Kats ship out Hawaii in home opener

Saturday, September 14

Huntsville

6:00 PM

2-1 , 0-0

Hawaii

1-2 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Hawaii

Sam Houston

Photo by: Matt Piasecki

Kats ship out Hawaii in home opener

9/14/2024 9:47:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

HUNTSVILLE — What a night Saturday was to be a Bearkat.

Sam Houston moved the ball with easy as one of the largest home crowds in school history witnessed the Bearkats take apart Hawaii to the tune of a 31-13 victory at Bowers Stadium. The home opener drew 15,134 fans who had plenty to cheer about including a pair of touchdown grabs by budding star Qua'Vez Humphreys.

The junior wide receiver used opening day magic as Sam Houston landed a haymaker right off the bat.

Junior quarterback Hunter Watson zipped a pass out to the left flat to Humprheys, and he fought and dragged defenders for 40 yards down to the 24-yard line. A few plays later, Watson floated a ball into the back corner of the right side of the end zone that Humphreys reeled in for a quick 7-0 lead.

It was pretty much all Bearkats after that.

The Warriors (1-2) got on the board with a field goal early in the second quarter, then Sam Houston retaliated. Senior wideout Ife Adeyi used his legs to punch in a nine-yard touchdown run with 5:14 left, and Christian Pavon split the uprights for a 26-yard field goal to make it 17-3 at the half.

Hawaii flipped the script and scored a touchdown on the first drive to open the second half. A field goal was the only thing the Warriors managed after that as the Kats squashed Hawaii's offensive attack, holding it to just barely over 300 total yards.

The Kats landed a two-touchdown combo to send the Warriors to the canvas for good in the third and fourth.

Jay Ducker rumbled his way to an 86-yard gain, the sixth longest run by a Kat in Bowers Stadium history, to set up a three-yard scoring reception by John Gentry. Humphreys capped his day with a 55-yard touchdown grab to put the finishing touches on the win.

Ducker finished with 148 yards on 15 carries, and Humphreys had four catches for 106. Watson completed 65 percent of his attempts for 165 yards and three scores.

Caleb Weaver had an interception, and Briceon Hayes and Chris Murray each had a sack.

Sam Houston welcomes NM State to Huntsville to open Conference USA action on Sept. 21.