Each week leading up to the 85th "Battle of the Piney Woods" at Reliant Stadium in Houston October 23, GoBearkats.com presents the 20 greatest games in Piney Woods history.
Game #6
November 19, 1955 - Sam Houston 27, Stephen F. Austin 6
After consecutive post-season bowl appearances and top three Lone Star Conference finishes in 1952 and 1953, the Bearkats dropped to fourth place in the league in 1954.
Despite a 47-25 victory over Stephen F. Austin in the season finale, the Bearkats finished behind the rival Lumberjacks in the Lone Star standings for only the second time since World War II.
Sam Houston head coach Paul "Red" Pierce reloaded the next season as the 1955 race proved to be one of the tightest in LSC history.
The Bearkats rolled through their first three conference games, defeating Sul Ross 47-7, Texas A&I 36-25 and Lamar 46-13 before a 14-0 Homecoming loss to East Texas.
However, following a thrilling 16-14 victory over Southwest Texas State and a 27-7 win by the Bobcats over East Texas, the conference championship was on the line when the Bearkats traveled to Nacogdoches for the 1955 season finale.
Sam Houston's rushing attack was the best in the conference, averaging 255 yards per game thanks to Bennie Boles, a 160-pound halfback from Center . Quarterback Allen Boren also could put the ball in the air when necessary, ranking third in the Lone Star in passing yardage.
The Bearkats opened the scoring with a 27-yard run up the middle by fullback Herman Tidwell.
"Devastating ground play and an equally adept passing attack provided the finishing touchdowns for the Sam Houston offense," the Alcalde reported.
SFA equalized after an 88-yard drive. But Sam Houston's defense turned the game around with a fumble recovery at the SFA 36-yard-line, setting up a score by Boles.
"Sam Houston was never again in trouble as the Bearkats rolled through the Jacks to cinch a tie for the Lone State Conference championship," reported the Sam Houston Alcaldi.
East Texas and Southwest Texas joined the Bearkats in the first three-way tie for the football championship in Lone Star Conference history. All three ended conference action with 5-1 records.
The title was Sam Houston's first league crown in the Lone Star and the Bearkats' second in school history.
Boles ended the season with 906 yards rushing on 133 carries, then the second highest single season rushing total by a Bearkat back. The halfback was a first team All-Lone Star and Associated Press Little All-America selection.
Bearkat center J. W. Towns also was named to the All-Lone Star first team. Boren, end Tommy Davis and tackle Jerry Hentschel all were named to the All-Lone Star Conference second team.
Boren would return to Sam Houston as head football coach in 1972 and 1973. Davis, who later became a math professor at the university, was inducted into the Southland Conference Hall of Honor after more than three decades of service as Sam Houston's faculty athletic representative.
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.
Ticket prices range from $15 to $35. Sam Houston State season ticket holders will have premium ticket locations included in their packages. Only lower bowl seating will be open at Reliant Stadium for the "Battle of the Piney Woods." Sam Houston fans will be seated on the west side of the stadium while the SFA section will be on the east side.
Battle of the Piney Woods
Previous 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
Next Week - Victory over SFA completes Kats' only unbeaten, untied season (1956)
