Tim Flanders, Brandon Closner earn Southland honors
10/4/2010 11:20:00 AM | Football
Flanders totaled 153 yards on 25 carries and scored three touchdowns in the non-conference win at Lamar last Saturday. The freshman from Midwest City, Okla., became the first Bearkat freshman to gain more than 100 yards rushing three games in a row.
Only four other Sam Houston State backs in history have posted three consecutive 100-yard performances. Flanders averaged 6.1 yards per carry, scoring touchdowns of 27, 1 and 3 yards.
His 453 yards and six touchdowns in four games already have him ranked fourth on the school's all-time best freshman running back season rushing performances. Averaging more than 113 yards per game, Flanders currently leads the Southland Conference and ranks No. 11 in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision statistics in rushing average.
Closner gave the Bearkats early momentum at Lamar with a 37-yard punt return for Sam Houston State's first touchdown in 38-10 victory. The touchdown marked Sam Houston's first punt return for a score since 2006.
The senior from Arlington, Texas (Seguin), is averaging 9.5 yards per return this season with 114 yards on 12 returns. He ranks No. 2 in the Southland Conference in punt return average.
Closner also received national recognition from College Football Performance.com where he was named as NCAA Division I FCS "Punt Return Specialist of the Week." Flanders earned honorable mention honors as Offensive Performer of the Week.
Sam Houston State takes its 2-2 season record to Thibodaux, La., to open Southland Conference action this Saturday with the Nicholls Colonels in a 4 p.m. contest.
The Bearkats return home to Bowers Stadium for the annual homecoming game with Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday, October 16 at 2 p.m.
Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin will meet in the "Battle of the Piney Woods" at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Saturday, October 23 at 2 p.m.
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.
