SAM HOUSTON ST.
WHEN: 3 P.M. SATURDAY. WHERE: BOWERS STADIUM, HUNTSVILLE. WEB: ESPN3. | RADIO: 101.7 FM.
Bearkats eye extension of home winning streak as Lamar visits.
Records: Sam Houston State 5-1, 3-1 Southland; Lamar 1-5, 0-4. Series history: Sam Houston leads 27-10-1. Key players: Sam Houston State — QB Jeremiah Briscoe, WR Davion Davis, LB Hunter Brown; Lamar — QB Darrel Colbert Jr., RB Myles Wanza, LB Chaston Brooks.
Who has the edge
Offense — Sam Houston State. The Bearkats are the third-ranked FCS scoring offense (42.5), behind only the Dakotas. They’re second in total offense (550.2) and passing offense (366.8). They’re also fourth in first downs. Briscoe is 149-of-263 for 2,145 yards, 18 TDs and seven interceptions. He threw for a career-high 509 yards last week, with four TDs and two INTs on 33 of 57 passing. Defense — Sam Houston State. The Bearkats gave up 518 yards and didn’t force a turnover last week, making for a difficult win despite Briscoe’s career day. But they’re still better than the Cardinals in two key categories — opponents’ third-down percentage (28.9) and yards per rush allowed (4.7). Lamar opponents are 27-of-77 on third downs (35.1 percent), and they’re averaging 5.4 yards per rush. Special teams — Sam Houston State. K Tre Honshtein did not attempt a FG last week. He’s 7-of- 10 on the season, with four makes in his last five attempts. Lamar K Elvin Martinez is 2-of-3 on the season. He hit a 34-yarder last week against Incarnate Word.
Notable: The Cardinals knocked off Sam Houston 49-46 two years ago in Huntsville, when Kade Harrington erupted for 313 total yards and three TDs. The Bearkats got back on track last season, winning 44-31 in Beaumont, with Briscoe throwing for 328 yards and three scores. About Sam Houston State: The seventhranked Bearkats stretched their home winning streak to 15 games, using a go-ahead, 96-yard drive capped by RB Corey Avery’s 1-yard TD run with 1:04 left to pull out a 4036 decision. They trailed 24-7 in the second quarter before consecutive scoring grabs by Davis, who collected eight receptions for 139 yards and four TDs. WR Nathan Stewart added eight catches for 247 yards.
About Lamar: The Cardinals lost Colbert to a shoulder injury on the first drive of the second half in last week’s 33-24 loss to Incarnate Word. They may be without him this week, too. QB Andrew Allen threw for 200 yards and rushed for a score in relief. Wanza, from Summer Creek, ran for 56 yards and caught two passes for 21 yards. They’ve lost four straight.