Southland football roundup for regular season final week
11/16/2010 6:48:00 AM | Football
Meanwhile Sam Houston will be looking to end the 2010 season on a roll after picking up its first victory ever in Conway, Ark., with last weekend's 20-13 victory over the Central Arkansas Bears.
When Texas State visits Sam Houston State Saturday at 2 p.m., it will mark the 87th meeting between the schools. The Bobcats lead the all-time series 48-34-4 and have won the last two games in the series, including 28-20 last year and 48-45 in overtime in 2008, the last time the teams played in Huntsville.
The Lumberjacks play host to Northwestern State Saturday at 2 p.m. on the Southland Conference Television Network, while McNeese visits Central Arkansas at 3 p.m. If both teams win, they would repeat as co-champions, though the Lumberjacks would earn the league's automatic berth in the NCAA playoffs by virtue of their 32-27 victory over the Cowboys on Oct. 9.
Stephen F. Austin can clinch the title outright if Central Arkansas can pull the upset of McNeese. The Cowboys would earn an outright title if they win and Northwestern State beats the Lumberjacks in Nacogdoches, Texas. If the Demons can beat SFA, they are also pulling for a Central Arkansas victory over McNeese. Should that happen, Northwestern would earn a share of the conference crown, but more importantly, would lock up the league's playoff bid.
A Southland Conference championship by Stephen F. Austin would be its fourth since joining the league in 1987. McNeese is chasing its 14th championship since it became a Southland member in 1972. It would also be the school's seventh since 2000 and fourth in the last five seasons. Northwestern State has won four championships since 1987 though has not won a title since 2004.
This week's conference slate gets underway Thursday when Southeastern Louisiana visits Nicholls at 6 p.m. on the Southland Conference Television Network. Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin will play for Chief Caddo, the nation's largest rivalry trophy at 7-foot-6-inches and 320 pounds, when the two meet Saturday at 2 p.m. on Southland TV. Also Saturday, Texas State visits Sam Houston State at 2 p.m. and McNeese State visits Central Arkansas at 3 p.m.
The 20-team bracket for the NCAA playoffs will be announced Sunday at 9 a.m., CST, on ESPNU. Twelve teams receive a bye in the opening round, but eight teams will open play Nov. 27. The winners of those four games advance to face the top-four national seeds Dec. 4, when there will be a total of eight games. The quarterfinals will be played Dec. 10-11 and the semifinals will be played Dec. 17-18. The 2011 NCAA Division I Football Championship will be decided Jan. 7, 2011 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas.
Northwestern State and Stephen F. Austin are playing for th 67th time. The Demons have a 42-21-3 advantage in the all-time series and lead the Chief Caddo series by a margin of 28-15-1. The teams began playing for the nation's largest rivalry trophy in 1961. SFA won 19-10 last year in Natchitoches to snap a two-game skid to the Demons, who won 34-24 in Nacogdoches in 2008.
Saturday will be the fifth meeting between McNeese State and Central Arkansas and the Cowboys lead the series 3-1 after winning 21-7 last year in Lake Charles. The Bears won 47-30 in 2008, the only time the teams have played in Conway.
Nicholls corralled four interceptions and turned them into 21 points to claim a surprising 37-7 victory at Northwestern State to snap the Demons' four-game win streak. The Colonels held Northwestern to just 254 yards of total offense. Nicholls was led by quarterback LaQuinitn Caston's four touchdowns. He carried the ball 18 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns while completing 7-of-11 passes for 79 yards and a score.
Sam Houston State used two touchdown runs by Richard Sincere to snap a three-game skid as the Bearkats claimed a 20-13 triumph over Central Arkansas. The win also was Sam Houston's first in Conway. Ridgeway Frank totaled 70 yards on 15 carries. The Bearkats, who scored on three of their first four possessions, did not allow the Bears to score a touchdown until just under five minutes to play.
McNeese State remained in contention for at least a share of its second consecutive Southland title with a 36-6 victory over Texas State that ran its win streak to four. The Cowboys got an 87-yard kickoff return by Bernardo Henry and a 74-yard interception from Malcolm Bronson to bolster an offense that totaled 372 yards, including 295 on the ground. Andre Anderson led the way, averaging 9.4 yards per run on his 18 carries, to total 170 yards.
Central Arkansas had a chance to reach eight victories going into last week's home date with Sam Houston State, but the Bearkats won 20-13. The Bears rank 21st nationally with 249.4 passing yards per game. Quarterback Nathan Dick is averaging 251.6 yards per game to rank 21st. Defensively, the Bears are ranked among the FCS leaders, averaging 8.1 tackles for loss to tie for ninth. Jestin Love is tied for 12th, averaging .56 interceptions per game. UCA has a chance to win their seventh game for the third time in five years.
Prior to Sam Houston State's 20-13 victory at Central Arkansas, the Bearkats had lost three consecutive games to the three teams ranked ahead of them in the standings. Now they are trying to snap a two-game losing streak in the Texas State series. Sam Houston ranks seventh in the FCS in rush defense, allowing only 96.4 ground yards per game. The return game has been especially good this season, as well. The Bearkats rank 15th in the FCS in kick returns (23.6) and 25th in punt returns (11.9).
Sam Houston closes out the 2010 football regular season by hosting Texas State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 20. The annual "Bearkat-Bobcat Battle" will be "Kids' Day" at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. Youngsters 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.
The Villas of Sycamore is sponsoring "Show Your Spirit Day" for the final game as well. Prizes include a 42-inch Sony LED big screen television, a Garmin NUVI 1300 GPS system and an 8GB IPOD Nano. Any currently enrolled Sam Houston student may participate.
To enter, stop by the Villas of Sycamore tent at the Bearkat Alley Tailgate at 1 p.m. for the Villas of Sycamore "Show Your Spirit" prelims. Each entrant will have the opportunity to show his or her Bearkat spirit for the judges. Three finalists will be chosen for the finals to be held during halftime of the football game. Contestants will be judged on dress, school spirit and dance moves.
Tickets for the Sam Houston vs. Texas State football game 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.
