HUNGRY FOR MORE
In new conference, Bearkats eager to go on attack as defending national champions
Can Sam Houston repeat as national champions?
Bearkats coach K.C. Keeler isn’t calling the Bearkats defending national champions. He refers to them as attacking national champions. The Bearkats, who have 17 players named on preseason All-Western Athletic Conference teams, aren’t resting on past accomplishments. They are hungry for more wins.
Nearly all of the key players return from a 10-0 team that slipped past South Dakota State 23-21 in Frisco for the FCS national championship in May. That includes star quarterback Eric Schmid, wide receiver and return specialist Jequez Ezzard, and every returning starter on offense and defense. Sam Houston is playing only 10 games with two open dates to remain fresh and healthy after playing in the spring.
What will playing in the WAC be like?
Sam Houston’s new home is the WAC, which will be playing football for the first time since 2012. Sam Houston left the Southland along with Stephen F. Austin, Lamar and Abilene Christian.
For this season only, the WAC will partner with the newly formed ASUN for the WAC/ ASUN Challenge. The sevenleague team, which includes Central Arkansas, Jacksonville State and Eastern Kentucky from the ASUN, will compete for an automatic qualifier in the FCS playoffs. Sam Houston will retain its rivalry with SFA in Battle of the Piney Woods. This year’s game is Oct. 2 at NRG Stadium.
Is Schmid fully healthy?
Schmid, the WAC preseason Offensive Player of the Year, took a beating from South Dakota State in last year’s FCS championship-game win. Despite the pounding, The Woodlands product engineered a 65-yard, 16-play drive that ended with a game-winning 10-yard touchdown pass to Ife Adeyi with 13 seconds to play.
Keeler calls Schmid as tough a player he has coached and that his quarterback is a respected and proven leader. Schmid said he is 95 percent healthy recovering from a leftshoulder injury and an ankle sprain occurred in the May 16 title game.
Which position is most dominant?
Sam Houston is loaded at every position on the field, but nowhere more so than the defensive line, which is fast, physical, and experienced. Depth is not a concern in the interior and four players have received All-America recognition – Jahari Kay (preseason WAC Defensive Player of the Year), Joseph Wallace, Trace Mascorro and Jevon Leon.
Kay, Mascorro and Wallace have been durable, each has not missed a game over the past two seasons. Scean Mustin and Chris Scott are part of the rotation. The Bearkats have held 15 of their past 22 opponents under 100 rushing yards.
Is there an area of concern?
The offensive line paved the way to the national championship, but Keeler said that was one grouping he felt wasn’t national championship caliber. The line needs to take a step up and very well could with who all is back.
Starting in each of the Bearkats’ four-game run in the playoffs were center Ethan Hagler, and on the right side, tackle D’Ary Patton and guard Colby Thomas. Returning as well on the left side is tackle Eleasah Anderson and guard Prince Pines. Peyton Fifield, who missed the championship run with injury, is back. Transfer Reece Jordan started 24 games at center over the past two seasons at Texas State.