Sam Houston State DE P.J. Hall (92)
photo by Brian Blalock/SHSU
SH State's Nathan Stewart (red jersey) is one of the Bearkats top receivers
photo by Brian Blalock/SHSU
Sam Houston State QB Jeremiah Briscoe Leads the FCS in passing (4,096 yards)
photo by Brian Blalock/SHSU
Sam Houston State football coach K.C. Keeler said the team motto is “anyone, anywhere, anytime.”
Saturday at 3 p.m. EST in Huntsville, Texas at Bowers Stadium are the specifics to that motto as the UTC Mocs (9-3) will face the No.1 ranked and No.5 seeded SH State Bearkats in a round of 16 FCS playoff game with the winner two games from the Jan.7 championship game in Frisco, Texas.
“I feel we are better in all three phases of the game than last year,” said coach Keller whose 2015 team lost to Jacksonville (Ala.) State in the FCS semifinals.
“We have a big, physical offensive line with two tight ends and our offense will take whatever you give us.”
Repeat Performance Needed: The Mocs scored 45 points and recorded five turnovers, committed none and posted a 45-14 win against Weber State (7-5) last Saturday at Finley Stadium in an FCS first round college football game.
The Mocs could need that same production Saturday as they face a high-powered and undefeated Bearkat team which has allowed 25 points per game.
Players of the Year: The Bearkats have talent on both sides of the ball highlighted by five Southland Conference Players of the Year and 15 all-conference players (first and second teams).
Junior quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe leads the FCS nation in passing yards (4,096) and is the Southland Conf. Player of the Year, junior wide receiver Yedidiah Louis is the Offensive Player of the Year, Nathan Stewart (47 catches, 903 yards, 11 TDs) is the Freshman of the Year, senior Bridge Blount is the Offensive Lineman of the Year and junior defensive end P.J. Hall (9.5 QB sacks, 21 tackles for loss an 3 fumble recoveries) is the conference Defensive Player of the Year.
The Mocs have 11 all-Southern Conference selections led by Defensive Player of the Year Keionta Davis (39 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 QB sacks,1 fumble recovery).
UTC junior quarterback Alejandro Bennifield leads an offense which averages 201.5 rushing yards (25 TDs) and 202.9 passing yards (23 TDs) per game.
Execution is the Key: “It’s all about execution. If we execute our game plan and do what we are supposed to do we will be fine,” said Bennifield who threw for two touchdowns and ran for another in the Weber State win.
“I enjoy playing on the road as we seem to be more focused than playing at home since all we are concentrating on is football.
”It’s fun to go into a new environment and play>”
Stats and More Stats: SH State has outscored its opponents, 54.2-25.9
Offense Per Game: Bearkats average 197 rushing yards and 387 passing yards …
UTC average 203 rushing yards and 198 passing yards …
Touchdowns: SH State (83, allowed 38) … UTC has 55 scored and 27 allowed
Takeaways: SH State is plus 7 on interceptions and fumble recoveries … Mocs show a plus 5
QB Sacks: SH State has 36 sacks and has allowed 8 … UTC has 31 sacks and has allowed 15
Home Winning Streak: The Bearkats (10-0) – the only undefeated team of the remaining 16 playoff teams - have won 12 straight at home … and 16-2 over three seasons …
What If …. ? If the Mocs defeat No.5 Sam Houston State and New Hampshire defeats No.4 James Madison, then the host for the NH-UTC game would be decided by the highest bid to the NCAA.
Trips to Texas … Mocs hope to make a return trip to the Lone Star State for the FCS championship game Jan. 7 in Frisco.
Mean Green and Mean Joe Greene … the last time a UTC team played in Texas resulted in a 42-7 loss at North Texas State (Denton) in 1966 led by future hall of famer (Pittsburgh Steelers) Mean Joe Greene. …
Rings: Coach Keeler has a ring as a player (Delaware won NCAA D-II title in 1979) and a head coach (Delaware, 2003) ... UTC’s Russ Huesman has a national championship ring when he served as defensive coordinator for Richmond when the Spiders won the FCS title Dec. 19, 2008 at Finley Stadium. Huesman was hired as the UTC coach Dec. 22.
Coaches Have Crossed Paths: In 2008, Richmond defeated Delaware and head coach Keeler in a regular season Colonial Athleteic Association game.
Veteran of the Playoffs: Coach Keeler led the Delaware to three trips to the title game winning it in Chattanooga in 2003 (beat Colgate, 40-0), lost to Appalachian State (49-21) in 2007 and lost to Eastern Washington (20-19) in 2010 in the first title game played in Frisco.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net