An eight-game consecutive road-losing streak finally came to a halt for the Sam Houston State University Bearkats when they beat Missouri State 20-17 this past Saturday in Springfield, Missouri.
Brett Hicks, who took over quarterback duties after a season-ending shoulder injury to Wade Pate, performed admirably by completing 19-of-33 passes for 184 yards and no turnovers.
The Kats also got a huge performance from D.D. Terry, finishing with 82 yards on nine carries and a touchdown. Andrew Audelin also rushed for 69 yards on 17 carries.
To say this was a much-needed win would be an understatement. Sam Houston State hadn’t won a road game since 2004.
Not to mention, the Kats now will travel to Austin on Saturday to take on the defending national champion Texas Longhorns.
On Saturday, Derrick Harris made the first big play of the game by picking off a pass from Bear’s quarterback Garrett Congdon and returned it into Missouri State territory.
It took the Kats eight plays later to capitalize on that turnover when Audelin rushed in from four yards out to give SHSU the early lead. Before the run, Hicks connected with Brian Christian on a 20-yard pass.
After Nathan Stokes connected on a 26-yard field goal, the Kats’ special teams came up with a huge momentum-turning play. Tony Jones, who had four blocked punts in his career, blocked the punt into the Bears’ end zone and was recovered by Byran Richmond for a Bearkat TD. However, Taylor Wilkins failed on the extra point and thus the Kats led 13-3 at halftime.
The Bears opened the third quarter with an eight-play drive that was capped off by a 27-yard touchdown pass from Matt Kapfrl to Chris Geisz, bringing the Bears within 13-10.
Sam Houston then completed their best drive of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
A 14-play drive that lasted five minutes was finished off by a 12-yard TD run from Terry to give the Kats a comfortable 20-10 lead.
The Bears added one more late touchdown but eventually were held on downs on their following possession, giving the Kats a huge win.