Game #16
November 11, 1997 - Sam Houston 33, Stephen F. Austin 28

Five times during their NCAA Division I football history, Sam Houston State has knocked off top 10 FCS nationally ranked teams. Two of those five victories involved upsets of Stephen F. Austin.

Incredibily, the two upsets came in back-to-back "Battles of the Piney Woods" in games that were in no way mirror images of one another.

In 1996, a fourth-quarter punt return for a touchdown in Nacogdoches knocked SFA out of a No. 4 national ranking. The contest was a defensive struggle with only 24 points and less than 500 yards total offense between the two foes.

When the Lumberjacks came to Huntsville sporting a No. 7 national ranking, they didn't suspect the upset was about to happen again. And it would come in a contest with explosive plays, 61 points and nearly 1,000 yards of total offense that would be decided on a fourth-and-one play with less than two minutes remaining.

Stephen F. Austin came into the contest with a 6-1 record standing atop the Southland Conference standings with a perfect 4-0 league mark. The only blemish on their record a 24-10 loss to Montana in Missoula. Sam Houston was at the opposite end of the spectrum, holding a 3-5 season mark with only one victory in four league games.

The Lumberjacks scored first, dring 72 yards in 13 plays for a six-yard touchdown run by Karon Coleman just six minutes into the game.

Fullback Bennie Wylie tied the contest 7-7 with a one-yard TD plunge on fourth-and-goal. The Bearkats also had converted on fourth-and-one at the SFA 4 to keep the drive alive. That SHSU fourth-and-one success was an omen of things to come.

Travis Fallon hit SFA's big tight end Mikhael Ricks for a 70-yard touchdown pass to put the Jacks up 14-7 five minutes before intermission.

Sam Houston quarterback Chad Schramek, starting for the first time since the third game of the year, engineered a nifty nine-play 74-yard drive for a James Dummer 21-yard field goal to cut the margin to 14-10 on the final play of the first half. Following the second half kickoff, Schramek continued to have a hot hand. He hit Derrick Kent for a 46-yard pass to the SFA six to set up a 25-yard field goal by Dummer to cut the margin to 14-13.

Peyton Jones extended the SFA lead to 21-13 with a one-yard run at the 8:16 mark in the third period. Sam Houston answered with a nine-yard tally by Erik Polk. Schramek dashed around end for a successful two point conversion to tie the contest 21-21.

Polk scored again on an 11-yard run with 13:15 to play in the fourth quarter to give Sam Houston its first lead of the game, 27-21, just two minutes into the fourth quarter. The point after attempt failed.

Four minutes later SFA regained the lead as Ricks caught a 44-yard pass to set up a one-yard score by Peyton Jones. Ryan Smith's extra point was good and the Jacks were back in front by one, 28-27 with 9:59 remaining.

With less than two minutes to play, the Bearkats' last chance to drive in for a winning score came when Sam Houston took over at their own 43-yard line. Three plays later, the Kats faced fourth-and-one at the SFA 48.

Lighting struck. Wylie burst through the line into daylight and dashed 48-yards for the winning touchdown with 1:22 to play.

"It was unbelievable," Wylie said. "Our line opened up and big hole and suddenly there was nothing between me and the goalline but daylight. It was off to the races."

The two point conversion attempt failed, but the damage was done. SFA drove down inside the 20-yard line in the final minute but the Bearkat defense held. Sam Houston had pinned a 33-28 loss on the Jacks, knocking SFA out of a top 10 ranking again and spoiling Stephen F. Austin's chances for a league title and a post-season playoff berth.

Schramek ended the day with 350 yards passing, the most ever by a Bearkat quarterback in a game at Bowers Stadium and the fourth single game performance by an SHSU passer to that date. The Sam Houston offense rolled up 522 total offense yards. Schramek earned Southland "Offensive Player of the Week" honors for his performance.

"I don't know why I'm fortunate to play well against SFA," Schramek said. Oddly the senior's three other top passing performances had come against the Lumberjacks. "We threw the ball 40 times today. I don't think I've ever thrown that much since I've been here. Coach (Ron) Randleman just kept calling the plays."

The performance in the upset also made Schramek the sixth Sam Houston player to pass for more than 3,000 career yards.

Wylie ended the day with five carries for 95 yards, three of those runs picking up first downs on fourth-and-one situations -- the last carry the biggest.

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
6.) Kats clinch first Lone Star title -- Bearkats 27, Jacks 6 -- 1954
7.) Shutout completes perfect season -- Bearkats 31, Jacks 0 -- 1956
8.) Sam Houston spoils SFA Homecoming, title hopes -- Bearkats 6, Jacks 0 -- 1959 
9.)  Halloween victory 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