Kats-Demons Clash To Be Battle
11/11/2011 10:21:00 AM | Football
The Bearkats, 9-0 for the year and 6-0 in Southland Conference play, are looking to become the first Texas member of the Southland Conference to roll to a league title unbeaten and untied.
Sam Houston won Southland titles in 1991, 2001 and 2004, but all three were co-championships (tying with McNeese State in 1991 and 2001 and with Northwestern State in 2004). A win Saturday would bring the Kats their first undisputed Southland trophy.
The Bearkats also have an eye on the NCAA Division I post-season playoffs where 10 victories could help Sam Houston secure a high seed.
Sam Houston stands No. 3 in the Sports Network FCS national poll, only the second time the Kats have come into a regular season conference game ranked that high.
Northwestern State was the team that knocked the Kats out of that spot, winning 45-27 in Natchitoches in 2004.
Sam Houston also remembers the Demons won the last meeting in the series between the two schools, edging SHSU 23-20 in overtime last year on the road.
"Northwestern State is an outstanding football team and we will have our hands full," Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said. "They're very tough against the run and the running game is our bread and butter. This is going to be a hard-fought game."
Northwestern has won 5 of its last 6 on the road in Southland play, losing only to league champion Stephen F. Austin in the 2010 season finale.
They are 2-0 this season out of town, blanking Nicholls 34-0 on Sept. 24 in Thibodaux, and whipping Lamar 34-17 on Oct. 8 in Beaumont. Among the victories was a come-from-behind triumph at Central Arkansas last year where the nationally-ranked Bears had lost only six times in their previous 34 outings.
Northwestern's defense has allowed only 11 touchdowns in its last 6 games, and only 10 in the last 5 Southland Conference games. The Demons' league yield of 19.8 points per game, which includes fumble and interception return TDs last week, is second to the 8.3 ppg permitted by Sam Houston.
NSU is allowing only 85.8 ypg rushing to Southland foes. The Demons' overall yield of 121.8 ypg ranks 23rd nationally. Their overall pass efficiency defense rating of 115.6 ranks 32nd in FCS.
Linebacker Derek Rose is one of the top linebackers in the league this season with 65 stops.
D. J. Palmer leads the Demon rushing attack with 304 yards and two touchdowns this season. Quarterback Brad Henderson has completed 145 passes for 1,556 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Saturday's game will be televised to a three-state audience by the Southland Television Network and nationally via via ESPN GamePlan and ESPN3.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the Northwestern State game on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the Sam Houston State athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. The ticket office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Telephone number for the ticket office is (936) 294-1729.
POST-GAME AUTOGRAPHS
A special feature of Saturday's game will be a postgame autograph session with the players for Bearkat season ticket holders, members of the Junior Bearkat Club and other fans.
PIZZA HUT TICKET OFFER
Pizza Hut in Huntsville offers Bearkat fans a great way to earn tickets to Sam Houston State's Southland Conference showdown with the Northwestern State Demons on Saturday, Nov. 12. Starting this week, any customer can call into the two Pizza Hut locations in Huntsville and received two tickets to the Nov. 12 game by ordering a large pizza for takeout or delivery. Customers must mention the Bearkat ticket offer during their order to receive the tickets. Huntsville area Pizza Hut locations are 3010 Highway 30 and 4030 Sam Houston Avenue. Telephone numbers for the locations are (936) 294-9191 and (936) 295-5586. The ticket offer is good through Nov. 11 or whenever the ticket supply runs out.
TEXAS FARM BUREAU BENEFIT
Texas Farm Bureau members will receive a complimentary general admission ticket just by showing a membership card or a recent billing statement at Saturday's game. The offer is a special benefit arranged by Texas Farm Bureau for its membership. The offer is only good for one ticket per member. Proof of membership will be requested at the time of ticket pick up.
HILLCREST HEROES DISCOUNT
Military, community service (fire department, emergency service and police) and Texas Department of Criminal Justice personnel will be able to purchase $15 tickets to any of the six Bearkat home football games this season for just $10 under the new "Hillcrest Heroes" discount. To receive the discount, personnel can present their military, TDCJ or community service identification at the box office. The discount applies to both current and retired personnel. The discount also will be available for home volleyball, men's and women's basketball, baseball and softball events at Sam Houston State University.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE & INCOMING TRANSFERS DISCOUNT
Students enrolled at Blinn Junior College and Lone Star College can received admission to Saturday's game by presenting their student ID at the main ticket office on the west side of Elliott T. Bowers Stadium Saturday. Also, incoming transfer students may receive admission to the game through the SHSU Admissions office.
CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY TAILGATE
With kickoff pushed back an hour to 3:05 p.m. Saturday, tailgate fun at Bearkat Alley will begin at 1 p.m. in the Bowers Stadium parking lot north of the scoreboard. The fun begins with the traditional "March to Bowers" by the Bearkat Marching Band.
