After dropping consecutive games to open the season, Sam Houston State rebounded in a big way Saturday night, gaining the second-most yards in program history (727) in a 63-14 rout of Houston Baptist in front of 9,014 fans at Bowers Stadium.
The Bearkats (1-2, 1-1 Southland Conference) rolled up 49 straight points, including outscoring the Huskies (1-3, 0-2 SLC) 35-0 in the second half and 28-0 in the third quarter, to pick up their first win in league play.
Sam Houston passed for 472 yards, and tallied 32 first downs, enough for fifth in program history for a game, highlighted by marquee performances from quarterbacks Jared Johnson and Jeremiah Briscoe.
Johnson finished 17-for-22 with 230 yards and two touchdowns, including an 86-yard pass to Gerald Thomas, setting the tone for the game's opening score. The dual-threat also rushed for a pair of touchdowns behind 32 yards.
Meanwhile, Briscoe looked equally as sharp, finishing 13-for-16 for 225 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. After HBU tied the game at 14-14 on a school-record 82-yard rush from Terrance Peters with 6:12 left in the half, Briscoe led Sam Houston to a pair of scores including a 12-yard touchdown to LaDarius Brown with 4:12 remaining and a quick-strike, 5-play, 87-yard drive, capped by a 38-yard touchdown strike to Thomas with 15 seconds left.
Thomas and Brown each notched two touchdowns on top of 164 yards and 84 yards receiving while Yedidiah Louis added six receptions for 63 yards and Stephen Williams caught one reception, but made it count, for a 25-yard touchdown competition.
The defense, which has taken a brunt of the blame for early season mishaps, picked off Houston Baptist quarterback Tony Dawson three times in as many possessions to open the third quarter highlighted by a Tyrel Stokes' 25-yard pick-six to take a 42-14 lead with 10:18 in the frame.
The unit recorded its first four sacks of the season, while holding HBU to 296 yards, including just 88 through the air. The Huskies were also flagged 10 times for 65 yards, while Sam Houston was called for five penalties for 56 yards.
Sam Houston's Remus Bulmer led the Bearkats with 97 yards rushing, helping keep the clock moving in the second half. Jalen Overstreet added five rushes, including a nine-yard touchdown, for 50 yards.
The Bearkats renew the Battle of the Piney Woods next Saturday for the 90th time, looking for a fifth straight victory against Stephen F. Austin. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. from Houston's NRG Stadium.
