BEAUMONT -- Tim Flanders rushed for 153 yards and one touchdown and Brian Bell passed for 171 yards and another score to lead Sam Houston to a 38-10 non-conference victory over Lamar before a standing room only crowd of 17,187 at Humphrey Provost Stadium Saturday night.
The two freshmen, along with Brandon Closner who returned a punt for a touchdonw, powered the Bearkat offense to 425 total offense yards while the Sam Houston defense limited Lamar to 284 total yards. The game marked the first meeting of Sam Houston and Lamar on the gridiron since Lamar dropped football in 1989.
"I thought Closner gave us a boost with that punt return early," SHSU head coach Willie Fritz said. "That seemed to get us going early in the game and then our offense started to click. I thought it was important for us to get off to a fast start.
Flanders became the only the second Bearkat freshman to post three 100-plus rushing performances in one season and the first to do it three consecutive games. Joe Rauls, a member of the Kats' 2001 Southland championship team, also had three 100-yard performances his freshman year in 1998.
Bell completed 13 of 18 passes. Bell also rushed for 38 yards to roll up 191 yards total offense.
"Bell made some plays for us tonight," Fritz said. "He is just very savvy and was able to create some stuff for us. I also thought Richard Sincere made some really nice catches."
Darnell Taylor and Bookie Sneed led the Kat defense, each with five tackles.
Special teams play started the first half scoring spree for the Bearkats. Punter Matt Foster's 46-yard punt pinned down the Cardinals on their own four-yard line. Lamar was forced to punt out of the end zone and Closner took the return back 39 yards for a score to put Sam Houston up 7-0 with 9:39 to play in the first quarter.
On the Bearkats' next possession, quarterback Brian Bell directed an 11-play, 58-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown pass to Seth Patterson in the left corner of the end zone. The big play of the drive was a 23-yard pass to Grant Merritt for a first down at the Cardinal 21-yard line. Miguel Antonio's extra point made it 14-0 with 2:15 left in the opening period.
Antonio Miguel returned the ensuing kickoff 67 yards to the SHSU 23-yard line. Lamar drove down to the three, but a quarterback sack by Eric Fieilo and a pass breakup in the end zone by Booky Sneed forced the Cardinals to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Justin Stout just nine seconds into the second quarter.
Flanders scored touchdowns on 27-yard and one-yard runs to put Sam Houston up 28-3 at intermission. The two drives 59 and 67 yards, respectively. Flanders 27-yard tally came on a fourth-and-one play. A 23-yard scramble by Bell on third down at the Lamar 24 set up the final score of the half.
Sam Houston out-gained Lamar in total offense yards 234 to 92 in the first 30 minutes of play.
"I thought coach (Scott) Stoker did a great job tonight putting them in position to make plays," Fritz said. "We probably could have made a few more interceptions. We were just very active and always around the ball."
Flanders became the 15th Bearkat running back to rush for three or more touchdowns in one game with a three-yard scamper around right end with 9:31 to go in the third. The score capped the opening drive of the second half with the Kats going 67 yards in nine plays. Bell hit Patterson for a 15-yard pass to the 26-yard line and Richard Sincere dashed 16 yards on a reverse to the two to set up the score.
After the kickoff, quarterback Andre Bevil hit Marcus Johnson over the middle for a 66-yard scoring pass as the play to cut the margin to 35-10 with 4:46 to play in the third.
Bell led the Bearkats 59 yards in nine plays for an 18-yard field goal by Antonio with 34 seconds remaining in the third. Flanders 22-yard run to the one set up the score as Sam Houston took a 38-10 into the final period.
Following next week's game at Nicholls, the Bearkats will return home to Bowers Stadium will be Saturday October 16 for the 2010 homecoming game with Southeastern Louisiana.
Tickets for Homecoming, the "Bearkats for the Cause" Pink Out game with McNeese Saturday November 5 and the regular season finale with Texas State November 19 are onsale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at 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 is 936 294-1729.
