Shaw Southland Defensive Player of Week
10/18/2010 11:19:00 AM | Football
Robert Shaw, sophomore safety from Converse/Judson, took the league honors this week after making two big plays that helped Sam Houston earn a 57-7 homecoming victory over Southeastern Louisiana Saturday at Bowers Stadium.
Shaw iced the win with a 54-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter. He also scored on a 24-yard return of a blocked punt for Sam Houston's second touchdown in the first quarter. Vincent Dotson was credited with the block that set the play in motion.
Shaw had five solo tackles in leading a defense that limited Southeastern Louisiana to 287 yards of total offense. The Bearkats held Lion quarterback Tyler Beatty to 32 yards passing and turned three Lions punts into touchdowns to take a 21-0 first-quarter lead.
Shaw's blocked punt TD was his second in two weeks. Against Nicholls, Shaw blocked the punt and recovered it in the end zone for the score.
Previous Sam Houston Southland "Players of the Week" for the 2010 season have been kicker Miguel Antonio (special teams) on Sept. 27; Tim Flanders (offense) and Brandon Closner (special teams) Oct. 4 and Will Henry (defense) on Oct. 11.
Next action for the Sam Houston football team will be the "Battle of the Piney Woods" showdown with Stephen F. Austin Saturday October 23 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
For only the second time in the history of the "Piney Woods" rivalry, both Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin enter the rivalry game tied for first place in the Southland Conference with 2-0 records.
The first time was in 2001 when the Bearkats defeated the Jacks 24-21 in a quarterback duel that matched Josh McCown against Wes Pate, both 2002 NFL draft picks. The Fox Sports Southwest telecast of the contest earned the Southland its highest TV ratings ever for a regional football telecast.
This year's game, to be televised by the Southland TV Network, features another offensive duel pitting the league's top passer, Jeremy Moses of SFA, against the Southland's top runner, Tim Flanders of Sam Houston. Moses has thrown for 1,865 yards and 16 touchdowns this year. Flanders ranks No. 10 in NCAA Division I FCS national statistics with 116.5 yards per game.
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.
