Two Weeks To 89th Piney Woods Battle
10/20/2014 5:59:00 PM | Football
The 89th “Battle of the Piney Woods” is two weeks away and ticket sales are on a record pace.
The annual grudge match between Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin stands as Texas' oldest FCS rivalry. For the fifth season in a row, the two meet in Houston at NRG Stadium on Saturday, November 1, at 3 p.m.
Everyone who has taken part in the excitement of the past four “Battles” knows the thriller this special annual event in Houston has become. From the tailgate party to the solid sea of orange and purple filling NRG's lower bowl, the latest renewal of the series will be another day to remember.
Each of the four games at the home of the NFL Houston Texans has been an offensive thriller.
A look back at all four of the exciting Bearkat-Lumberjack contests at NRG Stadium:
Stephen F. Austin – 31, Sam Houston State- 28
October 23, 2010
The first Battle of the Piney Woods was a back and forth scoring affair in front of 24,685 fans.
After giving up 14 first quarter points, Sam Houston gave the No. 4 ranked Jacks all they could handle, coming up just a field goal short of the upset.
Timothy Flanders led Sam Houston with 23 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Richard Sincere posted 72 yards on eight carries and a score. Brian Bell's seven-yard TD pass to D. J. Morrow accounted for the Kats' fourth score.
Thomas Henshaw's 34-yard field goal with 13:19 remaining in the fourth provided the winning points for SFA.
Sam Houston State – 45, Stephen F. Austin – 10
Saturday, October 8, 2011
In the second year of the Battle of the Piney Woods at Reliant Stadium, SFA opened up the scoring with a field goal.
It was all Sam Houston the rest of the way, as the Bearkats ripped off 45 straight points before giving up late touchdown in a dominated win over the Lumberjacks.
Sam Houston runningbacks Tim Flanders and Richard Sincere each totaled two touchdowns, while quarterback Brian Bell was an efficient 16 for 23 for 214 yards and two touchdowns.
The Sam Houston defense held SFA in check for the majority of the game, pulling down
four interceptions and allowing just 23 yards on the ground. The game continued to rewrite the attendance record books as 25,083 fans watched the Bearkats' win, setting another Battle of the Piney Woods record.
Sam Houston State – 51, Stephen F. Austin – 43
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The offenses were once again on display at the 2012 Battle of the Piney Woods presented by YP.com, as Sam Houston held off a late SFA charge to pull out the win in front of yet another record attendance of 26,185.
The Bearkats struck first with a field goal, however SFA answered twice to take a 14-3 lead. From that point on Sam Houston took control, outscoring the Lumberjacks 48-14 until midway through the 4th quarter.
SFA put together two late scoring drives to pull within 8 points, but couldn't close the final gap and left Reliant Stadium with a loss for the second consecutive year.
Lumberjacks quarterback Brady Attaway torched the Bearkats for 545 yards and six touchdowns in a losing effort, with star wide receiver Cordell Roberson accounting for 199 yards and three of those touchdowns. The Bearkats rumbled for 228 yards and two touchdowns in the win, with runningback Timothy Flanders again playing a key part and finishing with 125 yards on the ground.
Sam Houston State - 56, Stephen. F. Austin - 49
Saturday, November 2nd, 2013
In what has become a Battle of the Piney Woods tradition, the offenses lit up Reliant
Stadium for the third year in a row, as the teams combined for 63 points in the 4th quarter before the Lumberjacks' furious comeback ultimately fell short.
The first three quarters were a back and forth affair, as the teams traded scores and neither team held more than a seven point lead, finally finishing the 3rd quarter tied at 28.
Things opened up in the 4th quarter, as the Bearkats ripped off four consecutive touchdowns in just three minutes to take a 56 to 28 lead. The Lumberjacks weren't done, tallying three scores of their own, including passing touchdowns of 59 and 75 yards.
The game was ultimately sealed on the ensuing kickoff when the Bearkats recovered SFA's onside kick attempt, ending the wildest Battle of the Piney Woods in Houston yet in front of a 4th consecutive record crowd of 26,213.
Purchase “Battle of the Piney Woods” Tickets now
TOUCHDOWN CLUB “PINEY WOODS” LUNCHEON
For the third year in a row, the Houston Touchdown Club will host the “Battle of the Piney Woods” luncheon Thursday, Oct. 30 at the J. W. Marriott Hotel in Houston.
Both head coaches – Sam Houston's K. C. Keeler and SFA's Clint Conque -- will be present at the special event which takes place two days before the game.
Houston TV sports personalities Randy McIlvoy & Bob Allen will host the event.
The luncheon is presented by Texas Barge and Boat Inct., Midway Energy Services and CenterPoint Energy and begins at 12 noon. The J. W. Marriott Hotel is located at 5150 Westheimer at Sage.
The two athletic directors from both universities – Bobby Williams from Sam Houston and Robert Hill from Stephen F. Austin – also will speak.
Tickets are $45 each. Tables are $450 (regular table), $600 (bronze sponsorship), $1,000 (silver sponsorship), $1,500 (gold sponsorship) and $2,500 (platinum sponsorship). All tables are 10 seats each.
To pay for tickets, e-mail houtdclub@att.net, or call Neal Farmer at 713-849-9860. You also can use the PayPal access on this front page for this event.
