Game #17
October 14, 2000 - Sam Houston 52, Stephen F. Austin 41

Seven of the last 11 "Battles of the Piney Woods" between Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin have been offensive extravaganzas with the two teams combining for more than 60 points.

The trend began in 1999 when SFA rallied from two touchdowns down to win 45-31 in Huntsville in a contest in which the teams combined for 1,324 yards.

Fans from both teams would not believe the 2000 meeting would match the offensive fireworks of the previous year but the showdown between the two Southland teams might rivaled it from an entertainment standpoint.

This one came down to the Bearkats coming up with a few more big plays and winning 52-41 before a Lumberjacks homecoming crowd of 13,473 at Homer Bryce Stadium.

"This was like last year, just part two," Sam Houston State coach Ron Randleman said. "First one to 50 wins. Oh my gosh, what a ballgame."

The Bearkats (5-1, 2-0 Southland) blew a 27-7 second-quarter lead but rallied from 27-24, 34-31 and 41-38 deficits.

"We let them get out of the blocks first, and then they beat us at the end," Stephen F. Austin coach Mike Santiago said. It was a day of big plays for Sam Houston State that included Chris Foster returning the second-half kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and the lead, two scoring receptions each from Matt Dominguez and Jermaine Henderson, and two fourth-quarter interceptions by Keith Davis.

The Bearkats won despite allowing 559 yards and 33 first downs. The Lumberjacks' Derrick Blaylock rushed for 204 yards, and Wes Pate threw for 283 yards.

"Everybody on both teams laid it all out here," Randleman said. "So many big plays."

The 93 points were the most in any game in the 75 meetings between the teams, eclipsing last year when SFA won 45-31 at Huntsville.

Dominguez, the SFL's all-time leader in receptions and yardage, caught 11 passes for 224 yards.

"He's a big-time player who made big-time plays," said Sam Houston State quarterback Albert Bradley, who passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 72 yards. "All I had to do was give him the ball."

Dominguez's first touchdown came on a 73-yarder from Bradley, and Alex St. Peter's extra point put the Bearkats ahead 24-7 with 6:50 left in the second quarter. Later, Dominguez caught a 39-yard TD pass from Bradley to give the Bearkats a 38-34 lead in the third quarter.

"It was a shootout," Dominguez said. "Just like I thought it would be."

Despite jumping to a 10-0 first-quarter lead, Sam Houston lost its momentum when SFA took a 27-24 halftime lead. But that changed quickly on the opening kickoff of the second half, thanks to Foster and Kevin Mohr, who took out two Lumberjacks on an amazing block that helped open up a seam on the left side of the field that Foster quickly navigated for the go-ahead touchdown.

But of all the big plays, perhaps none was more significant than Davis' first fourth-quarter interception.

SFA (3-3, 0-2) had looked impressive erasing a 20-point second-quarter deficit and was leading 41-38 when disaster struck the Lumberjacks. With 12:18 remaining, SFA was at the Bearkats' 34-yard line and driving. On first-and-10, Pate was blindsided by Davis' younger brother DeJuan, who hit Pate's arm as he was throwing.

Keith Davis grabbed the ball out of the air at the 32 and returned it to the Lumberjacks' 30. Two players later, Willie Thomas, who rushed for 84 yards on 16 carries, scored from 18 yards. St. Peter's extra point made it 45-41.

Sam Houston State closed out the scoring on Eric Brown's three-yard run with 6:37 left in the game, handing SFA its third consecutive loss.

Dominguez said the Bearkats were not too worried despite blowing a 20-point advantage.

"If we hadn't been moving the ball, we probably would have got frustrated," Dominguez said. "But we were moving the ball. They hadn't seen anything that we brought today."

Especially in the first quarter, when it appeared the Bearkats would blow past the Lumberjacks.

But what looked like a rout early turned into a ballgame. In the first quarter, Sam Houston State, which finished with 460 yards of offense, had a 175-25 edge in yardage. Despite finishing with 33 first downs, SFA didn't pick up its first until 13:10 remained in the second quarter.

But the Lumberjacks rolled up 243 total yards in the second quarter and 220 more yards in the third. In the second quarter, SFA scored 27 points, including a pair of touchdown passes from Pate to Lawrence Hamilton that covered 46 and 23 yards.

"I thought we were going to turn it around," SFA defensive end Mike McElroy said. "It came down to big plays. We gave up too many of them."

The game's heroes Dominguez and Davis both went on to careers in the National Football League, Dominguez playing for the Broncos and Davis becoming special teams captain for the Cowboys.

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.) SHSU wins see-saw Homecoming victory -- Bearkats 34, Jacks 23 -- 1992
15.) Late punt return sinks No. 4 SFA -- Bearkats 14, Jacks 10 -- 1996
16.) Bennie Wylie's 4th & 1 TD earns win - Bearkats 33. Jacks 28 -- 1997