(RV) STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE (3-1; 1-0) VS. #1 SAM HOUSTON STATE (3-0; 1-0)
WHEN: OCT. 2 (SAT.) 4:00 P.M.
WHERE: HOUSTON, TEXAS (NRG STADIUM)
TV: ESPN+; Bally Sports Southwest
RADIO: Q107.7
Again, it is that time of the year, for one of the oldest rivalry games in the state of Texas, yes that's right, The Battle of the Piney Woods.
This, the 95th edition looks to be a dandy, with defending spring National Champion and #1 ranked Bearkats of Sam Houston State putting their current overall 14-game win streak and 9-game BOTPW win streak on the line against the (3-1) Lumberjacks of SFA.
A much improved Lumberjack program awaits, under 3rd year coach Cody Carthel, looking to pull off the upset, and to show the nation that they have arrived.
Needless to say the BOTPW since moving to Houston has not been kind to the Lumberjacks, winning only one of the NGR Stadium matchups, a 31-28 victory back in 2010.
Will this be the season the dreaded streak comes to an end?
No doubt the Bearkats are loaded with weapons, in their high octane offense, averaging 46 points a game.
Signal caller and WAC preseason Player of the Year junior QB ERIC SCHMID 6-1; 180, has completed 56 passes for 801 yards and 10 TDs with only 2 INTs in their first 3 games of the 2021 season.
Plenty of targets on the field for Schmid including graduate senior All-American WR:#12 JEQUEZ EZZARD 5-10; 195 Harvard transfer WR:#9 CODY CHREST 6-1; 200 and sophomore WR:#2 IFE ADEYI 5-10; 170 just to name a few.
On the ground, the rushing attack is lead by pre-season ALL-WAC Player junior RB:#4 RAMON JEFFERSON 5-10; 215 one of the top running backs in the nation averaging 133 yards a game rushing (400 yards total or the season) who along with Schmid benefit greatly behind one of the best offensive lines in the country.
Sam Houston State's defense is lead by junior linebacker #1 TREVOR WILLIAMS 5-9; 205, who leads the team in tackles.
Defensively the Bearkats don't give up much on the ground (86 yards per game) while 260 through the air.
Winning the spring National Championship naturally puts the bullseye squarely on the backs of the Bearkats, and as a program they accept that, while the Lumberjacks on the other hand look to remove a rather big and old monkey from theirs.
Axe'EM
