SAM HOUSTON ST. VS. RICHMOND
WHEN: 6 P.M. FRIDAY • WHERE: McLANE STADIUM, WACO • ONLINE: ESPN3 • RADIO: 101.7 FM
Series history: First meeting. Key players: SHSU — QB Jeremiah Briscoe, RB Remus Bulmer, LB Justin Johnson; Richmond — QB Kyle Lauletta, RB Gordon Collins, RB Xavier Goodall
WHO HAS THE EDGE
Offense — Sam Houston. The Spiders are solid offensively, but the Bearkats were the best in the business last season and they return almost all their weapons, including their top three WRs: Yedidiah Louis (76 receptions, 1,152 yards, 14 TDs), Davion Davis (56-960, 10 TDs) and Nathan Stewart (52-1,004, 12 TDs). Bulmer led the Bearkats with 901 rushing yards on 144 carries.
Defense — Even. The Spiders graduated three key defensive leaders in top tackler LB Omar Howard, and S Jones and DT Winston Craig, who signed NFL free-agent deals. The Bearkats, on the other hand, return leading tackler Justin Johnson (97 tackles) and P.J. Hall, who registered 13 sacks and 24.4 tackles for loss.
Special teams — Sam Houston. Tre Honshtein attempted (and made) only one field goal last season, so the Bearkats tried only eight field goals all year because they scored 90 TDs. And with so many playmakers back, coach K.C. Keeler has plenty of options on special teams. Richmond graduated kickers Trau Griffin and Rickey Segers, who were a combined 25-of-28.
Notable: Sam Houston and Richmond advanced to the FCS championship quarterfinals in 2016 before falling in routs, giving both highpowered offenses something to prove this year.
About Sam Houston: Briscoe returns after leading the Bearkats to a 12-1 record. He set the single-season school record for passing yards with 4,602 to go with 57 TDs and 10 INTs. The Bearkats led the nation in points (49.5) and yards (547.3) per game while racking up doubledigits wins for the third consecutive season.
About Richmond: The Spiders advanced to the FCS semifinals in 2015 but were slowed last year by season-ending injuries to 18 starters, including Lauletta (3,022 yards, 24 TDs), who suffered a knee injury in their regular-season finale and missed the playoffs. He’s back after surgery to repair the ACL in his right knee.