Game #18
October 18, 2001 - Sam Houston 24, Stephen F. Austin 21

During the long history of the "Battle of the Piney Woods" between SFA and Sam Houston, both teams have put outstanding quarterbacks on the field. In Huntsville in 2001, two of the best, Josh McCown and Wes Pate, dueled head to head.

The contest was played on a Thursday night at Bowers Stadium in a telecast by Fox Sports Southwest that still stands as the most watched Southland Conference football TV game ever.

McCown, a transfer from SMU, led Sam Houston to victory as he made the big plays in a huge matchup.

A senior transfer, McCown passed and ran the Bearkats to a 24-21 win over Stephen F. Austin in a Southland Football League showdown at Bowers Stadium. With the victory, the Bearkats took over sole possession of first place in the Southland Conference.

At 3-0, Sam Houston stood as the lone unbeaten team in the seven-team conference and owned a 6-1 for the first time since 1986.

"By no means is the race over," said Sam Houston State coach Ron Randleman. "But we're in better shape now, than if we hadn't won it. Two very good football teams playing real hard, making plays, wanting to do something. And we were able to answer."

No play was as important than P.J. Traylor's 14-yard interception return for touchdown that gave Sam Houston State a 14-7 lead with 1:42 left in the first half.

"Our defense played great the whole ballgame," Randleman said. "We didn't get our offense going in the first quarter. But then, after that, we played well offensively."

The Bearkats led 24-14 late in the game, but things got interesting in the final two minutes.

SFA's David Crocker picked up a fumble and returned it 52 yards to the Bearkats' 28-yard line. A holding penalty brought the ball back to the 43. Five plays later SFA scored on a 10-yard pass from quarterback Wes Pate to Anthony Dingle with 1:53 remaining in the game.

Sam Houston Brian Null recovered the ensuing on-side kick and returned it 33 yards to SFA's 17-yard line. The Bearkats failed to run out the clock but by the time SFA had possession, there were only eight seconds remaining and the Lumberjacks (4-3, 2-1) were 92 yards from the end zone. The game ended on the SFA 44 following a 36-yard reception.

"Winning is the reason I came here," said McCown, who transferred to Sam Houston in the spring. "That's what it is, wins and losses. Nothing against SMU, I want to see them do well. I still have friends there.

"I had only year of eligibility to turn it around so I wanted to come to a (NCAA Division I-AA) program. And the caliber of football here is great. So far, it's worked real well."

The 6-4, 223-pound McCown passed for 159 yards and rushed for 98 yards including runs of 16 and 21 yards in the Bearkats' fourth-quarter drive that resulted in Ryan Price's 22-yard field goal that gave the Bearkats a 24-14 advantage with 10:26 left in the game.

"The guy can run, he can throw it, he's a great football player," Randleman said. "The guy is tough. Both quarterbacks, I mean they got hit and got hit and just hung in there. We're proud to have Josh. He took a lot of hits."

McCown completed 15-of-33 passes including touchdown passes of 12 and 32 yards to Jonathon Cooper, the conference's leading receiver who had five receptions for 88 yards.

SFA marched 73 yards to tie the score at 14 on the opening possession of the second half. That was as close as the Lumberjacks would get.

"We got beat in the kicking game," said SFA coach Mike Santiago.

Usually reliable Ryan Rossner missed three field goals for SFA, who outgained the Bearkats 372-368.

Pate completed 20-of-35 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns - both to Dingle.

Down 14-7 at halftime, Pate's one-yard run tied the game 14-14.

Sam Houston regained the lead 21-14 on a 32-yard scoring pass from McCown to Cooper with 9:09 left in the third quarter.

Led by McCown, the Bearkats rolled to a 10-3 record in 2001, winning the Southland Conference and reaching the NCAA Division I championship quarterfinals. Fourteen Bearkats earned either first team, second team or honorable mention All-Southland honors. Three went on to play in the NFL.

A new chapter in the "Battle of the Piney Woods" football rivalry begins Saturday, Oct. 23 when Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin meet at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

The move of the series to Reliant Stadium for the next four seasons comes from a partnership between Lone Star Sports & Entertainment (LSSE) and the two universities. LSSE is an independent event management company which is closely affiliated with the NFL's Houston Texans.

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.

Battle of the Piney Woods -- Greatest Games:
1.  Sam Houston's first victory over SFA -- Bearkats 6, Jacks 0 -- 1925.
2.  Kats earn first conference title -- Bearkats 20, Jacks 0 -- 1930
3.  Thanksgiving Day thriller -- Bearkats 13, Jacks 6 -- 1938
4.  Win earns Kats' first post-season game -- Bearkats 32, Jacks 20 -- 1952
5.  Mac Moore runs over Lumberjacks -- Bearkats 25, Jacks 14 -- 1953
6.  Victory gives Sam first Lone Star title -- Bearkats 26, Jacks 6 -- 1955
7.  Shutout of SFA completes first unbeaten season -- Bearkats 31, Jacks 6 -- 1956
8.  Rain soaked upset spoils SFA Homecoming -- Bearkats 6, Jacks 0 -- 1959
9.  Halloween win paves way to national title  -- Bearkats 21, Jacks 8 -- 1964
10. Kats grind out win on way to 8-win season -- Bearkats 25, Jacks 18 -- 1970
11.) SFA forced to share league title with Kats -- Bearkats 28, Jacks 21 -- 1985
12.) Last minute heroics earn SHSU league title -- Bearkats 30, Jacks 26 -- 1986
13.) Victory in first Southland Piney Woods battle -- Bearkats 31, Jacks 17 -- 1987
14.) Sam Houston wins see-saw Homecoming victory -- Bearkats 34, Jacks 23 -- 1992
15.) Late punt return sinks No. 4 SFA -- Bearkats 14, Jacks 10 -- 1996
16.) Fourth down TD run powers upset -- Bearkats 33, Jacks 28 -- 1997
17.) Teams combine for 93 points in 2000 -- Bearkats 52, Jacks 41 -- 2000

Next week: Sam Houston edges SFA by field goal on way to Southland title in 2004