Blocked kick, tough defense keys playoff win
11/30/2014 7:23:00 AM | Football
Up three, 17-14, with the ball at the Sam Houston 29-yard line, Southeastern Louisiana elected to attempt a 46-yard field goal. The kick was blocked by Bearkat defensive end P. J. Hall.
The SHSU offense took over and drove 59-yards in seven plays for the winning touchdown with 7:10 to play.
“If they would have made that field goal, they would have had all the momentum,” Hall, a red-shirt freshman from Seguin said. “The play gave our offense momentum and they drive right down for the touchdown.”
Hall's play was part of an effort by the Bearkat defense that continued to thwart a highly rated Southeastern Louisiana offense the entire game. The Southland Conference “Freshman of the Year” and a finalist for FCS freshman national honors, Hall totaled four tackles for losses and a QB sack to go along with his fourth kick block of the season.
Hall's 24 tackles for losses this fall stand as the second highest single season total in Bearkat football history.
“We were playing pretty good. We knew we just had to keep playing hard and keep driving through,” Hall said. “On the block, our two defensive tackles got the guard and I just got through.”
Offensively, transfer running back Donavan Williams stepped forward when the Bearkats lost starter and leading rusher Keshawn Hill to an injury on the opening kickoff.
Williams responded with two touchdowns for the Kats that provided the winning points.
“My mind-set never changed,” Williams said. “That's just how they teach us in practice. Just because Keshawn went down doesn't mean I went into shock. It was my turn up and I just had to handle it the right way."
Southeastern Louisiana, ranked No. 11 nationally in FCS, entered Saturday's playoff game averaging 42.2 points and 480.5 yards per game. The Lions were limited to only two touchdowns, one in each half, and a field goal.
Sam Houston now moves on to second round play at Jacksonville State next Saturday.
