Sam Houston scores four TDs in five minutes to reach FCS title game.

HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston wiped out a three-touchdown deficit in the second half to defeat James Madison 38-35 on Saturday afternoon in the semifinals of the FCS playoffs.

After outscoring the Dukes 28-3 in the third quarter and holding on for dear life in the fourth, the Bearkats advance to their first FCS national championship game in nine years. Sam Houston will face South Dakota State, a 33-3 winner over Delaware on Saturday, in the title game in Frisco on May 16.

The Bearkats under thencoach Willie Fritz lost consecutive championship games to North Dakota State in 2011 and 2012. Sam Houston will try and win its first outright national title, after sharing an NAIA national title with Concordia College of Moorhead, Minn.

Sam Houston coach K.C. Keeler spoke in the week leading to the game of building a physical, strong program similar to James Madison and North Dakota State — and now Sam Houston has defeated both in the postseason.

The Bearkats dispatched NDSU 24-20 in Huntsville last weekend in the quarterfinals to prevent the Bison from a shot at winning their ninth national title in 10 seasons.

James Madison, which outscored Sam Houston 24-0 in the second quarter, had expressed concern about playing in the 88degree heat of Southeast Texas in May, and the Dukes of Harrisonburg, Va., were susceptible to the big play in the second half.

Sam Houston’s Jeuquez Ezzard collected a 69-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Eric Schmid in the third quarter, and on the Bearkats’ next possession Ezzard returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown to whittle JMU’s lead to 27-24 with 42 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Sam Houston wasn’t finished in the decisive quarter, however, after the Bearkats’ Cameron Hearn recovered a fumble by Solomon Vanhorse on a kickoff return following Ezzard’s second touchdown.

The Dukes missed a 51-yard field goal attempt with 2:09 remaining in the fourth quarter that would have tied the contest.

Photos by Brett Coomer / Staff photographer The Sam Houston defense stops James Madison running back Percy Agyei-Obese for no gain in the first quarter. The Dukes led the Bearkats 24-3 at halftime.

Sam Houston receiver Cody Chrest beats James Madison’s Wayne Davis, left, and Taurus Carroll for a catch.