Now that the homecoming hangover has passed and with a big conference win stored away, it’s back to business for the Sam Houston State University football team.
Coming to town tonight at Bowers Stadium is a future-member of the Southland Conference, Central Arkansas. The Bears bring into the contest a 4-3 mark, one of those wins coming over Sam Houston rival, Stephen F. Austin.
Over the past four years the Bears have posted the best regular season football record of any college football team in the state of Arkansas. They’ve been ranked in the top 25 of Division II in each of the past five seasons.
One player who has been all business thus far this season, is Sam Houston State halfback D.D. Terry. Last week the senior rushed for a conference season high 176 yards on 30 carries, including 3 touchdowns. Terry’s 176 rushing yards were also the most by a Bearkat since 1993. The Southland Conference offensive player of the week increased his season totals to 489 yards on 81 carries and seven touchdowns. His 97 yards per game and seven touchdowns, lead the Southland Conference.
Possibly an even bigger performance last week was the Bearkats’ defense. They forced six turnovers, five fumbles and an interception. The Bearkats held the Colonels to 262 total yards. Nicholls State’s only touchdown came off a short 14-yard drive, which spawned from a Bearkat fumble in their own red zone.
Central Arkansas is coming off two straight losses, by a combined score of 53-20. Despite the losses, the Bears have shown the ability to throw the ball.
Quarterback Nathan Brown is 46-of-72 for 537 yards in the last two games.
Running the ball is another story. In the two losses, the Bears rushed for a combined 15 yards on 45 carries, an average of three yards per rush.
The game against the Bears is also at a critical point in the season. After this week, the Kats have two out of the next three on the road, including a visit to Nacogdoches.