Sam Houston@Northern Colorado preview

[blackfordpu]

Kats play their last OOC game this weekend against Northern Colorado. Both teams sit at 3-5 on the year, hoping to make it a 5-5 season. We'll see how it plays out.

Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005 - 12 p.m. (Mountain Time)

Nottingham Field (Grass, 6,500)

GAME INFORMATION
Radio: KSAM 101.7 FM
Internet Radio: www.ksam1017.com

http://www.gobearkats.com/football/release.html

[putter]

Gotta go with the Katz

SHSU -- 28
UNC -- 13

[TexasTerror]

Northern Colorado Bears
vs. Sam Houston State Bearkats
Saturday, November 11th, 12 PM (Mountain), Greeley, Colorado

An Eye on the Kats: Wade Pate was not the Bearkats starting quarterback featured in the front page story of the Huntsville Item on gameday. However, he was the quarterback who came off the bench and led the Kats to victory accounting for five touchdowns, three through the air and two on the ground giving him honors as SLC Player of the Week offensively. A very special Senior Day return for Stevie Smith as he put on a 63 yard scoring play and was on the money as it relates to special teams. Last non-conference game for the Kats, but an important game to build on the future and gain some respect.

An Eye on the Bears: Two years ago, this was a very solid team as they made their move up to I-AA. Now they are back in the mud. Only wins on the year are two wins against in-state Div II opponents and a win at home against the team the Kats beat this past weekend, Southeastern Louisiana. This team is suffering even more after the nation's #4 leading rusher went down and missed the game last week against North Dakota St. Without him, they managed 22 yards of rushing. He alone averaged 139.1 ypg.

Keys for the Kats:
1) Keep Bears Rushing Game Dormant. As mentioned above, 22 yards rushing is all the Bears had last week without Andre Wilson, the nation's #4 leading rusher. The Bears had Jahir Waterman last year who got 131 yards, a career-high, against the Kats last year in for an injured Andre Wilson. The Kats sure do not need a repeat of last year making the Bears go back to the passing game, which is something that recent foes have had trouble doing against the Kats.

2) Protect the Ball From Bears Big Boy. Reed Doughty is among 16 guys on the Buck Buchanan Award watch list, for top defensive player. He's also a finalist for the Draddy Trophy for top student-athlete. This senior is a force and was named the best defensive back in the nation last year by some publications. He currently leads I-AA in tackles and has a knack for finding the ball. Turnovers are definitely an issue, especially on the road and if the Kats can find away to avoid him or not let him be the gamebreaker, this will be huge for the Kats.

3) Let's Get A Run On. 35 carries for 101 yards and 2.9 yards per carries. That's not the Kats and luckily, that wasn't bad enough to cost the Kats in their game against the Lions. Fact is long runs were able to make it look that pretty. The Kats just had issues running the ball and as we know, passing has a way of stopping the clock. The Kats are going to have to run the ball and that falls in the hands of not only Jason Godfrey and Smith, but the offensive line.

TT's Prediction: Sam 34-17 Northern Colorado. Northern Colorado is awful this year. Their fans will tell you as much on the boards and they only graduate nine seniors. This year is a continuation of NoCo's growth into I-AA as they are still a dozen or two scholarships short of reaching the I-AA max. Sam has no business not winning this game and a loss here would be a devastating blow. A win on the road would be the momentum the Kats need to knock off San Marcos next week on the road in the season finale.

[blackfordpu]

Great job as always TT.

bfp's prediction
Kats 35
Bears 14