Coach Says Kats, JSU Mirror Images of Each Other
12/17/2015 7:00:00 AM | Football
When asked about their opponent in this weekend's NCAA Division I Football Championship semifinals matchup in Alabama, both Sam Houston head coach K. C. Keeler and Jacksonville State skipper John Grass seem to echo each other.
“Looking at Jacksonville State is like looking in a mirror,” Keeler said. “They're look a lot like us. Every FCS team we've played this year, I've felt we were the more talented team. This game is the first time this season that I'm saying the team we face is as talented if not more so.”
Sharp at JSU sounds much the same.
“I see a lot of similarities in both teams,” the second-year head coach said. “We are both athletic and fast teams with physical offensive and defensive lines. We play similar styles. There definitely are some comparisons. Saturday we'll have two high caliber teams going at each other. That's what it's all about in the playoffs.”
Offensively, both teams run up-tempo attacks that have been piling up the points and yards.
Sam Houston stands No. 1 in the nation's FCS total offense standings with 551.1 yards per game. Jacksonville State averages 520.8 yards per contest to rank No. 4. The Gamecocks average 308 yards rushing and 212.8 yards passing per game. Sam Houston is close with 264.1 yards on the ground and 287 in the air.
The Bearkats are scoring 43.3 points to the Gamecocks' 39.4 per contest.
JSU enters the game with the nation's longest FCS winning streak (11 games) after a 10-2 season last year. Sam Houston has won 11 of its last 12 games after an 11-5 season in 2014.
“Jacksonville State is like us,” Keeler said. “They have grown and improved and had another great year. They've won some games that went down to the wire and that builds confidence. Their quarterback is playing as a much higher level. Their offensive is more explosive than last year. They're physical. I like their team. But, even when we were 0-2, I said I like my team. This is a great matchup.”
Both Sam Houston quarterback Jared Johnson and Gamecock signal-caller Eli Jenkins were first-team all-league selections and name as the Southland Conference and the Ohio Valley Conference respective Offensive Players of the Year.
Gamecock quarterback Eli Jenkins has rushed for 1,030 yards and 13 touchdowns and passed for 5,241 yards and 34 scores. Sam Houston's Jared Johnson has totaled 2,675 yards total offense and Jeremiah Briscoe has added 1,709 more yards.
“Sam Houston has two good quarterbacks and played both guys a lot,” Grass said. “One was their league' offensive MVP and the other played at UAB last year. Sam Houston threw the ball effectively in their game against us last year and they are throwing effectively again this year. Their ability to throw has really opened up their offense. They have a great running backs, talented receivers and a physical offensive line. They have a lot of weapons.”
Saturday's game is a rematch of last year's FCS second round playoff when Sam Houston upset No. 3 ranked Jacksonville State 37-26 in Alabama. Down 26-24 at intermission, the Bearkats shutout the Gamecocks in the second half while chalking up third quarter touchdowns on a 49-yard pass from Johnson to LaDarius Brown and a 33-yard run by Jalen Overstreet.
“Sam Houston has almost everybody back from last year and I think they're better than last year,” Grass said. “Sam Houston has a great program that's reached the FCS semifinals for the fourth time in five years. They know how to play through the playoffs and are playing their best football right now. I wouldn't expect anything less from them. They are talented, well coaches and they do a great job.”
Both coaches believe the two teams are so close in talent that the outcome of Saturday's contest will come down to the details.
"Things like making bigs defensive plays on third downs and executing well on special teams are going to have a lot to do with who wins," Grass said. "Last year we converted only five of 13 third downs while Sam Houston was successful on 10 of 17. We have to do better this year if we expect to win."
Keeler agrees.
"This game is going to be about execution," the Sam Houston head coach said. "It's about tackling, blocking, making the big play in the end zone. We are definitely playing an opponent just as we are. We are going to have to do all those things better than Jacksonville State to win."
A crowd of more than 22,000 is expected to pack the stadium at Burgess-Smith Field in Jacksonville Saturday. The contest will be televised on ESPNU with kickoff at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“Going pack to Jacksonville is going to be a great challenge,” Keeler said. “What a great facility. We were blown away by how beautiful their football facility was last year. Their crowd energy is amazing. It's going to be a great playoff atmosphere. Playing in games like this are the reason our players came to Sam Houston. Everyone is looking forward to going back.”
Planning a watch party for the game? Please send the watch party information to alumni@shsu.edu. The Alumni Association will be updating watch party locations throughout the week at: alumni.shsu.edu.
