The Sam Houston State Bearkats will face the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes this weekend in an out of division game.
Tulsa, a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school, which is coming from a 45-0 loss to the University of Oklahoma, will be looking to take up their frustration on the smaller Bearkat team.
SHSU has made a habit of playing FBS schools. Most notably Kansas last year, that didn’t fare well for the Kats’ as they lost 38-14.
Tulsa offers numerous match up problems for SHSU.
The biggest weapon on the sideline is return man Damaris Johnson who is considered by some to be the best returner in the country. While the Bearkats special teams have not allowed a punt return for a touchdown this season, they have not faced a player with the caliber of Johnson’s talent.
This will also be the first game for Tulsa at home this season, and Bearkat fans can bet that team will look make a good impression at home.
Another interesting aspect of the game will be the match ups. Offensively, the Golden Hurricanes have had explosive offenses in the past. This season isn’t much different.
Both teams run a similar offense. Hurricanes quarterback, G.J. Kinne, is as mobile if not more than Blake Joseph. The 6 ft. 2 in. 215 pound Kinne is only a sophomore, but in three games this season he already has five passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.
Kinne’s big targets on the outside will be Trae Johnson, a 5-11 receiver who has nine catches for 27 yards and three touchdowns this season. But the bigger threat will be Slick Shelley, a 6 ft. 4 in. receiver who mirrors the physique of Jason Madkins. Shelley has ten receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns.
On the ground, the team’s only running threat appears to be Kinne and his scrambling ability.
Defensively, Tulsa’s defense has made huge strides. In past years the offense had scored a lot allowing the defense to play at a half way effort. But this year the defense has improved.
Against New Mexico the defense allowed no touchdowns and only gave up 171 yards.
“I’m excited that our defense is playing well,” Graham said to the Tulsa World News in a press conference after the New Mexico game. “I told you before the season started that if we’re gonna win a championship, then we’ve gotta play championship defense. They’re being stingy and that’s a good sign.”
Most Tulsa fans are expecting an easy game but the Bearkats proved against North Dakota State University that they would not be an easy game for anyone.