A history of the Kats and Hurricanes
8/27/2020 1:16:00 PM | Football
As Hurricane Laura passes through Louisiana, we are going to take a look back at Sam Houston's recent history with football and tropical systems.Â
In the last 15 years, three Sam Houston football games has been either postponed or cancelled because of hurricanes. The last time the Bearkats had a football game affected by a tropical system was 2017 as Hurricane Harvey approached the Texas coast. The season opening game against Richmond was postponed and ultimately played the game six days later in Waco.
In 2005, the Bearkats had a home game against Missouri State cancelled when Hurricane Rita made landfall near Sabine Pass as a category 3 storm. The game was supposed to be a return trip for the Bears to Huntsville after Sam Houston played at Missouri State in 2004, losing 33-31 before going on to win 10 of the next 11 games.Â
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In 2008, the Bearkats cancelled a home game against Prairie View A&M because of Category 2 Hurricane Ike which made landfall in Galveston and was the third-most costly hurricane in U.S. history. The cancellation of the game, coupled with a bye week in the schedule, meant the Bearkats went 24 days between their season opening game against East Central and the second game of the season at Kansas. They didn't return to Bowers Stadium until Oct. 18, 51 days from the home opener.
But in 2002, the Bearkats decided to play as Tropical Storm Fay approached the Texas coast. The storm, which made landfall in Matagorda County, produced heavy thunderstorms in Huntsville. The Kats were coming off their most successful season in a decade and were the No. 14 ranked team in the country.Â
Despite the heavy rain, the Kats moved forward with the home opener. Playing in less than ideal conditions, Sam Houston needed a Joey Price 37-yard field goal with four minutes to play to pull out a 26-23 win.Â
Midwestern took the early lead in the game, scoring a TD late in the first quarter and took a 14-3 lead with 5:43 to play in the third quarter. A 31-yard touchdown from Vance Smith to Vince Cartwright cut the lead to 14-10 and a Corey Zeno touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter gave the Kats their first lead of the game.Â
MSU scored nine points in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 23 before Price booted the game-winner.
The team finished that season 4-7 as they were in the early stages of building a team that would go on to win the Southland Conference in 2004 and advance to the semifinals for the first time in program history.
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More games from the Bearkat Sports Network archives will be available to watch throughout the fall as we spotlight light different games, programs and players.Â
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In the last 15 years, three Sam Houston football games has been either postponed or cancelled because of hurricanes. The last time the Bearkats had a football game affected by a tropical system was 2017 as Hurricane Harvey approached the Texas coast. The season opening game against Richmond was postponed and ultimately played the game six days later in Waco.
In 2005, the Bearkats had a home game against Missouri State cancelled when Hurricane Rita made landfall near Sabine Pass as a category 3 storm. The game was supposed to be a return trip for the Bears to Huntsville after Sam Houston played at Missouri State in 2004, losing 33-31 before going on to win 10 of the next 11 games.Â
Â
In 2008, the Bearkats cancelled a home game against Prairie View A&M because of Category 2 Hurricane Ike which made landfall in Galveston and was the third-most costly hurricane in U.S. history. The cancellation of the game, coupled with a bye week in the schedule, meant the Bearkats went 24 days between their season opening game against East Central and the second game of the season at Kansas. They didn't return to Bowers Stadium until Oct. 18, 51 days from the home opener.
But in 2002, the Bearkats decided to play as Tropical Storm Fay approached the Texas coast. The storm, which made landfall in Matagorda County, produced heavy thunderstorms in Huntsville. The Kats were coming off their most successful season in a decade and were the No. 14 ranked team in the country.Â
Despite the heavy rain, the Kats moved forward with the home opener. Playing in less than ideal conditions, Sam Houston needed a Joey Price 37-yard field goal with four minutes to play to pull out a 26-23 win.Â
Midwestern took the early lead in the game, scoring a TD late in the first quarter and took a 14-3 lead with 5:43 to play in the third quarter. A 31-yard touchdown from Vance Smith to Vince Cartwright cut the lead to 14-10 and a Corey Zeno touchdown run on the final play of the third quarter gave the Kats their first lead of the game.Â
MSU scored nine points in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 23 before Price booted the game-winner.
The team finished that season 4-7 as they were in the early stages of building a team that would go on to win the Southland Conference in 2004 and advance to the semifinals for the first time in program history.
Â
More games from the Bearkat Sports Network archives will be available to watch throughout the fall as we spotlight light different games, programs and players.Â
Â
Wednesday, February 11
Wednesday, February 04
Saturday, November 29
Tuesday, November 25
