Sam Houston - Southeastern La Game Notes
11/3/2011 11:12:00 AM | Football
BACK TO LOUISIANA
For the second time in three weeks, Sam Houston State ventures into the Pelican State as the Bearkats take on Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond at 3:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
The contest marks the third time in three road games this season that the Bearkats have been their opponent's homecoming game.
Sam Houston State defeated New Mexico 48-45 in overtime and McNeese State 38-14 in their first two away homecoming contests.
While the Kats have won two of their last three games in Louisiana, crossing the Sabine River has not always seen good outcomes for Sam Houston State. The Bearkats stand 25-54-3 in football games in Louisiana.
Sam Houston is 5-2 against Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond. The Lions won 37-21 in the pair's last meeting in Strawberry Stadium. Overall, the Bearkats lead the series 8-4.
SAM HOUSTON's 8-0 START
The Bearkats are off to a 8-0 season start for the first since since 1964. In the university's 97 football seasons, the team has opened with eight victories only twice before - in 1956 and 1964.
The 1956 squad is Sam Houston's only undefeated, untied team, going 10-0 and winning both the Lone Star Conference and Refrigerator Bowl titles. The 1964 Lone Star Conference winners and NAIA national co-champions won eight in a row before falling to Sul Ross.
10-GAME WINNING STREAK
Sam Houston closed the 2010 season with victories over Central Arkansas and Texas Sate and have won seven in a row this season to put together an nine-game winning streak.
The longest Bearkat winning streak in Sam Houston history was 12 games including the final two games of 1955 and the 10-0 undefeated 1956 season. The streak ended with a 14-7 loss to Southwestern Louisiana in the 1957 season opener.
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 Conference action, the Bearkats own wins over Central Arkansas (ranked No. 18 coming into the contest with SHSU), two-time defending Southland champion Stephen F. Austin, Nicholls, McNeese State (ranked No. 24 coming into the game) and Lamar.
The victory over UCA marked Sam Houston's 21st win over a top 25-ranked NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponent and was the Kats first Top 25 victory since defeating No. 25 Nicholls in 2007. The defeat of No. 24 McNeese State brought SHSU's total of wins over top 25-ranked NCAA FCS foes to 22.
The win over McNeese marked only the second time in 24 seasons in the Southland that Sam Houston has won in Lake Charles. SHSU is now 2-11 as a Southland team at Cowboy Stadium. The win was only the fourth Southland victory over the Cowboys in 24 attempts.
Sam Houston's 66 points in the Lamar victory represents the Kats' second highest scoring effort in a Southland game. SHSU scored 69 points against Nicholls in 1999.
SAM HOUSTON IN THE TOP 10
Sam Houston climbed to No. 4 in this week's Sports Network FCS national poll. The Kats cracked the Top 25 for the first time this year after the win over No. 18 Central Arkansas Sept. 17.
SHSU has climbed higher each week, starting at No. 20 (after the UCA win), then No. 16 (New Mexico), No. 10 (SFA), No. 7 (Nicholls), No. 6 (McNeese State) and now No. 4 (after Lamar).
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 highest national ranking ever was 3rd on Nov. 8 and Dec. 20 in 2004.
SOUTHLAND PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Seven times this season Bearkats have earned Southland Conference "Player of the Week" honors. 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. His twin brother, Darnell Taylor, earlier won defensive honors following the UCA victory in which he totaled 11 tackles including one for loss.
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 where he scored a school record five touchdowns and rushed for 194 yards.. Flanders also was voted "Player of the Week" honors after rushing for 162 yards and two TDs in the 38-14 victory over No. 24 McNeese State.
BEARKAT OFFENSE
Sam Houston ranks No. 7 in NCAA Division FCS rushing (255.3 yards per game), No. 4 in scoring offense (39.63 points) and No. 25 in total offense ( 419.13 yards). The Bearkats lead the Southland in rushing yards and scoring and rank third in the league in total offense.
RUNNING BACK TIM FLANDERS
Tim Flanders leads the Southland Conference in rushing (101.38) and scoring (12.0) and ranks No. 2 in NCAA FCS scoring and No. 18 nationally in rushing yardage per game. With 811 yards on 165 carries this year, he is 189 yards away from becoming the eighth Bearkat to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. His 16 rushing TDs put him four away from Luther Turner's school record of 20 in 1987
The sophomore from Midwest City, Okla., continues to continues to carve his notch in the Sam Houston record book. Starting his sophomore season ranked 30th in all-time Kat career rushing, Flanders has jumped from 11th with 1,759 yards on 337 carries in 18 games.
Flanders is 167 yards away from cracking the SHSU all-time top 10 in rushing. Current No. 10 Luther Turner gained 1,925 yards in 24 games from 1985 to 1987.
Flanders already has tied Charles Harris (1991-94) for most 100-yard games with 11. Flanders ranks third in career rushing touchdowns with 29. Only McNeil Moore (30 in 1950-52) and Luther Turner (35 in 1985-87) have scored more.
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 has produced runs of more than 50 yards four times this year and added a 45-yard gain on a pass in the UTSA victory and a 50-yarder on a catch in the McNeese win. He is the Bearkats' leading receiver this year as well with 18 catches for 279 yards. He ranks No. 16 nationally in all-purpose yardage (148.14).
Flanders set a school mark as a freshman in 2010 with six consecutive 100-yard rushing games.He earned Southland Conference's "Freshman of the Year" honors and was a first team all-league selection in in 2010. His 13 rushing touchdowns were the most ever by an SHSU freshman running back.
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 64 times for 465 yards and six touchdowns. He has caught 15 passes for 206 yards. His longest plays include a 51-yard run and a 77-yard TD catch on the opening play the Lamar victory.
Sincere has posted three 100-yard rushing performances, carrying 10 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns against Central Arkansas; 11 times for 111 yards and two scores against SFA and seven times for 102 yards in the win over Lamar.
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 an 13-3 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 stands No. 7 in the Southland Conference in total offense with a 174.29 per game average. He has directed the Kats an average possession time of 34:39 minutes and has completed 75 of 111 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Bell ranks No. 2 in NCAA Division I FCS passing efficiency with a 180.99 rating. He now has thrown 128 passes without an interception. His last interception came in fourth quarter of last year's loss to McNeese State. Since then Bell has completed 98 of 128 passes.
Sam Houston ranks leads NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision football in turnover margin. This season, the Kat offense has suffered only four turnovers (three lost fumbles and one interception thrown by the backup quarterback).
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 Bearkat defense ranks No. 1 nationally in rushing defense (55.63 yards per game) and scoring defense (12.38) and No. 2 nationally in total defense (259.63) and turnover ratio (2.63). Only New Mexico produced more than 300 yards total offense against the Kats. Sam Houston has limited six foes to less than 100 yards rushing.
TOP DEFENDERS
Junior safety Darnell Taylor of Mesquite leads the Bearkats with 69 total tackles. Other top tacklers include defensive backs Robert Shaw (44), Bookie Sneed (36), Darius Taylor (42) and Kenneth Jenkins (43) and linebackers Kash David (31) and Will Henry (43).
The defense has created 25 turnovers this year including 15 interceptions and 10 fumbles. Sam Houston picked off four passes in the SFA victory and three each in the wins over Nicholls and Lamar.
DAX SWANSON TOPS SOUTHLAND INTERCEPTIONS
Daxton Swanson ranks No. 3 in NCAA Division I FCS football and leads the Southland Conference with five interceptions this season.
Swanson has returned the interceptions for 128 yards including a long of 64 that set up a touchdown in the Lamar victoy.
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 39.97 average this season to rank No. 3 in Southland Conference punting. The Bearkats rank No. 11 in NCAA Division I FCS net punting with a 37.84 average.
Foster has nine punts of more than 50 yards including a long of 62 yards. He has 16 punts that have been downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
CRAIG ALANIZ KICKS NINE PATS
In his first start as the Bearkats' kicking specialist, senior Craig Alaniz tied the Sam Houston record for most extra points in a Southland Conference game, going 9-for-9 on PATs and adding a 25-yard field goal. The nine PATs ties him for the second highest total overtime in SHSU history. The school record is 11.
BLOCK PARTY RETURNS
After several close calls, Sam Houston special teams finally got their first punt block of the season at McNeese State.
Torrance Williams blocked a punt from the McNeese 16-yard line and Robert Shaw recovered the ball in the end zone for six points.
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.
