Focused on going 1-0 this week
11/5/2011 9:09:00 AM | Football
Closing in on a conference championship, theoretically it would be easy to catch the Bearkats peering ahead to next week's Southland finale against Northwestern State.
The fourth-ranked Kats aren't falling for that ploy, though, and look to continue taking care of business today against Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La.
With a win over the Lions today, Sam Houston will clinch a share of the Southland title.
"It's exciting to play this team. Nobody on our team is relaxed," junior defensive tackle J.T. Cleveland said following practice Wednesday. "You look at our record and you think we're coasting, but we're not coasting."
Even though they're aware that being able to hoist the Southland trophy and also earning the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs can all come to fruition next week, the Kats know that they've been able to have the kind of season they're having because of being able to have tunnel vision on the next game.
So close to the finish line, Sam Houston (5-0 in Southland play, 8-0 overall) doesn't plan on letting up now.
"I wouldn't say it's easy, it's just more of a goal for us to stay focused," Cleveland said. "It's more of a goal for us to stay hungry and stay humble. We're shooting for big goals. We can't get relaxed.
"We play one week at a time. That's our thing around here. We want to be 1-0 this week. That's what we always talk about and that's what we preach. We take it one day at a time, one week at a time."
While Sam Houston has been rolling against their conference opponents, the Lions (0-4, 2-6) have been going in a completely different direction.
Southeastern has lost all four SLC games by double-digits with an average margin of 22.75 points. After beginning conference play with three losses, the Lions appeared to get back on track after beating Texas State, which had won five straight, 38-28. But one week later, Southeastern was drubbed by Central Arkansas 55-29.
"You've seen them put some good halves together," Bearkats coach Willie Fritz said Thursday. "What scares you is when you watch them play against Texas State, they were the better team. Texas State was really rolling at that time and they beat them."
In last week's 26-point loss to the Bears, Southeastern turned the ball over nine times (four interceptions and five lost fumbles). The Lions are actually one of the worst teams in the FCS (tied for 118th) in terms of ball security. Southeastern has coughed up the ball 26 times, while only creating 10 turnovers.
Inversely, the Bearkats rank as the No. 1 team in the FCS in turnover margin with plus-2.63 per game (25 turnovers against four giveaways).
What that creates is a perfect recipe for havoc as the ball-hawking Sam Houston defense look to capitalize off Lion mistakes.
"It is exciting to play a team that turns the ball over," Cleveland said. "We want to get tons of pressure and play with a tremendous amount of effort. We game plan the same every week."
"Defensively, we've really come alive with ball-hawking," Fritz said. "Guys are looking for opportunities. They're not just happy sacking the quarterback. They're trying to sack him and strip him. They're not just happy with a pass breakup, they want an interception. That's what good teams do."
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. KSAM FM 101.7 will carry live play-by-play. Fans also can listen live online at www.gobearkats.com .
"We're looking to have a hostile environment," Cleveland added. "The fans are hostile. The players are going to be jacked up and motivated. We have to bring our A game and just be ready to play."
Sam Houston will return to Elliott T. Bowers Stadium to play host to the Northwestern State Demons next Saturday Nov. 12. The contest is kickoff at 3:05 p.m. and will be telecast to a three-state audience on the Southland TV Network.
Tickets for the Bearkats' regular season finale at Bowers are available now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
