Southland Conference football round-up
11/2/2010 10:09:00 AM | Football
Each team is 3-1 in conference play. SFA beat McNeese State, 32-27, earlier in the year and McNeese State has a 24-7 victory over Northwestern State. SFA and Northwestern State do not play until Nov. 20, the final Saturday of the regular season.
All eight Southland teams are in action Saturday. Central Arkansas, which has won two consecutive games will take on Texas State, which snapped a three-game losing streak with it's come-from-behind win at Stephen F. Austin. The game will be televised by the Southland Conference television Network at 2 p.m.
McNeese State plays at Sam Houston State in the only game of the week between teams at .500 or better in league play.
Stephen F. Austin will try to get back on track at Nicholls at 4 p.m. and Northwestern State will try to win its fourth consecutive game at Southeastern Louisiana, which will be trying to snap a three-game skid.
McNeese State and Sam Houston will play for the 32nd time in that series. McNeese has a commanding 23-7-1 lead in the series and has won the last five games, including 63-42 last year.
Despite its first loss in seven games, Stephen F. Austin remains ranked among the top-10 teams in the two primary polls in the Football Championship Subdivision. The Lumberjacks had climbed as high as No. 3 last week in the coaches' poll, but slipped to No. 9 in this week's poll. SFA dropped from No. 4 in The Sports Network/Fathead.com Top 25 to No. 10 this week. McNeese State is the only other Southland team receiving votes in the coaches poll, while McNeese State, Texas State, Central Arkansas and Northwestern State all are receiving votes in The Sports Network poll.
Last week's Southland games featured exciting fnishes.
Down 24-0 in the fourth quarter, Texas State rattled off 27 points in the final 9:21 to hand Stephen F. Austin its first conference loss, giving the Lumberjacks their first conference loss this season and ending their six-game win streak. The win by Texas State snapped its own three-game slide and was its first league win this season. Tim Hawkins found Daren Dillard for a 28-yard scoring strike in what proved to be the game winner. Hawkins ran for 121 yards and completed 18-of-25 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns.
Northwetern State quarterback Paul Harris scored from the 1-yard line in the second overtime to lift the Demons to a 23-20 victory over Sam Houston State. Harris finished the game with a career-best 290 passing yards in guiding Northwestern to its third consecutive victory. The Demons leas won three straight games during the 2004 season when it won a share of the conference title.
Sam Houston State has lost back-to-back games after falling at Northwestern State in double overtime last Saturday. The Bearkats had won four consecutive game prior to falling to Stephen F. Austin Oct. 23. Tim Flanders left the game in the first quarter with only 20 yards on five carries, ending his streak of six straight games with 100 or more rushing yards. The Bearkats are second in the nation, averaging 3.3 sacks per game. They also rank 11th in rush defense, limiting opponents to 93.6 yards per game.
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.
