Sam Houston vs. Texas State Game Notes
11/17/2011 6:00:00 AM | Football
In the 48-year history of the Southland Conference, only seven league championship teams have posted perfect regular season records. Saturday in San Marcos Sam Houston State will attempt to become the eighth.
The previous teams to achieve perfect regular season records have been Arkansas Sate 1970 (10-0) and 1975 (11-0) , Louisiana Tech in 1972 (11-0) and 1974 (10-0) and McNeese State in 1979 (11-0), 1995 (11-0) and 2007 (11-0).
Sam Houston already has clinched its first undisputed Southland football title sweeping to a 7-0 league record, out-scoring its league foes 308-67. The Bearkats are the first Texas Southland team to go unbeaten in conference play.
Other Southland teams to go unbeaten in league play have been McNeese State (1979, 1980, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2003 and 2007), Arkansas State (1975, 1986), Northeast Louisiana (1987 1989), Louisiana Tech (1982), Northwestern State (1988) and Troy State (2000) - all were non-Texas squads.
FIRST UNDISPUTED SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE TITLE
Sam Houston's 2011 Southland football championship is their fourth in the program's 24 years in the league. However, the first three were co-championships, making this year's title the Bearkats' first undisputed league crown.
Sam Houston tied with McNeese State for the title in 1991 and 2001 and with Northwestern State in 2004. A win over the Demons Saturday would mark the Kats' first out-right league championship.
SAM HOUSTON's 10-0 START
The Bearkats are 10-0 for only the second time in school history. The first was in 1956 when the Bearkats went 10-0, winning both the Lone Star Conference and Refrigerator Bowl titles.
TWELVE-GAME WINNING STREAK
Sam Houston closed the 2010 season with victories over Central Arkansas and Texas Sate and have won10 in a row this season to put together an eleven-game winning streak. That ties as the longest Bearkat winning streak in Sam Houston history. The Bearkats won the final two games of 1955 and went 10-0 in 1956. The streak ended with a 14-7 loss to Southwestern Louisiana in the 1957 season opener.
LAST YEAR AGAINST THE BOBCATS
Texas State's second-half rally came up two points short as Sam Houston held on for a 31-29 victory to end both teams' seasons. The Bobcats went on a 20-3 run for an opportunity to force overtime on a two-point conversion with 2:38 to play. But Darius Bolden couldn't hang on to a Tim Hawkins conversion pass in the right corner of the end zone.
Freshman Tim Flanders became the first Sam Houston running back to gain 100 or more yards in seven games in one season as he rushed for 124 yards on 26 carries including two touchdowns.
PERFECT SEASONS AT BOWERS STADIUM
Sam Houston finished the 2011 regular season 6-0 at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. The Bearkats stand 94-42-1 all-time in the facility opened in 1986. Sam Houston previously has posted perfect home records five times - 1986 (6-0), 1987 (4-0), 1990 (4-0), 2001 (6-0) and 2004 (8-0).
BEARKATS VICTORIES IN 2011
Sam Houston's non-conference victories this year came against Western Illinois (an NCAA FCS playoff quarterfinalist in 2010), FBS Mountain West Conference member New Mexico, and FCS independent UTSA. The win over New Mexico marked Sam Houston's third victory over an FBS opponent.
In Southland action, the Bearkats own wins over Central Arkansas (No. 18 coming into the contest), two-time defending league champion Stephen F. Austin, Nicholls, McNeese State (ranked No. 24 coming into the game), Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana and Northwestern St.
The victories over UCA and McNeese marked Sam Houston's 21st and 22nd wins over a top 25-ranked NCAA Division I FCS opponents and were the Kats' first Top 25 wins since defeating No. 25 Nicholls in 2007. The win over McNeese marked only the second time in 24 seasons in the Southland Conference that Sam Houston State has won in Lake Charles.
SAM HOUSTON IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Sam Houston stands No. 2 in the Nov. 14 Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national poll. That ranking is Sam Houston's highest in 24 seasons of FCS action. The previous high ranking in the polls was No. 3 twice during the 2004 season and last week.
The Bearkats have been included in the national top 25 since a win over No. 18 Central Arkansas Sept. 17. Before the UCA win, Sam Houston had gone 55 weeks out of the poll, the longest drought since the Bearkats went from Oct. 16, 1994 to Sept. 4, 2000. Ironically, it was a 35-14 loss to Central Arkansas that knocked Sam Houston out of the polls in 2007.
Sam Houston's weekly rankings since have been No. 16 (after New Mexico win), No. 10 (SFA), No. 7 (Nicholls), No. 6 (McNeese State), No. 5 (Nicholls), No. 4 (Lamar) and No. 3 (Southeastern Louisiana).
SOUTHLAND PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Eight times this season Bearkats have earned Southland Conference "Player of the Week" honors.
Safety Darnell Taylor of Mesquite became a two-time "Defensive Player of the Week" winner following the 43-17 win over Northwestern State. Taylor returned an interception 23 yards for a TD and led the defense with 11 tackles. Taylor's first award came following the Central Arkansas victory in which he totaled 11 tackles including one for loss.
Junior defensive back Dax Swanson earned "Defensive Player of the Week" recognition after two interceptions in Sam Houston's 38-9 victory at Southeastern La. Nov. 6.
Sam Houston took all three honors after a 45-10 victory over SFA Oct. 8. Wide receiver Richard Sincere won the offensive award after rushing for 111 yards and two TDs and catching three passes. Sincere also earned the league's offensive award after rushing for 107 yards and two scores in a victory over No. 18 Central Arkansas.
Linebacker Darius Taylor was the "Defensive Player of the Week" after picking off two interceptions and making five tackles to set up important scores in the SFA victory.
Punter Matt Foster, who had five kicks for a 46.0 average, completed the sweep of league honors after the SFA win, taking the special teams award.
Running back Tim Flanders earned the Southland's offensive honor after the overtime win at New Mexico State where he scored a school record five touchdowns and rushed for 194 yards.
BEARKAT OFFENSE
Sam Houston ranks No. 1 in NCAA Division I FCS scoring offense (39.80), No. 8 in rushing offense (252.0) and No. 23 in total offense (419.50). The Bearkats lead the Southland in rushing yards and scoring and rank second in the league in total offense.
RUNNING BACK TIM FLANDERS
Sophomore running back Tim Flanders, a candidate for the Walter Payton Award in 2011, leads the Southland Conference in rushing (100.10 yards) and scoring (120 points). He stands No. 2 in the nation in scoring and No. 22 nationally in rushing.
In 20 games as a Bearkat, Flanders already has set or tied four Sam Houston football records:
- Most points, season: 120 (2011 - tied with Luther Turner)
- Most TDs, game: 5 (2011 vs. New Mexico)
- Most TDs, season: 20 (2011 - tied with Luther Turner)
- Most career 100-yard rushing games: 12 (2010-11)
- Most yards rushing by a freshman: 948 (2010)
- Most 100-yard rushing games, season: 7 (2010)
Flanders ranks high in several other rushing and scoring catergories for the Bearkats.
- Most rush TDs, season: 18 (2nd behind Luther Turner 20)
- Most rush TDs, career: 31 (2nd behind Luther Turner 35)
- Most rushing yards, season: 1,001 (8th, D.D. Terry 1,327 1st)
- Most rushing yards, career: 1,949 (10th, Charles Harris, 2,688 1st)
Flanders is one touchdown away from tying the Southland Conference mark for most TDs in one season (Brent Grimes, 2008). Luther Turner's 20 rushing TDs in one year also is a league mark.
The Midwest City, Oklahoma, product, started his sophomore season ranked 31st in Bearkat career rushing. He now stands 10th and is 51 yards away from becoming the eighth Bearkat back to crack the 2,000-yard career mark.
On Sept. 24 in Albuquerque, in a 48-45 overtime victory against New Mexico, the sophomore from Midwest City, Okla., set a school record for most rushing touchdowns with five. The old mark was four by Charles Harris, Sam Houston's all-time rushing leader, against North Texas in 1992 and James Aston versus Nicholls in 2009.
His 194 yards (including TD runs of 61, 53, three, two and four yards at New Mexico) ranks as the 11th highest single game rushing total by a Bearkat back. Flanders was Southland Conference "Offensive Player of the Week" following the victory over the Lobos.
Flanders has produced runs of more than 50 yards four times this year and plays of 20 or more yards 17 times (including five catches)
His longest run was a 61-yard touchdown at New Mexico. Flanders leads Sam Houston in pass receiving (26 catches for 384 yards and two scores) and all-purpose yards (1,385).
MULTI-TASKING WIDE RECEIVER
Richard Sincere, sophomore from Galveston Ball, is a true triple threat with his ability to run, catch and throw the ball. A wide receiver who also lines up behind center in the "Wild Bearkat" formation, Sincere has rushed 84 times for 677 yards and nine touchdowns. He has caught 20 passes for 366 yards including a 77-yard touchdown strike on the opening play of the Lamar victory.
Sincere has posted four 100-yard rushing performances including 137 at Southeastern Louisiana,111 at Reliant Stadium against SFA, 107 against Central Arkansas and 102 versus Lamar. The sophomore has 17 offensive explosions (plays of more than 20 yards), 10 on running plays and seven on receptions.
An option quarterback in high school, Sincere rushed 42 times for 282 yards and caught eight passes for 192 yards as a freshman in 2010. This year, his 45-yard touchdown run on a pitch out from Bearkat quarterback Brian Bell was the game-breaker for Sam Houston in the team's 31-10 upset of the No. 18 ranked Bears. He had a 51-yard run to set up a touchdown in the SFA victory.
SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK BRIAN BELL
Since the sophomore took over as starting quarterback as a true freshman in the third game of the 2010, the China Spring product has led the Bearkats to a 15-3 record.
An All-District quarterback in high school for his coach and father Mark Bell, the signal-caller completed 110 passes for 1,381 yards and 7 touchdowns last year.
This season Bell ranks No. 2 in NCAA Division I FCS football in passing efficiency. He has completed 96 of 145 passes for 1,470 yards and 13 touchdowns. While his streak of passes without an interception ended Oct. 29 at Southeastern Louisiana at 132 (starting with last season's McNeese game), Bell leads a Bearkat offense that plays remarkable error free ball. Sam Houston ranks No. 2 in FCS ball in turnover margin and has dominated possession time with a 34:02 average this season. In 10 games, the Kat offense has suffered only eight turnovers (five lost fumbles and three interceptions).
EXPLOSIVE BEARKATS
Sam Houston has the potential for explosive plays. In 10 games this season, the Bearkats have produced 72 explosions (plays of 20 or more yards) including 26 rushing plays, 28 passes and 13 kick returns.
NATIONALLY-RANKED DEFENSE
With 11 of the top 12 team leaders in tacklers back from a squad that led the Southland Conference in rush defense last year, Sam Houston is putting up numbers that rank high in the NCAA Division I FCS national statistics again in 2011
The Bearkats rank No. 1 nationally in rushing defense (56.60) and pass efficiency defense (92.04); No. 2 in turnover margin (2.40), scoring defense (12.5 points) and total defense (262.3). Only New Mexico produced more than 300 yards total offense against the Kats. Sam Houston has limited nine foes to less than 100 yards rushing.
TOP DEFENDERS
Junior safety Darnell Taylor of Mesquite leads the Bearkats with 86 total tackles. Other leaders include defensive backs Kenneth Jenkins (61), Bookie Sneed (41), Mike Littleton (49) and Robert Shaw (48) and linebackers Darius Taylor (54), Kash David (43) and Eric Fieilo (36).
TURNOVER CITY
The Bearkat defense has created 32 turnovers this year including 19 interceptions and 13 fumbles. A total of 111 points (15 touchdowns and two field goals) resulted because of the turnovers. Sam Houston's secondary has picked off at least three interceptions in five of the Bearkats' last seven games (4 vs. SFA and 3 each vs. UTSA, Nicholls, Lamar and Southeastern Louisiana). The Sam Houston school records for most interceptions in one season is 20 in 1987.
DAX SWANSON TOPS SOUTHLAND INTERCEPTIONS
Daxton Swanson ranks No. 3 in NCAA Division I FCS football and leads the Southland Conference with seven interceptions this season. Swanson has returned the interceptions for 82 yards including a long of 64 that set up a touchdown in the Lamar victory.
With his second interception in the Southeastern Louisiana game, Swanson tied the school record for most interceptions in one year (7) set by Allen Boren in 1954, Ronnie Choate in 1959 and Billy Anderson in 1987. Swanson intercepted two passes in 2010, bringing his career total to 10. That ties him with Charles Boyce (1988-91) for fifth place in Sam Houston career interceptions. Ronnie Choate (1955-59) holds the Bearkat career record with 13.
ROBERT SHAW TOUCHDOWNS
Junior Robert Shaw from Converse Judson has become a special teams and defensive scoring machine. Shaw covered a punt blocked by Torrance Williams for a touchdown in Saturday's win at McNeese. It was his second TD on a blocked punt as a Bearkat (the first coming last year in a win over Southeastern Louisiana). Shaw has returned three interceptions for touchdowns in his career including a 61-yard score a week ago in a win over Nicholls State.
PUNTER FROM DOWN UNDER
Matt Foster, Sam Houston's "Punter from Down Under," played in his first American football game before 42,521 fans in the 2010 season opener at Baylor. He boomed a 43-yarder on his first attempt. The 25-year-old, who is the oldest player on the Bearkat team, grew up in Melbourne playing Australian rules football. Foster owns a 40.3 average this season to rank No. 3 in Southland Conference punting. The Bearkats rank No. 9 in NCAA Division I FCS net punting with a 37.58 average. Foster has 10 punts of more than 50 yards including a long of 62 yards. He has 19 punts that have been downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
BLOCK PARTY RETURNS
After several close calls, Sam Houston special teams finally got their first punt block of the season at McNeese State. The Kats picked up another two blocks (a field goal and point after attempt) at Southeastern Louisiana
Torrance Williams blocked a punt from the McNeese 16-yard line and Robert Shaw recovered the ball in the end zone for six points.Preston Sanders blocked the field goal and E. J. Nduka the extra point in the victory at Southeastern Louisiana.
Bearkat special teams blocked punts and returned the blocks for TDs twice during the 2010 season. The blocks marked the return of the "block party," a Bearkat special teams tradition established when Willie Fritz was special teams coordinator for Sam Houston in 1991 and 1992. The "block party" saw Sam Houston block 80 punts, field goals and extra points in the 14 seasons from 1991 to 2004.
