.
Mothe shanked another punt on the next possession and wide receiver Richard Sincere hit Kevin Matthews with a 21-yard reverse pass to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Flanders to make it 21-0 with three minutes to go in the opening quarter.
"It was a good effort by the team. Both sides worked hard," said Shaw, who also blocked a punt and scored a touchdown in last week's 26-7 win over Nicholls. "We played with a lot of intensity. Everybody was out there flying around excited. From the get-go we jumped out there and put it on them."
The Bearkats kept pouring it on. The Lions (2-4, 1-1) didn't pick up their first first down until Beatty hit wide receiver Brandon Collins for a 22-yard gain at the beginning of the second quarter.
But if Southeastern gained any momentum from the play, it was short-lived. The Lions were forced to punt on their first seven possessions of the half, and the final two resulted in turnover on downs.
Sam Houston found the end zone two more times in the second quarter to turn the game into a laugher. Freshman quarterback Brian Bell hooked up with Matthews for a 38-yard touchdown pass.
Bell also tacked on a 1-yard scoring run with 10 seconds to go before the half after junior linebacker Kash David ended a Lions' drive by sacking Beatty on fourth down inside SHSU territory.
The Bearkats have played like a different team during its four-game winning streak. Since a 56-14 loss at Western Illinois on Sept. 18, Sam Houston's defense has been destructive and the offense and special teams have made big plays to back it up.
"Everybody knows we are a real young team, but that is just part of growing up," Flanders said. "I'm pretty sure that since that game on, we have been maturing every day."
The only mistake the Bearkats made came early in the second half. After punter Matt Foster pinned the Lions inside their own 5-yard line, backup quarterback Brian Young found a wide-open Simmie Yarborough for a 95-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 34-7.
The Bearkats got stagnant on offense in the third quarter, opening the door a little for the Lions.
Southeastern began to show signs of life when the Lions went with a no-huddle offense. But Sam Houston didn't break and quickly slammed that door shut.
Shaw picked off a pass from Young and returned it 54-yards to put the Bearkats back on top 41-7. Sophomore running back D.J. Morrow took it in from 11 yards out for another score.
Sophomore linebacker Eric Fieilo sacked Young for a safety and backup quarterback Bryan Randolph found the end zone on a 17-yard option keeper to finish off the scoring.
Sam Houston held the Lions to 53 yards on the ground while gaining almost 400 yards of total offense. The Bearkats also finished with three sacks.
"I'm learning more and more about our guys each week," Fritz said. "Obviously we would have been happy with a victory by one point. These guys looked really good last week, but sometimes when you have that long travel trip it is difficult. We also came out of the box fast and they got behind the eight-ball.
"It was just a good start from the beginning to the end in all three phases."
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.
