Lamar challenges SHSU in Southland opener
10/11/2013 8:28:00 AM | Football
Bearkat Sports Network Game Preview On YouTube
Sam Houston and Lamar meet Saturday at 2 p.m. at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in the 2013 Southland Conference opener for both squads.
The Bearkats are seeking to become only the fifth team in Southland Conference history to earn league championships three years in a row.
Sam Houston won the 2011 title with a 7-0 record and in 2012 with a 6-1 slate.
Head coach Willie Fritz knows his Bearkat squad faces a tough challenge in the opener.
“Lamar comes in here with only two losses, both to two strong FBS opponents,” Fritz said. “They have a very veteran team with nine seniors on defense and six seniors offensively. In fact, I think they have more juniors and seniors than we do.”
Lamar owns wins over Oklahoma Panhandle State, Bacone and a road victory over Grambling State. The losses came at the hands of Oklahoma State and Louisiana Tech.
“Lamar has a good young running back in Kade Harrington who can cause problems,” Fritz said. “They're sound defensively. We're going to have to be very focused. The past two years, our players have done a good job of taking games one at a time and staying locked in on the task at hand. We have to do the same thing again Saturday.”
Lamar is riding a two-game winning streak coming into Saturday's game. In the Cardinals' last game, Lamar rallied from a 16-point first quarter deficit to knock off Grambling State 27-16 on the road.
Harrington, a freshman, is the leading rusher for Lamar with 61 rushes for 343 yards. He ranks fifth in Southland Conference rushing with 70 yards per game.
The Cardinals also are known for their outstanding pass rush. Lamar leads the Southland with 16 sacks.
Tickets for the Sam Houston-Lamar Homecoming matchup Saturday are available now online at www.gobearkats.com or at the SHSU Athletic Ticket Office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. For more information call (936) 294-1729.
