Three weeks until 91st BOTPW at NRG Stadium
9/8/2016 9:58:00 AM | Football
HUNTSVILLE – Three weeks remain until the 91st Battle of the Piney Woods presented by H-E-B as Sam Houston seeks a sixth straight victory against rival Stephen F. Austin. The matchup is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1 at 3:00 p.m. from NRG Stadium.
Tickets are currently available by calling the Sam Houston ticket office at (936) 294-1729 or by visiting GoBearkats.com. Endzone seats are available for as low as $12. Five different seating options are on sale including premium midfield seats priced $38-$43.
Limited $5 student tickets are also currently on sale through the SHSU Student Activities Dept. located in Room 328 of the Lowman Student Center. The lower section seats are limited at one per student and students must present a valid student ID when purchasing the ticket.
A season ago, three long punt returns including two for touchdowns sparked a Bearkat comeback as Sam Houston defeated Stephen F. Austin 34-28 in front of a record 26,990 fans for the event. The 195 yards in punt returns set a Sam Houston school single game record besting the old mark of 138 yards versus Lamar in 2013.
The rivalry, which dates back to 1923, is the third-oldest continuous college football game in Texas. In that time span, Sam Houston owns a 52-36-2 advantage while the rivalry itself has spanned three different conferences (Lone Star, Gulf Star, Southland).
Festivities for this year's event get underway with the fifth annual Battle of the Piney Woods Luncheon in conjunction with the Touchdown Club of Houston. The event is scheduled for noon, Thursday, Sept. 29, at the JW Marriott (5150 Westheimer at Sage) in the Houston Galleria.
The Sam Houston State-Stephen F. Austin Luncheon, presented by Texas Barge & Boat and Midway Energy Services, will feature Sam Houston coach K.C. Keller and athletic director Bobby Williams as well as SFA football coach Clint Conque and athletic director Robert Hill.
Tickets are $50 each. Tables are $500 (regular table), $600 (bronze sponsorship), $1,000 (silver sponsorship), $1,500 (gold sponsorship) and $2,500 (platinum sponsorship). All tables are 10 seats each.
To order tickets, go to the Touchdown Club of Houston's website at touchdownclub.org, and click on the PayPal button. For more information, or to arrange to pay with checks, please call the TD Club's Neal Farmer at 713-849-9860, or e-mail nfarmer07@att.net.
Sam Houston is ranked third nationally following a 59-21 victory against Oklahoma Panhandle State in the season opener. The Bearkats boasted the top offensive output in the country with 668 yards while outscoring the Aggies 38-7 over the final three quarters.
Sam Houston used four running backs to split time between 42 rushes, led by Corey Avery's 13 rushes and 70 yards along with a touchdown. First-year transfer Javin Webb also provided a major boost adding 59 yards on 11 carries including his first touchdown in Bearkat uniform.
Quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe went 26 for 39 through the air, passing for 338 yards and three touchdowns. In his elevated role, wide receiver Grant Finney served as a prime target, catching seven passes for 67 yards.
