SHSU vs SFA - Battle of the Piney Woods Game Thread

[TexasTerror]

Starting this a bit early, since there's plenty of SFA-SHSU discussion that is bursting at the seams...

Note: Additional information will be added to this thread, as it becomes available.

Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs Sam Houston State Bearkats
October 23, 2010 · 2 p.m · Reliant Stadium · Houston, Texas
The Battle of the Piney Woods

Following the Game
TV: Southland TV Network (http://www.southland.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18400&ATCLID=204784558)
Live Audio - SHSU 1 (http://www.gobearkats.com) - SHSU 2 (http://www.ksam1017.com)
Live Blog - SFA (will be available later)
Live Video: SLC Now (http://www.southland.org/liveEvents/liveEvents.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18400)

Game Day Weather Information (courtesy of the Weather Channel) -
Reliant Stadium (http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Reliant+Stadium+at+Reliant+Park+TX+41926:20)

Game Notes
SFA - http://sfajacks.cstv.com/photos/schools/sasu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release.pdf
SHSU - Not available as of post time


Twitter Feeds
@SFA_Athletics (https://twitter.com/SFA_Athletics)
@BearkatSports (http://twitter.com/BearkatSports)

Team Web Sites
SHSU (http://www.gobearkats.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&KEY=&SPID=11345&SPSID=92955)
Stephen F. Austin (http://sfajacks.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/sasu-m-footbl-body.html)

Other Helpful Links
Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel (http://dailysentinel.com/)
Huntsville Item (http://www.itemonline.com)
Houstonian Online (http://www.houstonianonline.com/sports) (SHSU student newspaper)

Team Fan Sites
SFA Jacks Forum (http://forums.delphiforums.com/sfalumberjacks/start)
SHSU KatFans.com (http://www.katfans.com/)

Related Threads
Battle of the Piney Woods at Reliant Stadium (http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?69803-Battle-of-the-Piney-Woods-at-Reliant-Stadium)
SFA vs. SHSU in the Battle of the Piney Woods (http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?76601-SFA-vs.-SHSU-in-the-Battle-of-the-Piney-Woods)
Battle of Piney Woods has Long History (http://www.anygivensaturday.com/showthread.php?69595-Battle-of-the-Piney-Woods-has-long-history)
SHSU Bowling Thread: Battle of the 'Piney Lanes (http://katfans.com/newforum/index.php?topic=754.0)

[TexasTerror]

If anyone has ticket updates, please post...

The most recent update stated that 16,000 tickets had been solid and that just 9,000 tickets remain for the contest...

Of note, the 1,000 tickets that were purchased by an anonymous donor for SHSU students were all bought up for $5 a piece. That means that a nice chunk of the SHSU student body has tickets and hopefully both schools did some nice selling of the tickets at their games today.

Also, all premium tickets are sold out...

Walk-up figures to be pretty good...

[TexasTerror]

Our annual reminder of the SFA Super Fan - Caleb Fisher! xnodx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=br7nbAzYPyA

[GrabbAnAxe]

Well guys, it's that week again. It happens every year and is one of the more fun weeks of the year for one of the most underrated rivalries in Texas. It's going to be fun this Saturday in what has shaped up to be a pretty good contest. I've got my tickets and will be there decked in purple.

The 'Jacks have managed to take care of business since the opening loss at Texas A&M, with every phase of the game contributing. Everyone seems to talk about the SFA offense, but if you look closer you will see that the defense and special teams have scored six touchdowns this season with INT returns, kick & punt returns, as well as a pair of blocked kicks that scored. Oh, and there are a pair of safeties in there too. It's always a luxury to be able to score points when you don't directly have the football.

With that being said, it's not like they are not vulnerable. This is the best defense in the SLC this year, all statistics aside, with a solid offensive line and an outstanding group of backers. The thing I will be interested to see is how David Gibbs' plans to attack the SHSU rushing game, more specifically Tim Flanders.

Flanders has quickly proven that he is the best back in the SLC, a league that has had its fair share of good RBs; however, the only RB to rush for 100 yards this year was Cristine Michael of A&M in the first game of the year. Since then, the only 100-yard rusher was the QB from UNI, who really bulked his stats with two really big runs, but no RB has really been close to the century mark.

I'm curious as to what type of offense Fritz has installed there at SHSU this year since I have not had a chance to watch them this season up to this point. From what I can tell, a spread attack has been much more effective in moving the football against the SFA defense rather than a pro-style attack (again, with the exception of the A&M game). On Saturday against UCA the Bears had much more success in the hurry-up game rather than when they lined up in the I-formation and ran it right at the D.

I know Brian Bell ran a pass-happy spread offense at China Spring, but I also see that he has not been asked to throw the ball much at all this year, which is the smart thing to do when you have run the ball as effectively as you have.

Somehow this game reminds me of last season's Southeastern/SFA game in Hammond, though, as the Lions were the surprise of the SLC late in the season before hosting SFA in the second-to-last week of the season. The 'Jacks went in there and dominated that game, and when this team is clicking, they are explosive enough to do that on Any Given Saturday (like the plug?).

Again, I'm very much looking forward to this Saturday and a great game and I am extremely impressed at the progress the Kats have made in such a short time; but, I think this really has the chance to be a reality check for SHSU. But if they can keep it close, maybe the Kats could pull an upset, I just don't see it happening. The 'Jacks are seasoned and tested and in the last five weeks have won games in nearly every way possible.

Either way, it's just going to be great to be there. Go Jacks!

[TexasTerror]

Bearkats open up BOPW week with a 2-0 record against SFA... the new Kats defeat SFA in the 'Battle of the Piney Lanes' on a neutral playing surface in Arlington... congrats!

[fcs'sbest]

Bearkats open up BOPW week with a 2-0 record against SFA... the new Kats defeat SFA in the 'Battle of the Piney Lanes' on a neutral playing surface in Arlington... congrats!

What was the attendance? 40/60? Did they sell out the student tickets for the match? What was the tailgating like? Man I'm sorry I missed such a big event.

ps. college bowling is a joke. Thanks title 9

[TexasTerror]

Fan Information on the Battle of the Piney Woods...

http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=205012698

[SFA 71]

Fan information for the Battle of the Piney Woods:

http://sfajacks.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/battle_of_the_piney_woods.html

[TexasTerror]

Shaw in Elite Company


Robert Shaw was named the Southland Conference football "Defensive Player of the Week" for the second week in a row.

Shaw was all over the field in Sam Houston State's 57-7, homecoming win over Southeastern Louisiana. He contributed by scoring two touchdowns in the game and continues to be a presence on the defense with each game.

http://www.houstonianonline.com/sports/shaw-in-elite-status-1.2373691

------

Coaching: The Big Difference


Immediately following the loss at Baylor, Head Coach Willie Fritz talked to his players, telling them something had to change and that they had to be better in every aspect of the game. And then he walked out to the media and gave an interview. He looked solemn, depleted and full of ‘what ifs'.

For a team that had been paid a quarter of a million dollars to lose to Baylor, he didn't look like he wanted a loss. His hair was messy, a patch stood up right in the middle of his head where the head phones had rested all night, making him look like Alfalfa's cousin. His voice was more tired and screechy than normal, he talked about the missed opportunities that the Bearkats had in their loss. Then he grabbed a stat sheet and sat down in a hallway, and stared at the numbers alone in the lighted hallway.

http://www.houstonianonline.com/sports/coaching-the-big-difference-1.2373696

[purplejacks]

Based on this information, looks like the Kats have already won the game.

[TexasTerror]

Let's re-peat!


* Thirteen times since 1988, one or both teams have come into the "Piney Woods" shoot-out between Sam Houston and SFA ranked among the top 25 NCAA Division FBS teams.

* Sam Houston has knocked off a nationally-ranked SFA squad six times since 1996 in "The Battle of the Piney Woods." Two of the Bearkats' wins over top five-ranked opponents have come against the Lumberjacks.

http://www.gobearkats.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=205015185

[TexasTerror]

SFA, Sam Houston rivalry a battle for Southland lead


This just in.

Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston play a huge football game Saturday in Houston.

No, they don’t play in Huntsville or Nacogdoches. They are playing in Houston at the home of the Houston Texans in the first of a four-year series between the two schools and the Texans.

http://dailysentinel.com/sports/kevin_gore/article_e069572c-da62-11df-abf8-001cc4c002e0.html

[TexasTerror]

Big crowd expected for rivalry game


Stephen F. Austin officials are expecting a crowd of 26,000 — a sellout — when the Lumberjacks play Sam Houston at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Houston Texans’ Reliant Stadium in Houston.

The game with the Bearkats is the first of a four-year contract with the two schools and the Texans.

Only 26,000 tickets will be sold.

“We’re right at 19,000,” SFA athletics director Robert Hill said. “If the crowd is 26,000, it will be the biggest crowd ever, for a Southland football game.”


http://dailysentinel.com/sports/article_3ffff5ba-db35-11df-87dd-001cc4c002e0.html

[fcs'sbest]

SFA shouldnt even bother to show up. This one is in the books. Kats will win in a land slide. Based on everything I have read on SFA should be about 30 point dogs to the 4-2 kats.

What other games are on at 2:00 because this one looks like it will be over by half?

[TexasTerror]

Game Notes...

Stephen F. Austin (http://sfajacks.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/sasu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release)
Sam Houston State (http://sfajacks.cstv.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/sasu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2010SHSURel)

[TexasTerror]

Willie Fritz meets the media (http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=205015571) ahead of this weekend's Battle of the Piney Woods...

[SFA 93]

Battle of the Network Stars Game Thread



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfYX15909KM&feature=related

[TexasTerror]

Not your average quarterback, Moses leads Jacks into battle


Raised in Baytown, Texas, Jeremy Moses isn't your average quarterback.

After a serious injury in the first game of his high school senior year, Moses lost contact with all those "big schools" that wanted him. When it came time for a decision to be made about where he would attend college, Moses was tossed between Blinn and Navarro. Lucky for SFA, head coach J.C. Harper called, and Moses stepped onto the field at Homer Bryce Stadium to become an unforgettable Lumberjack.

Even though Moses is seen as an individual who sets records left and right, he believes that it's a team effort that gets him to where he is now.

http://www.thepinelog.com/not-your-average-quarterback-moses-leads-jacks-into-battle-1.1720769

[TexasTerror]

Sports Network Preview...


NO. 5 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN (5-1, 2-0 SOUTHLAND) AT SAM HOUSTON STATE (4-2, 2-0)

Kickoff: 3 p.m.

Series record: Sam Houston State leads, 48-34-2

What to know: This year's Battle of the Piney Woods is also a battle for first place in the Southland Conference, as both teams enter the contest with 2-0 conference records.

Sam Houston State will play host at Reliant Stadium, home of the Houston Texans.

Sam Houston State is a very young team, but has jelled, winning four straight games after starting the year 0-2.

It can be argued that freshman Tim Flanders is the best running back in the Southland, and the defense plays an aggressive, downhill, attacking style.

Sam Houston State is a team on the rise, and Saturday's game will serve as a sufficient test, proving just how far this young team has come.

But Stephen F. Austin is the king of the Southland at the moment, and this Jeremy Moses-led squad has no intentions of giving up the crown they so recently acquired.

Prediction: Stephen F. Austin, 33-22

http://sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/misc/gaddess/index.htm

[fcs'sbest]

http://http://dailysentinel.com/sports/football/article_7daaf922-dd8e-11df-827d-001cc4c002e0.html (http://dailysentinel.com/sports/football/article_7daaf922-dd8e-11df-827d-001cc4c002e0.html)

Wow.

[TexasTerror]

Game day reads...

Bearkat Gameday: Coach's Corner - Bearkats don’t have to sack Moses to disrupt Jacks (Huntsville Item)
http://itemonline.com/sports/x1744211137/Bearkat-Gameday-Coachs-Corner

Bearkat Gameday: Black Swarm (Huntsville Item)
http://itemonline.com/sports/x356199641/Bearkat-Gameday-Black-Swarm

Battle of the Piney Woods comes to Reliant Stadium (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/college/7260227.html

SFA, Sam Houston battle at Reliant today (Daily Sentinel)
http://dailysentinel.com/sports/football/article_4df9e2f2-de41-11df-8f24-001cc4c002e0.html

[TexasTerror]

SFA Game Central... includes an in-game interactive chat/blog...

http://sfajacks.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102110aab.html

[AxeEmJacks]

Just sat down at the game. I'll keep everyone posted on the impending slaughter. :D

[TexasTerror]

SHSU punts in their first drive...

SFA got the ball on their own 11 and moves the ball up field. Gets hit hard on a 15-yard OFFENSIVE pass interference... negates a huge pick-up. Would've been at SHSU 11. Instead at SFA 34

[TexasTerror]

SFA gets the first score... questioned if the Lumberjack RB stepped out of bounds...

Barnes with the score from 5 or 6 yards out... extra point attempt is good.

SFA leads 7-0, 8:29 1Q

[TexasTerror]

Wildcat formation and SHSU gets a HUGE pickup thanks to Richard Sincere...

A Flanders' run and we're to the SFA 40...

[TexasTerror]

SHSU has to punt it away instead of giving up the battle of field position... SFA has it inside their own 20.

[TexasTerror]

SFA has 4th and less than a yard from the 50... worried about the field position as well?

Flag on the field. Delay of game. SFA wanted to make sure they could bury it, but apparently JC Harper is irate, so maybe not. Okay, some confusion... no flag. Administration error?

[TexasTerror]

SHSU has a mistake on the punt return, could've been touchback and goes to SH07.

Personal foul on SHSU, 'push to the face' and that puts SHSU inside their 5. Battle of the Piney Woods call there. Refs probably got instructed to babysit..

[TexasTerror]

SHSU punts away and SFA 'dives' for the punt return, very risky business... and 42 seconds remain in the first quarter. SFA still leads 7-0.

[TexasTerror]

SFA scores again... Moses hooks up with Roberson. Has no problem in eluding the Bearkat defense... 58 yard pass.

SFA 14-0 SHSU, 00:33 1Q

[TexasTerror]

End of the first quarter - SFA 14-0 SHSU

[TexasTerror]

SHSU fake punt...

SHSU capitalizes on the Wildcat a few players later... 32 yards out from Sincere!

BEARKATS SCORE!

SFA 14-7 SHSU, 12:45 2Q

[TexasTerror]

Onside kick, SHSU recovers...

Oh no - SFA pleading their case - no flag!

FIRST DOWN BEARKATS!

A fake punt, an onside kick. Fritz is pulling out ALL STOPS!

[TexasTerror]

Flanders moves the Bearkats past midfield...

Flanders runs for PAY DIRT! What a swing...

FLANDERS TOUCHDOWN! ANTONIO PAT!

It's a tie ball-game! SHSU 14-14 SFA 11:19 2Q

[TexasTerror]

SHSU can not stop Moses... believe he is 9 of 10...

SFA just had their second offensive pass interference call. The first one brought back a HUGE pass play and this one also called back a nice little gain...

[TexasTerror]

Wow... saying Moses was throwing well helped. SHSU forces a SFA punt, Closner back deep for the Kats and takes it up to the SH35.

9:56 2ND Q - SHSU 14-14 SFA

[BEAR]

Attendance?

[TexasTerror]

SHSU punts... downed at the 33.

Deep snapper, believe it was his second downed punt by the deep snapper.


Attendance?

Still early - tough to tell. No announcement yet obviously. They did top 20,000 in pre-game sales.

[TexasTerror]

SFA has -3 yards on the ground today... Flanders already at about 86 yards on the ground for SHSU and we got plenty of time for him to get more...

SHSU just got rung up for pass interference, kept a SFA drive going. Come on guys!

[TexasTerror]

SFA is back ahead...

Another TD score from Moses to Roberson... he broke a tackle around the 23, 24 yard line....

21-14 SFA with 6:53 until the half.

[TexasTerror]

After SHSU punt, SFA gets ball back...

Moses has over 230 yards of total offense right now... geez! If you would have told me that, I would've thought we'd be losing by more than two scores... the two special teams plays have made all the difference in the world.

Said going in... if SHSU runs the ball well and makes the big special teams play(s), that they'd have a chance. Flanders could have 100 yards by the half...

SFA goes to Roberson on third and 10... gets the big first down.

[TexasTerror]

Moses has an interception (would've been Shaw) dropped... same play, penalty chop block on SFA... declined. Fourth down for SFA...

Punt by SFA... Closner takes it to the SH32.

[TexasTerror]

6th punt for SHSU... wow, all day long!

[TexasTerror]

SFA calls a timeout, their final of the half... thinking about 4th down...

On their own 49... they are going for it... timeout SHSU.

[TexasTerror]

SHSU on the punt return... Bearkats to the SFA46.

Next play, turnover... SFA ball. 51 seconds left.

Video monitor shows Pride never had possession prior to fumble.

[TexasTerror]

SFA trying to make something of this opportunity... Moses gets to SH38 and spikes the ball since they are short on timeouts...

19 seconds to go...

Moses completes, out of bounds with Roberson on the catch... 13 seconds left. SFA at the SH30.

Moses throws it away due to SHSU pressure. 8 seconds left. One to the end zone and then FG attempt?

Moses in shotgun. Whistles and flags. False start offense. Pushes ball back. Thank goodness. SH35 for SFA.

Moses forced to throw it away again... three seconds left.

Last play... Moses complete to Crawford, he's hammered and incomplete afterall. END OF FIRST HALF.

SFA 21-14 SHSU

[TexasTerror]

314 yards and 3 touchdowns for Moses, 162 yards for Roberson through the air.

Unbelievable to be down 21-14 at the half. Will take it!

SFA Media Relations reporting that SHSU's two same quarter touchdowns are the first for an opponent on their slate this year since A&M. Nice!

[TexasTerror]

Word on attendance is about 24k, just shy of a sellout... xoopsx

Means walkup crowd was about 3-4k. Not too shabby... xnodx

[TexasTerror]

SLC Commish Tom Burnett at halftime... paraphrasing...

(on BOPW)... proud moment for SLC. Says we need a 1/4 of the crowd in Katy in March for the basketball tournament.

(on SFA/SHSU rivalry)... always try to put SHSU/SFA on TV. Great natural rivalry. Always will be. Always competitive. Great first half. Should be as great a second half. Neat experience.

(on conference realignment)... rumors change every day. UTSA and TXST have made a commitment to desire to play. They may have opportunity with WAC. As far as others, if they have put themselves in possiton. Concern is what is best for SLC. Want members that can be competitively successful and graduate student-athlets. Some members have looked for greener pastures and have not found it. People always interested in being upwardly mobile. Some of it comes at price. Competitive. Geographic travel. If you are going to play football at that higher level, you got to be playing for a national championship, since there's nothing else to play for at that level. Don't begrudge anyone. If that's what they believe is their future, that's what it is.

(on Louisiana budget situation)... internet has plenty of rumors. Some press reports out of Louisiana that paint dire picture. As we see, all over country. Texas and Arkansas not immune. Much more larger issue in Louisiana. No one in position of authority at universities will even think about dropping athletics. You can't just drop athletics. Has negative ramification on rest of university. Our athletic depts bring money into universities. Can't get rid of those revenue. I want to know about conversation about FBS schools in Louisiana and what their future is.

(on FCS title game in Frisco)... have sidelines available for coaches. Really excited. 80 days roughly from kickoff. Great tix available. Noticed that lower bowl at Reliant is like configuration at Pizza Hut Park. Very similar, minus end zone. Great seats. Great partnership in Frisco. Do things with game, have not been done before.

[TexasTerror]

SHSU stats...

Bell 6-of-14 for 46 yards passing
Flanders 11 carries, 85 yards, TD
Sincere 6 carries, 67 yards, TD

[TexasTerror]

SFA's first drive of second half... moving the ball into SHSU territory.

Moses touchdown pass... Lott with the TD.

SFA 28-14 SHSU, 12:42 3Q

[TexasTerror]

SHSU's first second half drive starts at 24...

Bell to Merritt... first down at SH35.

Bell to Pride... another first down on third down... coming up on midfield.

Could not do it again on his third third down...

SHSU punts to SFA 6

[TexasTerror]

On third down, Moses has his pass swatted away by Sneed...

SHSU needs to come up big right here and get the momentum turned the other way...

Closner takes it to the SFA19... THERE WE GO!

[TexasTerror]

Loss of yardage on first down...

Pass to Patterson makes it 3rd-and-6 on the SFA15...

Bell complete to Matthews... down to the SFA04.

[TexasTerror]

SHSU on 3rd and goal from the SFA04...

Pass incomplete, flag down... holding on the defense... half the distance, first down.

[TexasTerror]

Two rushing attempts from SFA02 have gone nowhere. Maybe to the SFA01.

Timeout, SHSU.

[TexasTerror]

Announced a sellout - 26k - on TV.

3rd and goal from the SFA01... Option... TOUCHDOWN FLANDERS, SECOND OF THE GAME!

SFA 28-21, 2:24 3Q

[TexasTerror]

SFA returns the ball to their own 40...

Moses throws away on first down...

Another Moses pass, this time incomplete. He's topped 40 pass attempts.

3rd and 10... Moses pass attempt, overthrown. THREE AND OUT!

[TexasTerror]

Closner returns to SH40... another great return... about 28 yards.

SHSU looking to tie the game!

SHSU will punt this one away... time ticking down in 3rd quarter. END OF THIRD QUARTER.

SFA 28-21 SHSU

[TexasTerror]

Bad snap. Foster kicks it sideways.

Bad snap goes SFA's way and they get the ball at the SH30. Ouch. xthumbsdownx

[TexasTerror]

First down. Moses goes down... thud. Flag. Intentional grounding.

Second down, complete to Lott for 13 yards. Still have a bit to go due to the penalty.

3rd and 8... from SH28... Moses in shotgun, incomplete...

And what will SFA do?

SFA going for it... penalty on the offense. 4th and 13... SH33.

Again... Moses takes the snap, pass incomplete. Flag on the play. Pass interference on SHSU?!?!? Pass was uncatchable. OUCH

[TexasTerror]

First down... Moses pass incomplete...

Moses has been under pressure the last few plays...

Second down... Moses throws it away.

Third down... Moses passes it to the line of scrimmage.

Field goal attempt for SFA... Hinshaw... 34 yard attempt... good.

SFA 31-21 SHSU, 13:19 4Q

[TexasTerror]

Closner gets clotheslined at the SH25...

Sincere gets to the SH35... Wlliams to SH45.. Back-to-back first downs...

Williams to 49...

Bell to Closner into SFA territory... First Down. To SFA36.

Flanders gets 10 yards... first down. Nearing 100, seems like we've said that for awhile... Under 11 to go.

Flanders gets a few more... to SFA23.

Sincere gets inside SFA20. Needs 3.5 yards for first down.

Bell complete to Matthews... to the SFA08. FIRST DOWN

[TexasTerror]

One yard pickup on 1st and Goal... from SFA07

Shotgun... Flanders runs and gets nowhere.

3rd and goal... SFA07.

D.J. MORROW TOUCHDOWN... SEVEN YARDS OUT!

SFA 31-28 SHSU, 7:02 4Q

[TexasTerror]

Kick...

Antonio to Crawford from the SFA08... brought down at the SFA35.

BIG DRIVE for BOTH teams.

SFA runs for six... 2nd and 4 from SFA41...

Moses pass complete, short of first down.

3rd and 1... SFA gets first down and more to SH49.

Moses on first down, incomplete pass.

2nd and 10 from SH49... TIMEOUT, SFA.

[TexasTerror]

Moses complete pass, shy of first down. SH40.

3-1 (SH40) SFA running back short? Chain gang called.
4-In (SH39) Flags. SFA five-yard penalty. False start.
4-6 (SH45) Punt. Ball rolls out at SH11.

Woah... Four and a half to go... SHSU down 3.

[TexasTerror]

SHSU drive...

1-10 (SH11) Two yards on the ground for Flanders. 23 carries, 100 yards
2-8 (SH13) Bell complete to Patterson to SH25... FIRST DOWN

[TexasTerror]

1-10 (SH25) Bell throws, complete. Matthews gets six yards.
2-4 (SH31) Bell throws, incomplete. No flags on the play.
3-4 (SH31) Timeout, SHSU. Second timeout.

[TexasTerror]

3-4 (SH31) Bell throws incomplete, intended for Patterson. More bumping.
4-4 (SH31) No choice, but to go for it. 2:28 left. Bell drops ball, incomplete. Just off the finger tips of Sincere at SFA41. It would've been six. Ugh!

SFA drive

1-10 (SH31) Hand off. Timeout, SHSU. Final timeout.
2-10 (SH31) Another run
3-13 (SH34) Moses in shotgun, complete. Down to 25. In bounds. Shy of first down.

SFA Timeout. 46 seconds left.

SFA pass incomplete. SHSU ball at their own 25. 42 seconds left.

[TexasTerror]

1-10 (SH25) Bell to Pride. 38 seconds to go. 9 yard pass.
2-1 (SH34) Bell complete to Matthews. First down. Out of bounds. SH40. 33 seconds.

[TexasTerror]

1-10 (SH40).. Bell complete to Flanders. 3 yards. Out of bounds. 30 seconds.
2-7 (SH43)... Bell complete to Flanders at SH45. Not out of bounds. 20 seconds and ticking...

3rd down... spiked. 13 seconds left.

4-4 (SH46)... INCOMPLETE.

Ball game.

Great job Jacks. Another fun Battle of the Piney Woods.

SFA 31-28 FINAL

[AxeEmJacks]

Those final few seconds were brutal but we took it for the second year in a row. Axe em jacks. Still underrated in the SLC

[JJWooten]

Those final few seconds were brutal but we took it for the second year in a row. Axe em jacks. Still underrated in the SLC

If anything, the Jacks are overrated in general. Two close games against McNeese and SHSU as a ranked team shows that you shouldn't be ranked that high.

[TxState_GO_CATS!]

Great game to watch on TV. Congrats to both teams.

[SFA 71]

If anything, the Jacks are overrated in general. Two close games against McNeese and SHSU as a ranked team shows that you shouldn't be ranked that high.

So are you saying Shs just wasn't that good? That's not what the beercats were saying all week long. If Shs had won SFA would have been ranked a lot higher in the Shs mind BECAUSE the beercats beat them.

xthumbsupxxthumbsupx

[TexasTerror]

I think SHSU proved they can tussle with the top team in the league...

Am I confident the Bearkats can win out from here on and get a playoff berth? No. I do think SHSU can split the remaining games for sure and get to a winning record, which is a lot more than anyone asked.

[AxeEmJacks]

If anything, the Jacks are overrated in general. Two close games against McNeese and SHSU as a ranked team shows that you shouldn't be ranked that high.

Lol. Stupid iPhone. I meant to say undefeated

[GrabbAnAxe]

Well I'm back from Houston after a great Saturday of college football at Reliant Stadium. This is one of the more underrateated rivalries in the state, and this year lived up to the billing. With a few more years guaranteed at Reliant Stadium, this is going to continue to be more and more fun as this series progresses.

A few things I want to hit on, and being the SFA alum that I am, I will begin with the Jacks. It may not have been a pretty W, but it was still a W. People may make a big deal out of the fact that it was not a blowout, but I think all would agree is that championship teams just pull out the victory. From what I can tell, this is a very confident bunch of Lumberjacks and that can only pay good dividends as the season continues.

Of course the running game (or lack thereof) is a concern. Short yardage situations are an issue, and hopefully it will continue to be addressed and hopefully improved. It's playing with fire to not be able to convert in short-yardage tries on a consistent basis and eventually you'll get burned.

Special teams was certainly a big part of the game as the returner for Sam may have been the MVP of the game, constantly giving the Kats good field position to work with. The Jacks have a bend-but-don't-break philosophy, which really is hard to do when they are constantly working against a short field.

There are different views of the fake punt and the onside kick, which we all agree had a major impact on the game's momentum. If you are Willie Fritz, it shows your team that you are willing to be aggressive and go all out to get a win for your team, and it instantly gets you fired up. But if you are JC Harper, that is an opportunity to bring your kids together and tell them that the other team doesn't think they can beat you straight up, and has to try different things to try and make up the difference. Both different schools of thinking, but both correct in their own ways.

I'm still not sure why the Kats refused to make an adjustment in the first half in terms of coverage. Cordell Roberson was absolutely abusing that freshman corner over there and w/o any safety help. Credit to the Kats, they adjusted in the second half, but sooner would have been better.

I was very impressed with the poise of Brian Bell, and he looked much more confident in the pocket than on the move. You can tell that he has experience in a passing offense, but not so much a mobile one. He's definitely a guy that can be trusted with that offense.

Flanders is a good back, but I thought that aside from the big TD run, the Jacks contained him for the most part. I'll say this, when you put Rollison in that offense with him next year, that run game has a chance to be very, very explosive. Kinda makes me nervous.

In the end what impressed me the most about the Kats was the energy, the effort that they played with. Now I can see what you guys have been talking about these last few weeks as to why you guys are proud of your team. It won't be long until you guys are back contending for an SLC crown.

But for now the Jacks were still able to dig deep and prove who the team to beat this season in the SLC is. A wounded Texas State team comes into Homer Bryce next week, desperately needing a win and having really held SFA's number the last few years. With a homecoming crowd there and a nine-game home win streak on the line, I'm expecting to be there to witness a fun game in the purple's favor.

Again, great game today. Great experience. Great rivalry. Good luck to the Kats the rest of the year. It's going to be a fun rest of the way for you guys, but for now I hope the Jacks ride just keeps on rolling!

[TexasTerror]

A few post-game reads...

Jacks reliant on defense (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/fbc/7261165.html

Close, but no Cigars (Huntsville Item)
http://itemonline.com/sports/x693286879/Close-but-no-cigars

Bigger, bolder (Huntsville Item)
http://itemonline.com/local/x356200179/Bigger-bolder

[Retro]

QUESTION: How is it, you can get 24,000 fans between your two schools for a game in Houston, yet not more than 100 to travel to any other SLC school game and neither of your teams can come close to a sell out even with SFA having a top 5 year? Yes, i know there are supposed to be a lot of Alum in the houston area, but geez can they not drive a 2 or 3 hours to a game outside of the houston area, if that is where many of these fans actually live... Or was this a case of a heavily promoted rivalry game in an NFL venue that cause more people to come out or come down from the university area itself?

[rexreed]

Answer that and you can work for SHSU starting today! In TX there is a thing called "Not UT syndrome." It's almost as prolific as "Not TAMU syndrome." Even the FBS schools have to deal with this harsh disease that plagues the football stadiums.

QUESTION: How is it, you can get 24,000 fans between your two schools for a game in Houston, yet not more than 100 to travel to any other SLC school game and neither of your teams can come close to a sell out even with SFA having a top 5 year? Yes, i know there are supposed to be a lot of Alum in the houston area, but geez can they not drive a 2 or 3 hours to a game outside of the houston area, if that is where many of these fans actually live... Or was this a case of a heavily promoted rivalry game in an NFL venue that cause more people to come out or come down from the university area itself?

[AxeEmJacks]

QUESTION: How is it, you can get 24,000 fans between your two schools for a game in Houston, yet not more than 100 to travel to any other SLC school game and neither of your teams can come close to a sell out even with SFA having a top 5 year? Yes, i know there are supposed to be a lot of Alum in the houston area, but geez can they not drive a 2 or 3 hours to a game outside of the houston area, if that is where many of these fans actually live... Or was this a case of a heavily promoted rivalry game in an NFL venue that cause more people to come out or come down from the university area itself?

An SFA alum on another forum broke it down like this. SFA doesn't draw well because we're in deep east Texas and really about 3 hours from anywhere. SHSU draws a bit better based on their relative location to Houston, they're closer. Being at the game though made me see more Lumberjack fans than I ever thought existed though, which made me immediately wonder where all these people have been all season. From what I've seen of SFA is that there isn't really any diehard, manic fans. We're all kinda like "Yeah, I went to SFA. What about it?"

[Retro]

An SFA alum on another forum broke it down like this. SFA doesn't draw well because we're in deep east Texas and really about 3 hours from anywhere. SHSU draws a bit better based on their relative location to Houston, they're closer. Being at the game though made me see more Lumberjack fans than I ever thought existed though, which made me immediately wonder where all these people have been all season. From what I've seen of SFA is that there isn't really any diehard, manic fans. We're all kinda like "Yeah, I went to SFA. What about it?"

Yes, it's pretty sad! You have a top 5 team and a shot at the national title, yet fans can't make an effort to support you at home or awa... I was glad to see the SFA band in lake charles, but wondered why only some parents of player's were the only 100 people or so there..

[3rd Coast Tiger]

The novelty of playing in a NFL stadium has something to do with it. I'd imagine a slightly smaller attendance next season if not worse (No Moses, will SFA still be lighting up the scoreboard, will SHSU new coach hit a sophomore slump, etc...). So many variables.

[TexasTerror]

The novelty of playing in a NFL stadium has something to do with it. I'd imagine a slightly smaller attendance next season if not worse (No Moses, will SFA still be lighting up the scoreboard, will SHSU new coach hit a sophomore slump, etc...). So many variables.

I agree - would expect slightly smaller crowd...

Will give SHSU credit. The hiring of Pattison has helped with the overall marketing, promotions of the department. LSSE did their share, but SHSU has taken some large leaps in many areas due to the professional sport veteran Pattison. Noticed UTSA also has a guy that is familiar with pro sports. Is this a direction for schools to take to help generate some different *hmph* into the program(s)?