Demons Present Big Challenge
11/12/2011 7:28:00 AM | Football
Sam Houston State head football coach knows his Bearkats are going to be in a battle today at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium when Sam Houston takes on the Northwestern State Demons at 3 p.m.
"This is going to be a very challenging game," Fritz said. "Northwestern might be the most physical team we play this year. They'll pack the box offensively and kind of play a little football in a phonebooth.
They're very physical and they'll run the ball at you. You don't see that a whole lot. It seems everybody wants to spread you out. They run the zone play, which is a little more of a finesse play.
They'll come out straight at you. Then defensively, they've got guys that can hit you. They've got great team speed on defense. It's going to be very challenging for us in that area. They make you earn your yards.
Sam Houston already has clinched a spot in the playoffs but the head coach and his team know that the Kats can win an outright championship here at Bowers Stadium.
"This would be the first time that Sam Houston has won an outright Southland Conference championship. That's a big goal for us. Every week we're trying to be 1-0 and I think our kids are really locked in," Fritz said.
The Bearkats are coming off a 38-9 victory over Southeastern Louisiana last week in Hammond.
"We really analyze our performance each and every week," Fritz said. "That's what we're very critical of. We played OK last week, probably not as well as we're capable of playing. We need to have that kind of effort to step up and come away with a W."
Northwestern State lost close games with both McNeese State and Central Arkansas but the head coach knows those results mean nothing this Saturday.
"Northwestern State had some things that went wrong early in the second half (against Central Arkansas). They had a kickoff stolen from them and ran back for a touchdown. Then they fumble a punt and (the Bears) scored about two plays later. It happened that quick," Fritz said. "They were up 20-14 at halftime and all of a sudden they're down.
"They're a very good squad and looking at them, they have a bunch of guys that look the part. They look how they're supposed to look. They're just a physical team."
The Demons have put a lot of points on the board this year and bring a talent offensive attack to Bowers Saturday that will challenge the Bearkat defense.
"We'll do the same thing we do every week. When they get into running personnel groups, we're going to pack the box and when they're in passing personnel groups or on passing downs, we're going to do different things," Fritz said. "We're very diverse. We'll blitz you, we'll play zone (defense), play man, whatever the case may be.
"I really feel like our coaches have done a great job each and every week with the game plan and halftime adjustments. I think they've done an incredible job with instilling our guys that single-mindedness that you have to have to win a bunch of games in a row."
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 .
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.
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.
