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David Magallanes
All grown up
Bearkats look to close out season on winning note
Sam Houston State’s young defense finally grew up last week in a 17-14 victory over Central Arkansas.
For most of the season, the Bearkats had struggled to stop the opposition, giving up an average of 46.6 points and 534.4 yards of total offense in five losses. Even in its previous three victories, not counting a 41-0 drubbing of Division II Saint Joseph’s, Sam Houston gave up 45 points to North Dakota State, 21 to Nicholls and 30 to Northwestern State.
But last Saturday, the Kats completely shutdown one of the Southland Conference’s top offenses in a much-needed win over the Bears, who were 3-0 against Sam Houston since joining the league.
On a day when the offense was sputtering, the Bearkat defense rose to the challenge in its best performance of the season. Sam Houston (3-3 in SLC, 5-5 overall) held Central Arkansas to less than 20 points for the first time all season and only 243 yards of total offense, which is 150 less than the Bears’ season average.
Junior cornerback Jarvis Pippens and freshman safety Darnell Taylor each picked off passes and freshman wide receiver Vincent Dotson blocked two punts and returned one 36 yards for a touchdown. The Bearkats also harrassed Bears senior quarterback Robbie Park the entire game.
“Central Arkansas had not been held to under 20 points this season and our guys really stepped it up on defense,” SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said Thursday afternoon. “They were the main reason we were able to get it done. We had some big plays in the kicking game. We got pressure and played tight coverage. That type of performance does a lot for confidence.”
The Bearkats are going to need that confidence this week because they are once again going up against one of the top offenses in the country today at 2 p.m.
Sam Houston closes its season with a road game in San Marcos against Texas State. The Bobcats (4-2, 6-4) average 32.3 points and 424.8 yards a game. They also have one of the top quarterbacks in the conference. Senior Bradley George has thrown for 2,820 yards and 20 scores.
“They have one of the best quarterbacks in the country,” Whitten said. “We have to limit Bradley George. We have to have another good game defensively and in the kicking game.”
Sam Houston’s offense wasn’t terrible in the win over Central Arkansas, but the Bearkats are going to have to do better Saturday.
The Bears have one of the best defensive end duos in the country and got plenty of pressure on Sam Houston senior quarterback Blake Joseph.
If the offensive line can give Joseph time and open holes for running back Chris Poullard, the Bearkats will have a good chance to finish the season with a record above .500. Texas State is giving up close to 30 points and more than 400 yards of total offense this year.
“Up front, offensively, has been a concern all year. Our protection has been just decent because we have lots of young guys,” Whitten added. “Our quarterback got hit a lot last week, granted they were going against one of the top defensive lines. We have to protect Blake. If we protect him a little better, we will have a chance for him to make plays for us.”
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Time to crank it up
Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz knew coming into the season that he was going to have his hands full turning around the Bearkats’ football program.
The rest of the coaches in the Southland Conference apparently agree.
Coming off a 5-6 season, a fifth-place finish in league play and the loss of 15 starters, Sam Houston State has been tabbed to finish seventh in the SLC preseason coaches’ poll, which was announced Wednesday during the Southland Conference Football Media Day at the L’Auberge du Lac Resort. -
Pitching dominates Triple-A All-Star Game
Like the Major League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif., pitchers dominated the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday in Allentown, Pa.
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Almost there
After years of toiling in the minor leagues, Dustin Martin can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Rising through the ranks of the minor league system all the way from Rookie League, the former Sam Houston outfielder is playing some of his best baseball these days and will play in Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star Game in Allentown Pa., which will be televised at 6 p.m. on the MLB Network. -
Gallant shining again in Cape Cod League
Maybe, just maybe, on the mound closing games is where Dallas Gallant needs to be if he’s going to make a name for himself.
For the second summer in a row, the Sam Houston State pitcher has performed marvelously when he finishes games for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, a member of the distinguished Cape Cod Baseball League. -
Bearkats enjoy banner year in classroom
With the release of grade point averages for the more than 400 Bearkats participating in varsity sports, plus the announcement by the Southland Conference office of the annual Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, the 2009-10 season goes in the books as another banner academic year for Sam Houston State University.
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Belcher, Vilardi golf tournaments help rival football programs
Golfers in the Huntsville area can help the football programs at both Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, two longtime rivals that soon will be adding new excitement to their annual “Battle of the Piney Woods” when they kick off this fall at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
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Kelly ready for NCAA golf regional
When Sam Houston’s Scott Kelly tees off Thursday in the NCAA South Central Regional men’s golf tournament, his goal will be simple. He wants to become the first Bearkat golfer to earn a spot in the national tournament.
“As an at-large entry, it’s difficult to advance but it’s not out of the question,” Kelly said. “I’m going into the tournament with high expectations and will give it my best shot.” -
Dreaming big
His mind has been working overtime. Huntsville senior Quenntin Tucker has spent the past two weeks preparing for the Class 4A Region III track meet.
Tucker practices the discus by day, then dreams about it at night. Physically and mentally, he’s ready for the big meet.
“I had a dream about this,” Tucker said last week during a short break from practice. “In the dream I finished second in our region, then I finished second at state.
“I woke up that morning smiling.” -
Same old story
The Bearkats must’ve felt as if they had a little bit of déjà vu.
For the second straight Saturday, the Bearkats used a monster inning to climb out of a huge hole only to see it slip away.
This time, it was Stephen F. Austin, which rallied for five runs in the final two innings and held off Sam Houston for a 14-13 win. -
UCA has Bearkat softball team on ropes
The Bearkats saw the light dim on their Southland Conference tournament aspirations Saturday afternoon.
Desperately in need of a series win to gain ground in the chase for the sixth and final seed, the Sam Houston State softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Central Arkansas. - More SHSU Sports Headlines
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