Quarterback Jared Johnson threw five touchdown passes and running back Cory Avery tallied three times to lead Sam Houston to a 49-21 Southland Conference football victory over Abilene Christian Saturday at P. E. Shotwell Stadium.
Johnson's performance featured scoring passes of 64, 24, 13, 10 and nine yards. The performance tied a school record originally set in 1999 by Chris Chaloupka that has now been equaled eight other times. Chaloupka had two more five-touchdown games, Dustin Long three and Josh McCown and Rhett Bomar one each.
Avery rushed six times for 98 yards including a 58-yard dash that set up his second quarter one-yard scoring plunge. His receptions of nine and 10 yards accounted for Johnson's second and fourth touchdowns.
The victory was the fourth victory in a row for the No. 9 ranked Bearkats who started the season with a pair of losses. Sam Houston now stands 4-2 for the year and 4-1 in league action. Abilene Christian dropped to 2-4 for the year and 2-2 in Southland play.
Johnson passed for 250 yards, going 17 for 24 on the day. Wide receiver LaDarius Richardson caught six of those throws for 108 yards.
The No. 1 scoring and No. 2 total offense team in the nation, Sam Houston had another big day, rolling up 528 yards total offense (247 rushing and 281 passing). The Kat defense gave up only 323 total yards, forced two turnovers and picked up four quarterback sacks.
“We talked a lot about starting strong,” Sam Houston head coach K. C. Keeler said. “This is a tough place to play and we came out on fire. There is no question that we've gotten better week by week. We had a dominate performance the first half and we got to give a lot of young guys some playing time in the second.”
For the second week in a row, Sam Houston got off to a quick start thanks to both big offensive and defensive plays. The Bearkats jumped out to a 28-0 lead at the end of the first quarter after scoring just a minute and 19 seconds into the contest. Brown set the tone early with his 64-yard touchdown reception on a flea-flicker play pass from Johnson.
Johnson hit Avery for a nine yard touchdown with 8:07 to play in the period. The quarterback struck again four minutes later, hitting tight end Collin Rison for a 24-yard score to complete a six-play 81-yard drive.
Holder Don King scored the fourth touchdown of the quarter on a nine-yard on a fake field goal. Davion Davis accounted for the Bearkats second score of the third quarter on a 13-yard pass from Johnson with 2:16 left in the period.
“Getting off to a fast start is something we've worked on a lot. It's been a major priority for us. The kids are very in tune with that. It's not that we weren't coming out with tremendous energy. We just weren't focused. We were making too many mental mistakes early and we've stopped that now.”
Abilene Christian got on the scoreboard with a Dallas Sealey eight-yard run to complete and 11-play 80-yard drive with 9:44 left in the half. Avery sparked a late 80-yard scoring drive for the Bearkats, dashing 58 yards to the Wildcat 22 and later scoring from the one. The Wildcats added second half scores on a 14-yard dash by Adrian Duncan and a seven-yard pass from Cody Ennis to Jamie Walker.
“I like how the kids are playing and I like how they're practicing,” Keeler said. “Since the Lamar loss we've been practicing and playing with a chip on our shoulder. Since that loss this team has been called an under-achiever and that's the worst thing you can call someone. They've taken that personally and I'm glad they have.”
Alfonzo McMillian intercepted a pass and Luis Carreno, Sammy Webb, Sione Latu and Kevin Jackson all picked up sacks for the defense.
Sam Houston plays host to Nicholls next Saturday at 6 p.m. for Homecoming at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.
