Sam Houston NCAA Semifinals Notes
12/14/2012 6:50:00 AM | Football
NCAA Division I Football Championship Semifinals
Friday, Dec. 14
No. 5 Georgia Southern at No. 1 North Dakota St., 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Saturday, Dec. 15
Sam Houston St. at No. 2 Eastern Washington, 3 p.m. (ESPNU)
All times Central
Semifinal News & Notes
Sam Houston State, Eastern Washington Meet Again: Sam Houston State (10-3) will visit Eastern Washington (11-2) Saturday at Roos Field in Cheney, Wash. in the semifinal round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship. The game will kick off at 3 p.m., Central, and be televised by ESPNU.
Sam Houston's run through the playoffs has had a distinct Big Sky flavor. After a first-round bye, the unseeded Bearkats beat Cal Poly 18-16 Dec. 1 in Huntsville before picking up a 34-16 victory over No. 3 seed Montana State last week in the quarterfinals to set up the meeting with the Eagles, who are making their ninth playoff appearance and third trip to the semifinals.
For the Bearkats, it's their third trip to Division I football's final four. Sam Houston State is making back-to-back semifinal appearances to go with another appearance in 2004.
That year, the Bearkats won a quarterfinal game at Eastern Washington before dropping a semifinal matchup at Montana. Eastern Washington, ranked No. 4 in both FCS polls, had a first-round bye before wins over Wagner (29-19) and Illinois State (51-35) to set up its first trip to the semifinals since 2010 when the Eagles won the national championship against Delaware in Frisco.
What's on the Line?
The winner of this game earns a spot in the 2013 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game, which will be played Saturday, Jan. 5, at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas. It will meet the winner of the other semifinal game between Georgia Southern and North Dakota State, which will be played Friday at 7 p.m., Central, in Fargo, N.D. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
Sam Houston Could Join Elite Group:
Sam Houston State could become the seventh team in NCAA Division I FCS history to earn a berth into the NCAA Division I Football Championship Game in consecutive seasons.
The other teams are Eastern Kentucky, Georgia Southern, Marshall, Youngstown State, Montana and Appalachian State. The Bearkats lost to North Dakota State last year in Frisco.
Should both the Bearkats and Bison win their semifinal games, it would mark only the third time since the playoffs began in 1978 that the same opponents have met in the championship game in back-to-back years. Marshall and Youngstown State played for the national championship in 1991 and 1992 while Marshall and Montana played in the 1995 and 1995 championship games.
Sam Houston's Win at Montana State was League's 50th Playoff Victory:
Sam Houston State's 34-16 victory at Montana State last Friday was the 50th all-time playoff victory for the Southland Conference, which is 50-54 all-time in the playoffs.
Southland History in Division I Playoffs:
Southland Conference schools own a 50-54 all-time record in the Division I playoffs, highlighted by McNeese State's 14 all-time appearances. The eight teams currently in the Southland account for 31 wins in the playoffs.
The Bearkats are 8-5 in six playoff appearances and their .615 win percentage is the best among current league teams. Sam Houston's appearance in the semifinals marks the 15th time a Southland team has been among the final four teams standing in the playoffs, including in 1995 when McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin both reached the semifinals.
This is the second consecutive season for the league to have a semifinalist with Sam Houston's back-to-back trips. It is the first time since 2004-05 the league has had teams reach the semifinals in consecutive seasons. Former member Texas State reached the semifinals in 2005 a year after Sam Houston State reached the round in 2004.
The Bearkats have made the semifinals in three of the last nine seasons. Southland teams also reached the semifinals in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 and 2002. Of the league's 14 appearances in the semifinals, Sam Houston State became the seventh Southland team to reach the championship game. The league had not played for a national championship since McNeese State in 2002. Former league member Louisiana-Monroe is the only Southland team to win the NCAA Division I championship, winning the title in 1987.
Southland is Host for Division I Title Game:
The Southland Conference, in conjunction with the City of Frisco and Hunt Sports Group, is the host of the 2013 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game, which will be played at Jan. 5, 2013 at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas, which has been home to the league since 2006. This marks the third year for the game to be played in Frisco.
Last year, North Dakota State defeated Southland entrant Sam Houston State 17-6, while Eastern Washington came from behind to score three times in the final 17 minutes on its way to a 20-19 win over Delaware. Both winners in Frisco have been first-time champions.
Sam Houston State in the Playoffs:
Sam Houston State is making its sixth appearance in the Division I playoffs. Last year marked the Bearkats' only appearance in the championship game after a semifinal appearance in 2004. That came after a quarterfinal berth in 2001 and first-round appearances in 1986 and 1991.
Sam Houston improved to 8-5 in the Division I playoffs after wins over Cal Poly (18-16) in a second-round game in Huntsville and a 34-16 win at Montana State in Bozeman last week. Its 61.5 win percentage is the best among current league members.
The Bearkats were 3-1 in the playoffs last season and have a 6-0 all-time record at home in NCAA Division I playoff games. Sam Houston has won its last 14 games at Bowers Stadium, where it was perfect in just four home games this season.
The Bearkats are 2-5 away from Bowers in the playoffs all time, including a 2-4 record in true road games to go with last year's neutral-site loss in the national championship game.
Last week's road game was the first for Sam Houston in the playoffs since 2004. After winning a 54-24 decision against Western Kentucky in the first round that year, the Bearkats won 45-34 at Eastern Washington before a semifinal loss at Montana (34-13).
Going for Sweep against Big Sky Co-Champions:
With playoff wins against Cal Poly and Montana State, Sam Houston State will go for a sweep of the Big Sky Conference tri-champions Saturday at Eastern Washington. The three times finished 7-1 in league play to share this year's title.
The Big Sky has been a nemesis of Southland Conference teams in the playoffs, holding a 25-14 edge in playoff games. Sam Houston's win at Montana State was just the fourth playoff win (21-4) in a Big Sky stadium. Prior to last week, a Southland team had not won a road playoff game against a Big Sky team since 2004 when Sam Houston won 35-34 at Eastern Washington. Sam Houston State is 6-2 all-time against Big Sky teams in the playoffs and has won its last four.
Against Eastern Washington:
There has been just one game played between Sam Houston State and Eastern Washington and that came in the 2004 playoffs. The Bearkats escaped Chaney with a 35-34 win. The Eagles held a 34-14 lead at the start of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Dustin Long led a rally that ended with his game-tying touchdown pass to Jason Mathenia.
The game-winning PAT was never put on the scoreboard. Mathenia caught a school-record 13 passes for 226 yards and Long threw for 478 yards and three scores. After the Bearkats blocked a field goal that could have sealed the game for the Eagles, Long took his team 75 yards in 43 seconds, finding Mathenia for gains of 12, 19 and 16 yards before the seven-yard completion to even the score at 34. Lance Garner kicked the winning PAT with no time left on the clock.
Sam Houston to Record First 'Turf Trifecta':
When Sam Houston State visits Eastern Washington Saturday in Cheney, they will become the first team to play on all three colored artificial surfaces in NCAA football. The Bearkats played on Boise State's blue turf in 1995 and played on the purple-and-gray striped turf at Central Arkansas earlier this season.
Bearkats Cruise at Montana State:
Quarterback Brian Bell passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns to lead No. 5- Sam Houston State to a 34-16 victory over No. 2 Montana State Friday night at Bobcat Stadium. Trey Diller caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Bell and Chance Nelson had scoring receptions of 16 and 45 yards.
Bell completed 11 of 21 passes. The 254 yards marked his third highest passing total as the Bearkats' quarterback. Nelson ended the game with five receptions for 89 yards. Diller had three catches for 104 yards. Timothy Flanders led the Bearkat ground game, carrying 31 times for 106 yards. The performance is Flanders' 24th career100-yard rushing game and his ninth during the 2012 season. Both marks are Sam Houston school records. The Bearkats totaled 458 yards with 204 coming on the ground and 254 in the air. The Sam Houston defense produced two turnovers and five quarterback sacks as the Bearkats limited Montana State to 72 yards rushing and 292 yards total offense.
Sam Houston State Holds on against Cal Poly:
Miguel Antonio kicked field goals of 20, 32 and 26 yards and running back Timothy Flanders rushed 17 times for 101 yards as No. 5 Sam Houston State held off No. 12 Cal Poly for an 18-16 victory last Saturday in Huntsville. Cal Poly quarterback Andre Broadous rushed for 54 yards and passed for 113 more.
The Mustangs cut the margin to two points on a 50-yard halfback reserve pass by Ryan Taylor to Willie Tucker with 1:34 to play. But Sam Houston's Trey Diller recovered the on-side kick attempt and the Bearkats ran out the clock. Keshawn Hill scored the Bearkats' only touchdown on an 18-yard pass from Brian Bell with 0:31 left in the third quarter to end a nine-play, 83-yard drive.
Sam Houston State and the Big Sky:
The Bearkats are 10-7 against the current members of the Big Sky Conference: Cal Poly (1-0), Eastern Washington (1-0), Montana (2-3), Montana State (4-2), Northern Arizona (1-1) and Northern Colorado (1-1). The Bearkats are 4-2 against the Big Sky in the playoffs. They beat Northern Arizona in the first round of the 2002 playoffs before losing to Montana in the quarterfinals.
Sam Houston State beat Eastern Washington in the quarterfinals of the 2004 FCS Playoffs but Montana beat the Bearkats in the semifinals. Sam Houston's four-game win streak against the Big Sky includes wins last year over Montana State and Montana during last year's run to the national championship game and this year against Cal Poly and Montana State.
Three Bearkats Lead Six Southland AP All-Americans:
Sam Houston State safety Darnell Taylor headlines a group of six players from the Southland Conference that were named to the FCS All-American Team by the Associated Press on Wednesday. Taylor earned first-team honors. He was joined on the team by teammates Timothy Flanders at running back and Andrew Weaver on the defensive line. Central Arkansas offensive lineman Corey Howard and Southeastern Louisiana defensive back Robert Alford earned second team mention. Stephen F. Austin receiver Cordell Roberson earned third-team honors.
Seven from Southland Named to Sports Network All-America Teams:
Sam Houston State safety Darnell Taylor leads a group of seven players from the Southland Conference on the 2012 Sports Network FCS All-America Teams, the organization announced Monday. Taylor was the only player to earn first-team honors and was one of three Bearkats to be named to the three teams. Central Arkansas also placed three players on the team, while Southeastern Louisiana had one player recognized. Taylor was joined by running back Tim Flanders, the Southland Conference Player of the Year, and offensive lineman Kaleb Hopson, who each earned third-team honors. UCA offensive lineman Corey Howard, the conference's offensive lineman of the year, earned second-team honors. His teammates linebacker Seth Allison and punt returner Jesse Grandy, were named to the third team. Southeastern cornerback Robert Alford earned second-team mention.
Sam Houston's Taylor Named AFCA All-American:
For the second year in a row, Sam Houston State safety Darnell Taylor has been named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team. Taylor is a repeat AFCA All-America performer. He also is a two-time Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year after winning first-team all-conference honors at safety. Taylor leads the Bearkat defense in tackles this season with 91 including 63 solos stops and two quarterback sacks. Sam Houston ranks No. 3 in the nation in rush defense, No. 14 in scoring defense and No. 15 in total defense. The Bearkats led the Southland Conference in rushing, total defense and scoring defense. The senior from Mesquite, Texas, broke the school record for most solo tackles in a career with a four-year total of 228. The old record of 215 was set by former NFL New York Jet veteran linebacker Stan Blinka who was an NAIA All-America selection for Sam Houston in 1975-78.
Fritz Shares Regional Coach of the Year Honors:
Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz and Montana State's Rob Ash have been named as NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Region Five Co-Coaches of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association. Fritz has guided the Bearkats to a 10-3 record and Sam Houston's second consecutive Southland Conference championship and NCAA Division I Football Championships playoff berth. The Bearkats finished the regular season ranked No. 5 nationally. The back-to-back Southland titles and FCS playoff appearances in 2011 and 2012 are a school first. In three years at Sam Houston, Fritz has guided the program to a 30-9 overall record, the most victories in any three-year period in the university's 97 seasons of football. Fritz is a repeat winner of the AFCA Regional Coach-of-the-Year honor, receiving the award in 2011 after a 14-1 season that saw the Bearkats reach the national championship game.
Magical Playoff Run in 2011 for Bearkats:
Sam Houston State came out of the regular-season unscathed with a perfect 11-0 record to earn the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division I Football Championship. The Bearkats received a first-round bye in the playoffs, and opened their postseason Dec. 3 with a 34-27 win over Stony Brook. Sam Houston State followed with back-to-back wins over long-time Southland nemeses Montana State (49-13) and Montana (31-28 in a game that saw running back Tim Flanders rush for 287 yards) to become the first Southland team to play for a national championship since McNeese State in 2002. The Bearkat win also ran their win streak to 16 games (dating back to the final two games of the 2010 season) before falling to North Dakota State in the national championship game.
Sam Houston State Reached 2011 Title Game:
An unrelenting defense limited Sam Houston State to its lowest total offense and point total of the season ending the Bearkats' dream season as North Dakota State posted a 17-6 victory in the NCAA Division I National Championship Game Jan. 7, 2012. The Bison and the Bearkats both ended the season with 14-1 records but North Dakota State took home the trophy after a hard-fought battle at FC Dallas Stadium. Sam Houston was held to 95 yards rushing and 115 passing for a total offense output of 220 yards. The Bearkats came into the contest averaging 421.1 yards per game offensively. Running back Tim Flanders led the Bearkat offense with 21 carries for 84 yards as he set a Southland Conference record for most rushing yards in one season (1,642). He broke the former record of 1,593 yards set by Claude Mathis of Texas State in 1997.
Flanders Repeats as Southland Conference Player of the Year:
Timothy Flanders, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, was named the Southland Conference player of the year for the second consecutive season. He leads the conference with 1,252 rushing yards on 204 carries for an average of 6.1 yards per carry and 104.3 yards per game. The junior from Midwest City, Okla., has scored 17 touchdowns and leads the Southland in scoring with an average of 9.0 points per game. He also has 11 receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown, accounting for 112.1 all-purpose yards per game, which ranks third in the Southland. In conference play, Flanders averaged 6.7 yards per carry and 119.6 yards per game. Flanders' third-quarter rushing touchdown at Texas A&M in the regular-season finale was the 52nd rushing touchdown on his career, tying Lamar's Charles McDaniel (1971-74) for the conference record. Flanders has 55 total touchdowns in his career to rank second behind former Central Arkansas running back Brent Grimes (2006-09) who totaled 59. Flanders, who has topped 100 yards 23 times in his career, ranks No. 5 in the Southland with 3,844 career yards. He is the first Sam Houston player to repeat as the conference player of the year. Only two other players have won the award in consecutive years. Former Texas State running back Claude Mathis earned the award in 1996 and 1997 and former Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses was voted the league's top player in 2009 and 2010. Other players from Sam Houston to be named player of the year include Chris Chaloupka (1999), Josh McCown (2001) and Dustin Long (2004).
Taylor Repeats as Defensive Player of the Year:
Darnell Taylor is the fifth player in Southland history to be named the league's defensive player of the year in back-to-back years and the first since former Central Arkansas defensive end Larry Hart in 2008 and 2009. Taylor has made 91 tackles this season, which ranks sixth in the Southland. The senior from Mesquite, Texas, has made 63 solo stops and has assisted on another 28. A finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, Taylor has two tackles for loss (both sacks) for 13 yards and has returned two interceptions 40 yards while breaking up five passes and getting credit for another seven passes defended and one quarterback hurry. He also forced one fumble and recovered another. He recorded 51 tackles in conference games and recorded double-figure tackles totals against Central Arkansas (15), Stephen F. Austin (10), Texas A&M (12) and Cal Poly (12). Taylor is the school's career leader with 228 solo tackles, moving in front of NAIA All-American Stan Blinka, who had 215. Taylor ranks seventh in total tackles at Sam Houston with 329. The Bearkats rush defense is ranked third nationally, allowing just 88.67 yards per game, and 15th in total defense, giving up only 312.2 yards per game. The Bearkats' scoring defense is limiting opponents to just 18.8 points per game, the 14th best total in the FCS.
Conque Earns Second Coach of the Year Honor: Clint Conque picked up his second coach of the year honor after leading Central Arkansas to a 9-3 overall record and a share of its first Southland Conference championship with a 6-1 league ledger. Conque previously won the honor in 2008 after guiding the Bears to a conference-best 6-1 record, though the team was ineligible for postseason play and the conference championship in the midst of its transition from Division II. UCA made its first NCAA Division I playoff appearance as an at-large selection last year in only its second year of eligibility and earned the league's automatic qualifier into this year's playoffs by virtue of its 24-20 victory over Sam Houston State in September. In his 13th season at UCA, Conque, who is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, boasts a 98-54 overall record, which includes a 46-25 record since joining the Southland in 2007. He has guided the Bears to a 29-13 mark in conference play during that same span. Ten of his 13 teams have finished with a winning record and five have won at least nine games. His 2005 team tied a school record with 11 wins, while his 2008 team won 10 games.
Howard Named Southland's Inaugural Offensive Lineman of the Year: Corey Howard became the first winner of the offensive lineman of the year after garner the most votes among all offensive linemen on the all-conference ballot. Howard, a senior from Wichita Falls, Texas, has played all three positions on an offensive line this season enabling the Bears' quarterback to throw for 258.6 yards per game and an offense that averages 133.5 yards rushing. The Bears offense ranks fourth in the Southland in total offense, averaging 400.1 yards and 34.8 points per game, a figure that ranks second in the Southland and 12th nationally. Howard is a four-year starter who has started at least eight games each season.
Woodard Becomes Second Bear to be Named Freshman of the Year: Jonathan Woodard was tabbed freshman of the year and is only the second UCA player to earn the award in school history, joining Jestin Love, who shared the award in 2010. Woodard, a defensive end from Brentwood, Tenn., finished fourth in the conference with seven sacks and was the only freshman among the conference's top 20 players in the category. Woodard concluded the regular season tied for seventh in the conference in tackles for loss with 11.0 tackles for losses of 51 yards. The defensive lineman recovered three fumbles on the season. The freshman scored a touchdown against Stephen F. Austin on a 72-yard fumble recovery late in the fourth quarter. Woodard registered three tackles for loss in a Central Arkansas 34-14 victory over Nicholls State.
Lamar's Johnson is Newcomer of the Year: Kevin Johnson earned the newcomer of the year award following a historic year for the Cardinals. The Oklahoma State transfer totaled 13 touchdowns this season, including two kickoff returns for touchdowns while finishing third in the conference in total touchdowns. Johnson, a receiver from Houston, Texas, accounted for four touchdowns in a Lamar win against McMurry to match a Lamar single-game records for touchdowns and points scored. The sophomore scored nearly half the time he caught the ball with 10 touchdowns on 19 receptions with an average of 16.3 yards per reception. His 10 receiving touchdowns equal the second best single-season in Lamar history. Johnson notched a 23.1 yards per kick return average against conference opponents including one touchdown. He finished eighth in the conference with 86.1 purpose yards per game including a rushing touchdown in Lamar's victory of Prairie View A&M.
Sam Houston State Leads League with 16 All-Conference Selections: Sam Houston State led all conference teams 16 student-athletes on the two all-conference squads. Running back Timothy Flanders was a first-team running back, while Darnell Taylor was a first-team defensive back. They were joined on the first team by tight end T.J. Jones, offensive linemen Kaleb Hopson and Chris Rogers, all-purpose player Richard Sincere, defensive lineman J.T. Cleveland, linebacker Darius Taylor, defensive back Dax Swanson and punter Matt Foster. The Bearkats' six second-team honorees include quarterback Brian Bell, receiver and kick return specialist Trey Diller, defensive lineman Gary Lorance and defensive backs Kenneth Jenkins and Bookie Sneed. Sam Houston added seven honorable mention selections.
Flanders, Smothers Were Finalists for Walter Payton Award: Sam Houston State running back Timothy Flanders and Central Arkansas quarterback Wynrick Smothers were among the 20 finalists for the Walter Payton Award, which is presented annually to the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Three of the finalists - Wofford fullback Eric Breitenstein, Old Dominion quarterback Taylor Heinicke and Stony Brook running back Miguel Maysonet - will vie for this year's award, which will be announced Dec. 17 in Philadelphia, Pa. Smothers finished 11th in the balloting, while Flanders finished 13th. Former Stephen F. Austin quarterback Jeremy Moses is the only player in conference history to win the Payton Award.
Alford, Taylor are Finalists for Buck Buchanan Award: The Southland Conference also has two finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in the FCS. Southeastern Louisiana defensive back Robert Alford and Sam Houston State defensive back Robert Alford are up for the award this year. Alford tied for Southland Conference lead with four interceptions and was second with 12 passes defended. He made 39 total tackles, including 35 solo stops, 5.0 tackles for loss and eight pass breakups. The senior from Hammond, La., has been invited to Senior Bowl. Southeastern, which was picked to finish no better than fifth in the preseason polls, was third with a 5-2 league mark and finished the year 5-6 overall. Taylor has made 91 tackles this season, which ranks sixth in the Southland. The senior from Mesquite, Texas, has made 63 solo stops and has assisted on another 28. A finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, Taylor has two tackles for loss (both sacks) for 13 yards and has returned two interceptions 40 yards while breaking up five passes and getting credit for another seven passes defended and one quarterback hurry. He also forced one fumble and recovered another.
Two Southland Teams Ranked in FCS Top 25 Polls: Sam Houston State slipped two spots to No. 5 in both the Sports Network and FCS Coaches polls at the end of the regular season after falling 47-28 at Texas A&M Nov. 17. Central Arkansas moved up two spots in both polls to No. 8 in the Sports Network and FCS Coaches polls after its 48-30 home-field win over then-No. 24 Eastern Illinois. It marks the highest ranking this season for the Bears. Sam Houston started the season No. 1 in the Sports Network poll, but after back-to-back September losses fell to No. 10 before climbing as high as No. 3 entering the final game of the season. McNeese State received votes in the final regular-season Sports Network ranking. The Cowboys finished 7-4 overall and 4-3 in league play. The Cowboys were the only Southland team to register a win against a team in the Football Bowl Subdivision, beating Middle Tennessee 27-21 in the season opener.
