Balanced offense, improved defense spelling success for Kats
10/3/2010 7:00:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark - Huntsville Item
The Bearkats keep getting better and better.
Sam Houston State came out and smacked Lamar in the mouth and dominated in all three phases of the game as the Bearkats stormed to a 38-10 win over the Cardinals at Provost Umphrey Stadium on Saturday night.
Running back Tim Flanders became the first freshman in Sam Houston school history to rush for more than 100 yards in three straight games, scoring on runs of 27, 1 and 3 yards to help the Bearkats (2-2) cruise to their second straight victory. Senior wide receiver Brandon Closner returned a punt 39 yards for a touchdown and freshman quarterback Brian Bell threw for 171 yards and another score.
Sam Houston's defense also created three turnovers and completely shut down the Cardinal running attack, holding Lamar (2-3) to minus-23 yards on the ground thanks to three quarterback sacks.
"I thought defensively we did a super job of shutting their running game down early," SHSU head coach Willie Fritz said. "We got a huge play from Closner and he was able to keep his feet and get us on the board. On offense we ran the ball really effectively and we won the takeaway battle.
"It was a good team effort. We are still not where we need to be, but I'm proud of the guys and we made some improvements from last week."
Lamar attacked the Bearkats right out of the gate when junior quarterback Andre Bevil hit wide receiver J.J. Hayes for 32 yards on the first play from scrimmage. But that was about the only thing that went right for Lamar in the first half.
Sam Houston buckled down and forced the Cardinals to turn the ball over on downs. The Bearkats failed to take advantage of a 20-yard run by Flanders, who finished with 153 yards rushing on 25 carries, and were forced to punt.
Lamar again couldn't do anything with the ball, and Closner provided the Kats with the spark they needed when he ran back a punt to make it 7-0 five and a half minutes into the game.
The Bearkats continued to get pressure on Bevil, who threw for a quiet 310 yards, and Lamar managed just a field goal with four more punts and a Sam Houston State interception by safety Kenneth Jenkins the rest of the first half.
Safety Victor Carmichael picked off Bevil in the second half and freshman cornerback Bookie Sneed recovered a fumble. Taylor, linebacker Eric Fieilo and defensive ends Edward Decambre and Coty Gatewood all recorded sacks for the Bearkats.
"We knew they were going to try and test us deep from the beginning," said Taylor, who had a team-high six tackles, one for a loss and a forced fumble. "We knew it was going to be on us as a defense to hold them the whole game. We came out and did that."
Once Closner got the Bearkats on the board, things got out of hand quickly. Bell connected with Seth Patterson for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 with 2:15 left in the opening quarter.
The Cardinals threatened to cut the lead to seven when Octavious Logan returned the following kick 67 yards down to the SHSU 23-yard line. But Taylor sacked Bevil on second-and-goal from the 9 for an 11-yard loss and Sneed broke up a pass in the end zone on third down. Lamar had to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Justin Stout.
The Bearkats broke open the game when Flanders busted loose for a 26-yard touchdown run with 7:43 to go in the second quarter. Wide receiver Kevin Matthews also had a big play on the scoring drive, hauling in a one-handed grab for 17 yards down to the Lamar 26-yard line.
Jenkins intercepted Bevil on the following possession. Bell set up a 1-yard scoring run by Flanders with a 23-yard pass to Grant Merritt and another for 21 to Richard Sincere to send Sam Houston into the break ahead 28-3.
"It all started with the special teams tonight," said Flanders, who has rushed for 453 yards and six touchdowns this season. "The defense played good to get us started off and the offensive line did a great job moving the line of scrimmage."
Flanders scored on a 3-yard run to cap the Bearkats' opening drive of the second half and sophomore Miguel Antonio connected on an 18-yard field goal with 34 seconds left in the third quarter.
Lamar did break a big play in the third quarter for its only touchdown of the game. Bevil hit Marcus Jackson for a 66-yard touchdown to make it 35-10.
Sam Houston controlled the tempo of the game and held the ball for more than 39 minutes thanks to its rushing attack. The Bearkats totaled 275 yards on the ground with Bell picking up 38, Sincere gaining 34 and running backs Ryan Wilson and D.J. Morrow combining for 46.
"I always believe you have to run the ball and stop the other team from running the ball to be successful," Fritz added. "I think coach (Bob) Debesse did a great job calling plays. If you are going to stack the box, we are going to hit some pass plays downtown."
The Bearkats open Southland Conference action next weekend when they head to Thibodaux, La., to face Nicholls.
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. Then its on to Reliant Stadium for the "Battle of the Piney Woods" with SFA in Houston on Saturday October 23.
Tickets for Homecoming, the SFA game at Reliant Stadium, 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.
