A week prior to their conference opener, the Sam Houston State University Bearkats were outmatched and outplayed by the Texas Longhorns in Austin. It was the type of game where a team could go into shell shock or learn and move on.
Unfortunately enough for the Northwestern State Demons, the Kats were more than ready for the Southland Conference opener, falling 30-20 at Turpin Stadium.
The Bearkats had an amazing offensive game, consisting of huge plays both on the ground and through the air.
Senior wide receiver Brandon Perry had a career day, hauling in four catches for 203 yards and two touchdowns, earning him Southland Conference Player of the Week. He also had the second longest reception in school history when he caught a fade pass and took in 94-yard for a score.
Brett Hicks, starting his third consecutive game, had his best game of the season by completing 14-of-25 passes for 299 yards and three touchdowns.
But perhaps the biggest positive the Kats’ took away from the contest was the running of linebacker-turned-running back D.D. Terry. The senior from Willis took the opening handoff 74-yard for a score and finishes the contest with 109 yards on only 11 carries.
Sam Houston never trailed and allowed only six first-half points.
The Demons pulled within 27-20 late in the fourth quarter, but committed a huge turnover when Ricky Meeks fumbled deep in Northwestern State territory and was recovered by the Kats’ Ed Jackson. After a few more plays, and chewing up more clock, Taylor Wilkins put the nail in the coffin by connecting on a 27-yard field goal with only 53 seconds left on the clock and Sam Houston winning 30-20.
Sam Houston will next host Nicholls State this Saturday at 2 p.m. for homecoming.