Even miracle wasn't enough for Kats Saturday
10/31/2010 7:08:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark The Huntsville Item
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Even a Turpin Stadium miracle couldn't save the Bearkats on Saturday night.
Senior quarterback Bryan Randolph came off the bench and hit junior Seth Patterson for a 25-yard touchdown on fourth-and-10 in the first overtime to force a second.
Northwestern State was the aggressor, while Sam Houston played it conservative and the Demons moved into a tie for first place in the Southland Conference with a thrilling 23-20 victory in double overtime.
With a chance to score first in the second extra period, the Bearkats (2-2 in SLC, 4-4 overall) ran the ball five straight plays before finally attempting a pass on third-and-11.
Sam Houston settled for a 31-yard field goal by sophomore Miguel Antonio to grab a 20-17 lead.
The Demons (3-1, 4-4) put the ball into the hands of quarterback Paul Harris and the sophomore completed a 21-yard pass to tight end Justin Aldredge on first down to the Sam Houston 4-yard line. Two plays later, Harris punched it in from a yard out to seal the win.
"We probably took about five or six shots downfield tonight, and we either overthrew them or couldn't track it down," SHSU head coach Willie Fritz said.
"We have to get better at throwing the ball. We have to develop a passing game to keep teams from stacking the box."
The Bearkats didn't do themselves any favors Saturday night. Northwestern State scored twice in regulation and on both drives, Sam Houston committed a pair of 15-yard penalties that kept the Demons rolling.
Antonio gave the Bearkats a 3-0 lead in the first quarter on a 38-yard field goal. Northwestern answered to tie the game in the second and took the lead to begin the third with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Bradley Brown.
Sam Houston knotted the game at 10 on a 3-yard scoring strike from freshman quarterback Brian Bell to Patterson with 7:45 left in the third.
Sophomore cornerback Daxton Swanson jumped a route and picked off Harris to give the Kats a chance to win it in regulation.
Bell found Patterson for a 23-yard completion on second-and-24 from the Demon 45 to set up a potential game-winning field goal with three seconds to go.
Antonio sailed the 36-yard kick wide left to send it into overtime.
"I told our guys that it was amazing that we came this close," Fritz said. "We had 10 to 15 mistakes that cost us. We played like a young team tonight. I was disappointed in our energy early in the ballgame. We just aren't talented enough to roll the ball out there and play."
The Demons got the ball on offense to start the first overtime period. A shoddy tackling job led to a 20-yard scoring pass from Harris to Louis Hollier to make it 17-10.
Bell got hurt on Sam Houston's first play and Randolph was dropped for a 3-yard loss on the second. After a 3-yard run by freshman running back Ryan Wilson, Randolph lofted a pass into the right corner of the end zone on a last-ditch effort to extend the game.
Patterson outjumped the defenders and tipped the ball into his chest to send the game into another overtime.
"It was designed for everyone to go four vertical (routes) deep," Patterson said.
"Randolph made a great throw and it got tipped and came right down to me. I can't explain it better than that. Randolph threw a great ball and it was something for him to come straight off the bench and do that."
Sam Houston was lucky the game was even close. Northwestern State had the ball six times near midfield to start drives in regulation.
Even with the mistakes, the Bearkat defense dodged bullet after bullet. Sam Houston forced two turnovers and even came up with a big stop on fourth down at the Bearkat 5-yard line in the third quarter.
Sam Houston just couldn't piece together anything on offense.
"We just had to step up, it is a team thing," Swanson said. "When the offense isn't doing well the defense has to make plays. When the defense isn't doing well, the offense has to step up.
"Unfortunately it didn't go our way tonight and we have to learn from it."
Sam Houston really missed freshman running back Tim Flanders, the SLC's leading rusher who injured his ankle in last week's loss to Stephen F. Austin and saw limited action in the first quarter Saturday. Wilson filled in and carried the ball 26 times for 125 yards as the Bearkats picked up 241 on the ground.
The difference was that Harris made some big plays for the Demons with his arm, throwing for 290 yards and two scores. Sam Houston had just 109 yards passing on nine completions.
The Bearkats have two home football games remaining as Sam Houston returns to Bowers Stadium on Saturday November 6 to play host to McNeese State and wraps up the 2010 regular season on Saturday November 20 against Texas State. Kickoff for both games is 2 p.m.
The McNeese State contest November 6 is the four annual "Pinkout" game at Bowers promoting breast cancer awareness and research. Special "Pink Out Kats for the Cause" t-shirts will be on sale with 25 per cent of the proceeds supporting breast cancer awareness. The shirts will be sold during pregame tailgate from 12 noon to 2 p.m.
The Texas State game November 20 is "Senior Day" at Bowers with special pregame ceremonies honoring the five seniors on the 2010 team. The Bearkats vs. Bobcats matchup also is "Kids Day." Kids 17 years of age and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult with a paid ticket. Up to four youngsters may accompany each adult.
Tickets for both home games and other Bearkat home events are on sale online now at www.gobearkats.com/tickets . Fans also may purchase tickets at the Sam Houston office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
