Title clinched

Houston Baptist running back Keshawn Hill rushed for 242 yards, including touchdown runs of 13 and 15 yards, to lead the Bearkats to a 38-31 victory over the University of Central Arkansas and to a third Southland Conference championship in the past four years. The loss effectively eliminated UCA from postseason possibilities.

Sam Houston State ran right past Central Arkansas’ defense to earn its first outright Southland Conference football championship Saturday at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas.

Senior running back Keshawn Hill rushed for 242 yards, which included touchdown runs of 13 and 15 yards, to lead Sam Houston State to a 38-31 victory that clinched the Bearkats’ third conference championship in the past four years.

Sam Houston State also earned the league’s automatic qualifying berth for the FCS playoffs. Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana tied for the league title with identical 7-1 conference records, but the Bearkats won the tiebreaker thanks to Stephen F. Austin’s 27-24 victory over Northwestern (La.) State.

Sam Houston State (8-4, 7-1) rolled up 527 yards of total offense against UCA (6-6, 5-3), with 336 coming on the ground. Quarterback Jared Johnson completed 17 of 28 passes for 191 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown to LaDarius Brown that tied the score 21-21 late in the second quarter. Johnson also rushed for 67 yards. Brown caught four passes for 106 yards.

UCA quarterback Ryan Howard completed 26 of 44 passes for 324 yards with 4 touchdown passes as the Bears rolled up 450 yards of total offense, but Howard was sacked 5 times as Sam Houston State’s defense came up with big plays throughout the game. Michael Wade had 11 tackles for the Bearkats, and P.J. Hall finished with two sacks, another tackle for loss and a field goal block.

UCA receiver Dezmin Lewis finished with eight catches for 105 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown pass. Jatavious Wilson, Desmond Smith and Joe Carmical also caught touchdown passes for the Bears.

The first half was a roller coaster that started rolling when UCA jumped out front with a 66-yard touchdown pass from Howard to Wilson for a 7-0 lead with 8:19 to play in the first quarter.

Sam Houston State answered with an eight-play, 79yard drive that was capped by Donavan Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run with 5:23 left in the quarter. A 61-yard run by Hill to the UCA 15 keyed the drive.

Hill’s 13-yard touchdown run with 1:08 left in the opening quarter capped a seven-play, 80-yard drive that gave the Bearkats a 14-7 lead.

UCA drove to the Sam Houston State 5, but Mouf Adebo stopped Dominique Thomas for a 4-yard loss to force a field-goal attempt that was wide right.

The Bears responded by blocking Jordan Toliver’s field goal, which the Bears returned to the Bearkats’ 46 to set up Howard’s touchdown pass to Lewis that tied the game at 14-14 with 3:52 left before halftime.

An interception by Jonathan Woodward set up Howard’s 22-yard touchdown pass to Smith with 2:40 that gave UCA a 21-14 lead, but the Bearkats answered by driving 78 yards in five plays to tie the game at 21-21. Johnson hit LaDarius Brown with a 52yard touchdown pass down the right sideline with 1:35 left in the second quarter.

A blocked field goal by P. J. Hall set up a 32-yard field goal by Luc Swimberghe with seven seconds left as Sam Houston State went into halftime with a 24-21 lead.

Hills scored again on Sam Houston State’s first drive of the second half, this time from 15 yards out to give the Bearkats a 31-21 lead with 8:09 remaining in the third quarter. Don King added a 7-yard touchdown on a fake field goal as the Bearkats increased their margin to 38-21 with 4:05 left in the quarter.

A short punt gave UCA the ball at the Bearkats 44, and a 38-yard run by Willlie Matthews set up Howard’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Carmical with 14:50 to play in the fourth.

UCA added a 39-yard field goal with 3:30 to play to cut the margin to 38-31, but the Bearkats ran out out the clock to earn their sixth Southland championship in 28 years in the league.

LAMAR 27, McNEESE STATE 24

LAKE CHARLES, La. — Juan Carranco kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired to give Lamar a victory over McNeese State on Saturday.

McNeese State’s Will Briscoe threw a 10-yard touchdown to Ernest Celestie with 4:20 remaining in the game to tie the score at 24-24.

Caleb Berry then marched the Cardinals 73 yards in 12 plays to give Carranco his shot at the field goal.

Lamar (8-4, 5-3 Southland) held a 24-10 lead with 9:49 left in the third quarter. McNeese State charged back with Briscoe finding David Bush on a 5-yard touchdown pass.

Berry, who rushed for 91 yards, threw for 327 yards and 2 touchdowns. Mark Roberts caught 6 passes for 103 yards and 1 touchdown.

Briscoe threw for 144 yards and two touchdowns to lead McNeese State (65, 4-4).

STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 27, NORTHWESTERN (LA.) STATE 24

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Jordan Wiggs hit a 41-yard field goal as time expired to push Stephen F. Austin past Northwestern (La.) State.

Stephen F. Austin (8-4, 5-3) led by seven when Garrett Atzenweiler’s 15yard touchdown run tied the game at 24-24 with 59 seconds remaining.

Quarterback Zach Conque (Little Rock Catholic) drove the Lumberjacks to Northwestern State’s 23-yard line to set up Wiggs’ game-winner.

Conque completed 17 of 23 passes for 270 yards and ran for another 71 yards. Gus Johnson ran for 161 yards.

Zach Adkins threw for 283 yards to lead Northwestern State (6-6, 4-4).