Bearkats looking for play makers
9/3/2010 10:12:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark
Huntsville ItemAssistant Sports Editor
HUNTSVILLE - Quarterback. Check. Offensive line. Check.
Running backs and wide receivers? Well, the Bearkats finally will find out who will emerge at the skill positions when they open the season today against Baylor in Waco.
Coming into preseason camp, Sam Houston State didn't have a single back who was on the roster last season. As for the guys catching the ball, senior Brandon Closner and sophomore Melvis Pride have a handful of catches between them and that's about it.
It's a safe bet that Art Briles' Bears know as much about what to expect as the Bearkats do when Sam Houston's offense takes the field at 6 p.m. today which isn't a whole lot.
"In the running back position, we have been pretty banged up and we are lucky to have brought in as many kids as we did," Kats head coach Willie Fritz said. "We have seen five guys that can play at this level and they are all young kids - four freshmen and a sophomore.
"Receiver-wise, we need some of these guys to turn into a No. 1 or 2 receiver. Right now we have guys that look like they would be a 3, 4 or 5 if we had a couple of stud receivers. Out of that group, we need someone to develop into a primetime guy.
"We have a lot of good, young football players, they just have to grow up in a hurry. We will know more after Saturday," the coach added.
Believe it or not, running back could be a solid position for Sam Houston despite the lack of experience. Sophomore D.J. Morrow, a transfer from Louisiana Tech, is the only back on the roster who has carried the ball in a collegiate game, picking up 150 yards on 31 carries with a touchdown for the Bulldogs last season.
True freshmen Ridgeway Frank and Cameron Brown have shown flashes in preseason camp. Another true freshman, Ryan Wilson, was expected to play early but has been slowed by injuries.
The Bearkats also picked up another Football Bowl Subdivision transfer in Timothy Flanders from Kansas State. He was a late arrival to camp, so he is still catching up, but he did have a 23-yard touchdown run in his only scrimmage of the spring.
Between those guys, Sam Houston should find someone capable of helping move the chains if the Kats can stay healthy.
"I do believe we can be very, very helpful for our offense," Frank said Friday. "We have to get our run game down to help open up the offense."
At this point, the passing game is the biggest what-if heading into the season opener. Senior Bryan Randolph won the starting quarterback job and he brings veteran leadership, but none of the receivers have really set themselves apart in preseason camp.
Closner, junior Grant Merritt and sophomore Kevin Matthews are listed as the starters on the two-deep with sophomore Melvis Pride, junior Seth Patterson and redshirt freshman Richard Sincere listed as the backups.
The passing attack has had its moments in preseason camp, but there is still plenty of room for improvement.
"I definitely think we are coming along," Randolph said Friday. "Going through camp, we have been working on our timing and everything. I trust that whoever I throw the ball to is going to catch the ball."
As the Bearkats work out the kinks while still learning offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse's new system, the key to playing a good team like Baylor will be to not give the Bears any extra help.
Hanging in the Sam Houston team meeting room is a list of goals. Two of those goals are "The Kats don't beat the Kats," meaning eliminate mental errors like penalties, and "Take care of the football."
Those two areas will be crucial for this young Bearkat offense.
"We have what we call the plan to win and one of those is to win the turnover battle," Fritz said. "We have to do a super job of taking care of the football and get some takeaways ourselves. If we do that, we have a chance to win. We have to play smart."
Sam Houston opens its home schedule on Saturday Sept. 25 with Bearkat Family Weekend against Gardner-Webb. Special events during the evening include an appearance by the Houston Texans cheerleaders, a salute to Hillcrest Heroes honoring local police and fire-fighters, a huge pregame tailgate and a postgame fireworks display.
Other home games will be Oct. 16 (Homecoming) vs. Southeastern Louisiana, Nov. 6 vs. McNeese State and Nov. 20 vs. Texas State. The final three home games will kickoff at 2 p.m.
Season tickets for Bearkat football at Bowers Stadium are available through the new exciting "2-2-2" offer, order your tickets now by going to the Bearkat tickets page on www.gobearkats.com or call (936) 294-1729.
The "2-2-2" offer also includes two corner tickets to the "Battle of the Piney Woods" game with Stephen F. Austin at Reliant Stadium in Houston on October 23.
Fans also may visit the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House located in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sam Houston will open the season Saturday Sept. 4 at Baylor and follow that game with a second road contest Sept. 18 at Western Illinois.
