Southland Notebook: Looking for Redemption

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October 1, 2008

Bearkats hope for better showing against Central Arkansas this time around

By Cody Stark The Huntsville Item Wed Oct 01, 2008, 09:51 PM CDT

After a successful trip to Boiling Springs, N.C., last weekend, the Sam Houston State football team is at work this week preparing for the Southland Conference opener at Central Arkansas on Oct. 11.

The Bearkats have a bye this week, giving them extra time to put together a game plan for the Bears. In the past two seasons, Central Arkansas has owned Sam Houston at Bowers Stadium, coming away with a pair of wins by a combined margin of 73-44.

This time around, the Kats are hoping to return the favor in Conway, Ark., and try to get an early leg up in the conference title chase.

“A year ago when we got beat, we were down in the red area three times and came away with nothing,” SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said. “It was 21-14 midway through the fourth quarter, so last year we kind of blew it offensively with some mistakes. We had a pass interference call, a holding call and fumbled on the 8-yard line. We really left a lot of points on the field last year.”

It’s a different season, and so far, the SHSU offense appears far ahead of where it was at this point a year ago. The Bearkats (2-1) are averaging 40.3 points and 411 yards of total offense a game this fall.

In two wins over East Central Oklahoma and Gardner-Webb, Sam Houston’s first-team offense scored on every possession (14 touchdowns and one field goal). The Bearkats also gained 385 yards in their lone loss to Kansas.

Quarterback Rhett Bomar has thrown for 878 yards and 10 touchdowns, while running back James Aston, who leads the nation in scoring at 12.0 points a game, has rushed for 196 yards and has accounted for six scores (three rushing and three receiving).

Wide receivers Justin Wells (232 yards and two touchdowns) and Catron Houston (178 yards and two TDs) have each caught 14 passes, and Jason Madkins has been a big target around the end zone with three scores.

“We are better, there is no question,” Whitten said. “Everybody has grown up a bit more and been around a lot longer. I thought Rhett played well last year but he hadn’t played in a full year. He just continues to improve each week in my opinion.”

As well as things have been going, there are still plenty of areas the Kats are trying to improve as the key portion of the season closes in.

“We have to kick the ball better, there is no question,” Whitten said. “Really, I would be pleased, regardless of how we kick, if we could get rid of some of those penalties. Holding, blocking in the back and blocking below the waist are really just some early season mistakes.

“I have said all along that the best way to get better in the kicking game is to get rid of the mistakes. We have worked hard at that and have added some situational stuff in practice to try and correct it.”

SLC football is here

Stephen F. Austin and Southeastern Louisiana open Southland Conference play on Saturday, as the Lions (3-2) travel to Nacogdoches to battle the Lumberjacks (1-3).

Southeastern is coming off an impressive 38-35 victory over previously unbeaten North Dakota last weekend. Lions quarterback Brian Babin completed 18 of 28 passing attempts for 257 yards and three touchdowns, while defensive back Tommy Connors was named the SLC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 11 tackles and intercepting a pass in the victory.

SFA dropped a close 50-48 decision at home to South Dakota State last Saturday. The Jackrabbits scored the game-winning touchdown on a 2-yard run by Kyle Minett in the closing seconds of the game.

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Bearkats hope for better showing against Central Arkansas this time around

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