Seniors focused on vital contest with Demons
11/13/2015 11:12:00 PM | Football
Part of Saturday's “Letter Winners Day” celebration at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium will be the annual “Senior Day” presentation.
Twenty-four senior players will be introduced. Five of the group have been part of the Bearkat football program since the 2011 season when the Sam Houston started its current streak of FCS success with a No. 1 ranking and NCAA championship game appearance. Seven have been team members since 2012 when the Kats rolled up a second consecutive finals berth and league title.
The others all have played roles in the success of the teams the past three years. And all will be making their final regular season appearances at Bowers Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when Sam Houston plays host to Northwestern State.
Everyone on the team will be focused on the task at hand. The Kats won't be making the playoffs for a fifth consecutive year if they lose either of its last two games.
“Right now, I'm not really thinking about it, but … when it all starts to sink in it will become emotional at some point,” sixth-year senior running back Ridgeway Frank said. “It probably won't hit me until after (the game).”
Bowers Stadium has provided the seniors with plenty of memories.
The Bearkats have won plenty of big games in their home stadium during the regular season, including beating Eastern Washington in 2013 and upsetting McNeese State in 2014, and the playoffs, such as wins over Cal Poly in 2012 and Southeastern Louisiana in 2014, both of which were the catalyst for long postseason runs.
“One of the best moments I would say was when I was a redshirt, that first year when we broke the ice and went to the national championship after beating Montana (in 2011),” redshirt senior linebacker Tristan Eche said. “That was one of the moments that I'll never forget. Also, against Southeastern last year, winning that home game and sending out one of my best friends, Michael Wade, playing with him for the last time at Bowers.”
The Bearkats will have the chance to make one last memory at Bowers Stadium on Saturday against the only team that beat them in Southland Conference play last season. This week is not about revenge though, according to Eche.
“(We) just want to treat it like every other game,” Eche said. “We've got to go 1-0 this week. This game is no bigger than last week and the week before. Every game is important, so we just need to make sure we don't make this game bigger than what it is.”
While the Bearkats no longer have a shot at winning the conference title, the seniors still have an opportunity to help the team go on a deep playoff run. Last fall, the Bearkats made an improbable playoff push after losing four regular season games. The seniors hope to repeat that feat.
“We like pressure,” Eche said. “It was the same thing last year. People counted us out and last week we had a little boo-boo, so people will have their doubts. It's part of the fun of the game to know every week it might be your last.”
Regardless of whether the Kats make the playoffs or not, the senior class will be one of the most accomplished the school has ever seen.
“These guys have had phenomenal careers,” head coach K.C. Keeler said. “(They have) a lot of wins over SFA, playoff appearances, a national championship appearance and a final four appearance. Their resume is just so impressive. They've had as good a run as any senior group in the history of this university.”
The complete list of seniors to be honored Saturday includes Eric Agbarogi, Dedrick Brooks, LaDarius Brown, Roclan Drain, Lachlan Edwards, Mikell Everette, Steven Hicks, Kiel Heidman, Josh Hunt, Donald Jackson III, Kevin Jackson, Braeden King, Don King III, Josh Lyons, Andre Moseley, Chance Nelson, Trenier Orr, Contereze Pierce, Josh Reynolds, Beau Smith, Zach Stevens, Gerald Thomas and Stephen Williams.
