Seniors to be honored Saturday during pregame
11/8/2013 10:51:00 AM | Football
The most successful group of seniors in Sam Houston's 97 years of football is playing its final regular season game at Bowers Stadium Saturday.
Each of the 15 young men who have led the Bearkats to back-to-back Southland Conference titles and appearances in two NCAA Division I national championship games will be honored in a special ceremony during pregame activities for the Sam Houston versus Nicholls football contest at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:40 p.m.
“Many of these seniors have been with myself and the coaching staff since we came here three years ago,” Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said. “A few even predate us. But what they have accomplished since 2010 is amazing.”
The 15 Bearkat seniors have been part of a unit that has ranked among the Top 10 in the FCS for 30 consecutive weeks. The group has posted 38 victories, the most during any four-year period at Sam Houston. They also have set 51 school records.
“This group has helped changed the culture for Sam Houston football,” Fritz said. “They also have been leaders in the class room and the community. We hope as many fans as possible can come in from tail gate a bit early to honor this great group.”
Among the other accomplishments of these 15 seniors are six NCAA playoff victories, three players who have earned All-America honors, nine players who have earned All-Southland honors and Southland Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year awards.
The class includes Sam Houston's all-time leading rusher, scorer, passer and total offense leader.
In alphabetical order the 15 seniors are:
Forbes Baggett – defensive end from Huntsville and a letterman for teams that have produced the winningest four-year record in the university's 97 years of football.
Jesse Beauchamp – linebacker from Klein who is a four-year lettermen and earned All-Southland Conference honors as a junior last year
Brian Bell – quarterback from China Spring who ranks as SHSU's all-time winningest quarterback, passing and total offense leader and is a two-time All-Southland selection.
Matt Boyles – offensive lineman from Southlake who is a two-year starter and a semi-finalist for the National Football Foundation's Scholar Athlete award this fall.
Tanner Brock – linebacker from Copperas Cove who is one of the Kats' leading tacklers with 56 stops this year and Southland defensive player of the week honors after the Texas Southern victory.
Jarrett Brown – defensive lineman from Arlington Bowie who is one of the team's leaders in tackles for losses this year and has 27 starts during his three years as a Bearkat letterman.
Eric Fieilo – linebacker from Euless Trinity who stands as one of the Bearkats' defensive leaders and is a candidate for the Discover Orange Bowl Courage Award candidate this year.
Timothy Flanders – running back from Midwest City, Okla., who is a two-time All-America selection and Southland Player of the Year and ranks as Sam Houston and the league's all-time leading rusher and scorer.
Johntel Franklin – safety from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who has made 56 tackles as a starter in the defensive secondary this season.
De'antrey Loche – cornerback from Diboll who has returned two interceptions for touchdowns this year and was Southland Player of the Week after the Eastern Washington victory.
Richard Sincere – wide receiver and wildkat back from Galveston who has earned All-America, All-Southland and 2011 Southland Offensive Player of the Year honors while compiling both 1,000 career receiving and all-purpose yards.
Bookie Sneed – cornerback from Conroe who is a two-time All-Southland Conference selection and ranks No. 8 in all-time interceptions for Sam Houston State.
Torrance Williams – wide receiver and return specialist from Waco who leads the FCS and the Southland in punt returns this season and is a career 1,000-yard receiver.
Ryan Wilson – running back from Carrollton who has totaled nearly 1,000 career all-purpose yards.
Andrew Weaver – defensive end from Waco and the Bearkats' leader in quarterback sacks this year and earning All-Southland and All-America honors on the 2012 championship team.
Saturday's game is sponsored by Pizza Hut. Fans who purchase a large pizza at either of Huntsville's two Pizza Hut locations will receive a free ticket to the 2 p.m. contest.
Tickets for the Sam Houston versus Nicholls State football game are available now online at www.gobearkats.com. Fans also may purchase tickets at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House Friday until 5 p.m.
The Bowers Stadium west side ticket office will open at 10 a.m. Saturday. Bearkat Alley Tailgate begins at 12 noon.
