Bearkats prepare for ‘finality’ of playoffs
HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston was expected to contend for a Southland Conference football championship for the 2021 spring season, and perhaps dominate. The Bearkats met and exceeded expectations, winning the league title an eighth time.
In a shortened six-game season, all against SLC competition, the Bearkats went unbeaten, racked up 44.8 points per game, knocked off three nationally ranked opponents, and as a result placed 22 players on some form of an all-conference team.
But those accomplishment as far as the Bearkats are concerned are in the rear-view mirror. Playoff time is here and Sam Houston, the No. 2 overall seed in the 16-team FCS tournament, starts its journey to that elusive national championship on Saturday at 11 a.m. against 10th-ranked Big South champion Monmouth (3-0). The first-round game is at Bowers Stadium, where the Kats are 13-0 alltime in playoff games.
“That season is over and now we move into a onegame season and that onegame season is Monmouth,” said Sam Houston coach K.C. Keeler, who coached Delaware to the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA national title. “Eventually if you keep on winning they’re going to tell you you’re national champions. And that’s the goal.
“Also we understand the finality. On Sunday, there’s going to be a meeting. It’s either going to be Monmouth or Sam Houston, one of us is going to be collecting equipment and we don’t want it to be us.”
If the Bearkats keep winning they would play three games in Huntsville prior to the championship game on May 16 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco. Per the NCAA, all sites are capped at 25 percent attendance for playoff games.
“When we got that No. 2 seed it put the cherry on top to solidify that if we continue to win we’re not going to leave the state of Texas,” said Bearkats senior defensive back Tristin McCollum, a product of Galveston Ball.
“We’re glad we secured it and now it’s time to defend our turf.”
Sam Houston has the means of advancing. The Bearkats are stacked at nearly every position. Quarterback Eric Schmid of The Woodlands passed for 2,021 yards and 14 touchdowns in being named conference player of the year. Ramon Jefferson ran for 475 yards, 6½ yards per carry. Jequez Ezzard, named the conference’s top newcomer, totaled 608 receiving yards and 816 all purpose. Linebacker Trevor Williams collected 48 tackles, nine for loss. All-conference offensive lineman Colby Thomas has played all five positions at a high level.
“To see this team come around and get pure balance on both sides of the ball is really showing on the field,” McCollum said. “The defense has played great all season and the offense is really coming together.”
Sam Houston is the topscoring team playing in the postseason. Its defense is 11th-best in FCS, allowing 17½ points and 51.8 yards rushing per game.
Like Sam Houston, which averages 511 yards, Monmouth can move the ball. The Hawks average 41.7 points and 456.3 yards per game — 247.3 passing, 209.0 rushing.
Keeler said Monmouth freshman quarterback Tony Muskett plays like a fifthyear senior. Juwon Farri rushed for 422 yards and nine touchdowns for the Hawks, who have an average win margin of 27.3 points.
“They’re a good team and our coaches tell us all the time, now that there’s 16 teams left, every team that you are going to face is good,” McCollum said. “Monmouth is dedicated to running the football. That’s its bread and butter, and they have a bunch of key players.
“We pride ourselves on our rush defense. We want to stop the run because if we contain the running game we believe we can contain the entire offensive scheme.”
Sam Houston is making its 12th FCS playoff appearance and first since 2017. Saturday will be only the fourth playoff game in the 28-year history of Monmouth football. At No. 10, this is the highest national ranking for the Hawks, under the direction of longtime coach Kevin Callahan, who is 166-124 at the school.
Keeler is 65-22 in his seventh season at Sam Houston, taking the Bearkats to the national semifinals three times. Keeler is aware the Bearkats have an unblemished home playoff record and he is 27-0 as head coach in playoff home games, counting his time at Delaware and Rowan.
“We have unbelievable success at Bowers Stadium for home games,” Keeler said. “How great would that be that (nearly) everyone has to go through Bowers Stadium to get to the national championship?”