Excitement builds after winning opener
9/4/2011 9:20:00 AM | Football
Taking on a team that went two rounds deep in the FCS playoffs last fall, Sam Houston got a good litmus test right off the bat. For the most part the Bearkats dominated the Leathernecks and passed the test in a contest that resulted in a 20-6 SHSU victory.
After being one of the top defenses in the country against the run last season (ranked eighth in FCS with 100.09 yards allowed per game), the Bearkats expected to be even stronger this fall. They certainly looked the part, swallowing up Western Illinois ball carriers near the line of scrimmage all night long. The same Leathernecks' personnel that ranked 23rd in the country last season running the ball were held to 37 yards.
Defensive end Jarrett Brown came up with two sacks, while defensive end Andrew Weaver and linebackers Will Henry and Eric Fieilo each had one.
There could have been more, but on several occasions, fleet-footed Leathernecks quarterback Josh Hudson was able to escape the pressure and get positive yardage.
The Sam Houston secondary also showed promise, as cornerback Bookie Sneed snatched away a would-be touchdown from senior wideout Terriun Crump in the end zone on a jump ball. Kats cornerback Daxton Swanson also nearly had a pair of picks, but he couldn't quite reel them in.
The only defensive mistake resulted in a 92-yard touchdown pass from Hudson to Crump down the sideline in the final quarter.
The offense produced two passing touchdowns and a total of 20 points and 38 minutes of valuable possession time. Two of the Bearkats' first three possessions drove deep inside Western Illinois' 20. Instead of touchdowns, Sam Houston had to settle for field goals.
The Bearkats started to find their stride offensively late in the second quarter and made it a three-possession game after a pair of touchdowns - one late in the second quarter and one to open the third.
From that point forward, it was a game of clock control and the Kats were content to continue to run the ball. Following their last touchdown, a 44-yard play-action catch-and-run from quarterback Brian Bell to running back Ryan Wilson early in the third, Sam Houston ran the ball 20 times against seven passing attempts throughout the rest of the game.
In the final 24 minutes, Sam Houston was able run nearly 18 minutes off the clock, keeping the Leathernecks' chances of scoring points and cutting away at the lead to a minimum.
Obviously, the Bearkats still are a work in progress. Penalties are an area of concern. Twice, Sam Houston was flagged for personal fouls - grabbing the facemask and a late hit - which helped to negate a prime scoring opportunity and give away precious field position.
Following a bye this week, the Bearkats will get an early start on Southland play when they host Central Arkansas on Sept. 17 in a critical contest as far the race for the conference championship goes. While the dominant victory in the season opener was a strong statement, the impending tilt against the senior-laden Bears should be an even tougher challenge as Sam Houston looks to keep making positive strides.
Tickets for the remaining five Sam Houston State home football games at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium plus the 86th "Battle of the Piney Woods" presented by YP.com at Reliant Stadium October 8 are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office.
Hours for the ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
