#14 SFA (2-2; 0-0) VS. SAM HOUSTON STATE (1-2)
WHEN: OCT. 1, 2022 (SAT.) 2:30 P.M.
WHERE: HOUSTON, TEXAS (NRG STADIUM)
TV: ESPN+/BALLY SPORTS SOUTHWEST
RADIO: Q107.7 FM.
BATTLE OF THE PINEY WOODS (PURPLE OUT)
As the ole saying goes, all good things must come to an end. But in this case, Lumberjack Nation might make an exception for one of the oldest rivalries in Texas.
Yes, it's been a long 12-years and 10 straight losses, since the Jacks have experienced the sweet taste of victory in football against the dreaded Bearkats of Sam Houston State, and don't kat fans love to remind you of it.
If you talk to a kat fan, they'll tell you every game has been a blow out, and the scores seem to get greater with every passing year, but the truth is, in the last two meetings SHSU has had to come from behind in the 4th quarter to pull things out.
Nothing was closer to that, than last season's heart breaker, where the Jacks found themselves up 20-6 with 9 minutes left in the game with what appeared to be the end to the drought, only to see things slowly slip away to a 20-21 defeat.
Well, here's the last shot, the final curtain call, the last chance at BOTPW football redemption.
To look at this game, you would have to think SFA and SHSU mirror each other in some respects as in both offensive lines are struggling, as well as both starting QBs.
The question for SHSU, is who will start at QB?
Why not give the reins to the QB who knows the Lumberjacks, in the 6-3; 200 pound junior QB Keegan Shoemaker, the hero of the 2021 BOTPW for SHSU.
Shoemaker saw his first action for the new season last week against A&M-Commerce where he went 6 of 13 for 38 yards and 1 TD.
Georgia Tech transfer QB Jordan Yates has found it difficuilt through the air to find the endzone, completing only 32 total passes in three games for 265 yards with no TDs and 3 INTs.
Yates does though lead the team in rushing yards with 195 and a TD, and with the struggles up front for the SFA defense, a running QB in this game actually is an advantage for the kats.
Also, in the back field for SHSU, we have last week's WAC OPOW Zach Hrbacek, the 5-9; 175 pound red-shirt freshman speedster from Troy, Texas. Hrbacek, the 2020 Mr. Texas Football Finalist, rushed for 131 yards and a TD against the Lions of A&M-Commerce.
Look for lots of touches as well from Oklahoma State transfer Dezmon Jackson 5-11; 220.
The always dangerous Cody Chrest 6-1; 200 returns at receiver for his final season, along with newcomer and Texas transfer Al'von Woodard 6-2; 195.
Defense is the Bearkats strength, with a linebacker group lead by 1st team All-WAC senior Trevor Williams who leads the team with 25 tackles.
In the secondary, senior leadership from graduate Texas transfer BJ Foster 6-2; 200, a 2021 BIG XII HM.
As a team, after 3 games, the Bearkats have only averaged 10 points a game while giving up 19.
But the key is what the kats do on the ground, which is 165 yards a game, that's almost 5 yards a carry, which should be a major concern for every Lumberjack fan who has witnessed what has been seen so far from the SFA defense, when it comes to trying to stop the run.
Nothing would give Lumberjack Nation more joy than a SFA win, sending those dudes in orange, a packin for the FBS and C-USA with a big L, giving Jack fans the final word in bragging rights, and for Lumberjacks everywhere, a little satisfaction for those last 12 years, in what could be the conclusion to the football edition of the BOTPW.
Axe'Em
