SAM HOUSTON ST.
AFTER PERFECT REGULAR SEASON, NO. 1 BEARKATS SET FOR PLAYOFF GAUNTLET
The Bearkats are ready for their playoff opener.
S am Houston State coach K.C. Keeler wasn’t around the first time the Bearkats took an 11-0 record into the FCS playoffs. • But he knows what a championship contender looks like. • Keeler guided Delaware to a Division I-AA title in 2003, and he sees several similarities between that team and the Bearkats, who fell in the FCS semifinals during his first two seasons in Huntsville. • “They remind me a lot of that team in terms of its work ethic, its drive to win (and) the camaraderie,” he said. “This is a really close team. These kids love to play. I never have to get them excited about playing a football game. • “They love to come to practice every day and they love game day.” • Sam Houston opens the FCS playoffs against Chattanooga (9-3) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bowers Stadium. The winner gets James Madison or New Hampshire in the quarterfinals.
Keeler, who also coached the Blue Hens to FCS finals in 2007 and 2010, said this year’s Bearkats not only are one of the best groups he has coached in 23 years, they’re also one of his favorites.
The key intangibles are present, he said, and they’re winning with well-rounded play.
The latter was evident in the Bearkats’ 20 selections to the all-Southland Conference team, including six of the seven superlatives. Quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe was named Player of the Year, receiver Yedidiah Louis took Offensive Player of the Year, and defensive end P.J. Hall earned Defensive Player of the Year.
“We have no problem running it 50 times, there’s no problem throwing it 60 times, we have really outstanding receivers, usually mismatches with most of the people we play against, and with our running backs, we have two guys (Remus Bulmer and Corey Avery) closing in on 1,000 yards,” Keeler said.
“So it’s a pretty balanced team.”
Briscoe, a Stratford product
“There’s definitely a chip on the shoulder. It’s not like this is our first barbecue. We were No. 3 in the country last year, we were No. 4 in the country the year before that, (and) we’re better this year in all three phases. K.C. Keeler, SHSU Coach
who quickly asserted his leadership after QB Jared Johnson transferred to TexasSan Antonio, was named one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award on Tuesday.
The 6-3 junior has 4,096 yards and 52 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
“Not only is he really talented in terms of throwing the football, but his intelligence, his toughness and his leadership really has encapsulated what he’s done for us this year,” Keeler said.
The Bearkats need Briscoe to stay strong in the postseason.
They stumbled offensively in the semis the last two years, falling 62-10 to Jacksonville State in 2015 and 35-3 to North Dakota State in 2014. They also lost 17-6 to North Dakota State in the 2011 final.
That’s why Keeler was so excited to see his team seize the Southland title in convincing fashion two weeks ago, racking up 500 total yards against Central Arkansas’ stingy defense in a 59-23 win.
Briscoe threw for 431 yards and seven TDs.
“We played lights-out,” Keeler said.
The Bearkats’ defense, which improved over the second half of the season, also showed well, creating five turnovers.
But the FCS committee wasn’t as impressed, giving the Bearkats a No. 5 seed.
Jacksonville State is No. 1, Eastern Washington is No. 2, North Dakota State is No. 3 and James Madison is No. 4.
The Sam Houston/ Chattanooga winner faces Madison or New Hampshire in the quarters.
“There’s definitely a chip on the shoulder,” Keeler said. “It’s not like this is our first barbecue. We were No. 3 in the country last year, we were No. 4 in the country the year before that, (and) we’re better this year in all three phases.
“We’re better in all three phases — and we’re undefeated this year.”