Bearkats play host to UTSA
10/1/2011 6:46:00 AM | Football
For years, the rivalry between Sam Houston State and UTSA has been a feisty one. Whether it's men's or women's basketball or baseball, the Bearkats and Roadrunners always seem to bring out the best in each other.
The fact that the two teams meet for the first time in football today holds special significance.
"I know they're a good team and they're going to give us a good fight," Kats junior safety Robert Shaw said Friday. "We're not just going to get in here and run them over. It's going to be a good game. I'm sure they're expecting the most from like we are from them."
In their inaugural season, the Roadrunners (2-2 overall) are playing a schedule against several FCS schools before moving up to the Western Athletic Conference in the FBS next fall.
"To me, it feels bigger than a conference game knowing they're going to be higher than us this next year and in a higher conference than us," Shaw said.
The fact that UTSA has only played four games, including an humbling last-minute loss to McMurry University, Bearkats head coach Willie Fritz has seen an improvement in the Roadrunners.
"This is a big game for us. Every one of them is big, especially when you get on a roll and start winning some games," Fritz said. "We certainly are impressed with what we've seen from these guys. You can tell they're very well-coached and a disciplined squad."
Like Lamar last season, the Roadrunners bring plenty of experience, which few start-up programs can boast.
"They've had their program going for three years now and this is their second year with players," Fritz said. "They're a little bit older and more experienced than people probably give them credit for. Most of their players are either second- or third-year players. They've got quite a few juniors on their squad.
"They're a little bit older than you think and they're getting better every week. They've really got the high-quality type of recruit. I'm really impressed with the athletes that they have."
In games against Northeastern State (Okla.), McMurry, Southern Utah and Bacone College, the Roadrunners have allowed just 228 rushing yards (57.0 per game).
The Bearkats (3-0), on the other hand, boast one of the top running games in FCS. Sam Houston ranks fifth with 268.0 yards per game, scoring nine touchdowns on the ground. The Kats enter today's contest ranked No. 16 in the NCAA Division I FCS national poll.
Knowing that something will have to give, the Kats are looking to utilize its aerial game.
"We're going to have to throw the ball tomorrow against them. We're going to have to take our shots deep and throw the ball against them," Fritz said. "We feel like that's an area that we need to take advantage of."
"I think overall, it's going to be a big game just knowing how good we're doing this year," Shaw added. "I think that's going to give them a little fire to show that they can do something and beat us and make a name for themselves."
Tickets for the UTSA game and Sam Houston's remaining home football contests plus the 86th "Battle of the Piney Woods" presented by YP.com are available online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets .
The ticket office at Bowers Stadium and the stadium gates open at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
