Improving Defense To Be Tested Saturday at ACU
10/15/2015 11:12:00 AM | Football
After a tough start in losses to Texas Tech and Lamar, Sam Houston has rebounded with three consecutive victories. A key factor in those wins has been the play of the Bearkat defense.
“Rarely have I had a team work as hard as this group has the past three weeks,” Sam Houston head coach K. C. Keeler said. “We've gone back to fundamentals in practice. We've worked on tackling and on defeating blocks. Our vision is that our defense can be just as good as our offense.”
The head coach believes this week's opponent in Saturday 2:30 p.m. game at Abilene Christian will be an excellent indicator of where the Bearkat defense now stands.
“We will get tested this weekend,” Keeler said. “Abilene Christian plays so well at home. Offensively they have some weapons.”
Parker McKenzie, ACU's quarterback who has started 16 games for the Wildcats, now has thrown for 4,222 yards and 32 touchdowns. He leads the Southland in passing yards (1,105), passing touchdowns (10), completions (95) and yards passing per game (221.0).
“Abilene Christian's quarterback is a neat, crafty kid who makes plays with his legs and makes plays with his arm,” Keeler said. “He extends plays and has a big offensive line in front of him. They have an all-conference level running back and I really like their wide receivers. They definitely will challenge us. It will be nice to see where we are.”
Big plays by the Bearkat defense have set up scoring sprees in two of Sam Houston's three wins. Interceptions by Tyrel Stokes, Sammy Webb and Trenier Orr powered the team to a 28-0 third quarter on the way to a 63-14 victory over Houston Baptist. Midway through the second quarter, HBU and the Kats were tied 14-14. Stokes returned his interception 25 yards for a score.
Sam Houston got off to a quick start in the 59-7 victory over Incarnate Word with three TDs in less than a two-minute span in the first quarter thanks to the defense. After a 66-yard Jared Johnson to Cory Avery scoring pass, interceptions by P. J. Hall and Mikell Everette set up short, quick scoring drives. In the second quarter, Collins Okotcha returned the Kats' third interception of the night for a 60-yard score. Sam Houston led at halftime 52-0.
“It was really important for us to have a dominating game defensively and we did that last week,” Keeler said. “Right now the players are flying to the ball. Our play at safety has improved so if we don't fill a gap, they clean up the mess. With Collins Okotcha and A. J. Davis playing well at linebacker, we're able to rotate them with returning starters Tristan Eche and Myke Chatman and keep our linebackers fresh.”
The Bearkat head coach believes improved defensive play is a key to the team continuing their winning ways and securing another post-season playoff berth.
“At the end of the season, getting into the playoffs and then getting through to the semifinals, we really hung our hat on the defense,” Keeler said. “We played well offensively, but it was championship defense that was the key.”
Sam Houston definitely has been getting the offensive production this fall. The Bearkats ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring (49.4 points per game) and No. 2 in total offense (590.0). Sam Houston has out-scored its last three opponents 156 to 49.
Following the Abilene Christian game Saturday afternoon, Sam Houston returns to Elliott T. Bowers Stadium to play host to Nicholls for Homecoming at 6 p.m. on Saturday October 24.
