KC Keeler is thriving right now. The head coach of the Sam Houston Bearkats has been coaching in Huntsville for quite some time and he just found a way to beat one of the most innovative coaches in the Lone Star State as he handed GJ Kinne a fascinating defeat.
I honestly didn’t expect much from the Sam Houston Bearkats (4-1) this season, but they certainly came up with an impressive win against GJ Kinne and the Texas State Bobcats (2-2) to get even closer to bowl eligibility.
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Seriously, Sam Houston State deserves a ton of credit for the remarkable comeback to beat the Bobcats in NRG Stadium in Houston. The Bearkats demonstrated plenty of resiliency as they very impressively responded to being down 22-0 in the first quarter.
While Sam Houston seemed to be reeling after the three quick scores for Texas State in the first quarter, the Bearkats refused to just give up. Jay Ducker put the Bearkats on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run early on in the second quarter and then was able to cap another driver with a 14-yard run into the end zone.
Second half surge puts Sam Houston Bearkats on top of Texas State Bobcats
Texas State responded with another touchdown to stretch the Bobcats’ lead out to 18 points, but Sam Houston cut the lead down to 32-21 at the half.
In the third quarter, Texas State was able to get a quick score to set the Bobcats up with a 39-21 lead, but SHSU just kept clawing away that the deficit. And that’s when Ducker and SHSU QB Hunter Watson each found the end zone, bringing the score to 39-34 heading into the 4th quarter.
In the final frame of the game, Bearkats kicker Christian Pavon connected on a couple field goals to put Sam Houston on top by a score of 40-39.
The Bearkats have the chance to carry some momentum into their short week as they head out west to El Paso on Thursday in a CUSA game. Meanwhile, Texas State has to find a way to bounce back after what must feel like a deflating loss.
Why this game matters for Sam Houston State
The Bearkats have already surpassed their win total from last season, which was their first in the FBS after leaving their home in the FCS. Last season was such a disaster that I naturally assumed Sam Houston wouldn’t be able to achieve much throughout this year.
And of course, right now, Sam Houston happens to be 4-1 on the season. That’s an incredible start for this program.
Oh, and I’ve been really impressed with Texas State Bobcats head coach GJ Kinne. In case you didn’t know, I wanted the dude coaching in Starkville. He’s still in San Marcos and he was just handed a very notable loss by one of the most experienced college coaches in the country.
This is a huge win for KC Keeler. He’s got a legitimate chance to contend for the Conference USA title if his team can play like this on a regular basis. Essentially, right now, SHSU controls its own destiny. That’s not insignificant.
Notable stats in SHSU’s win over Texas State Bobcats
22 – the number of points SHSU trailed Texas State in the first quarter
One of the most impressive aspects of this is the fact that this was, very early on, a game that Texas State had complete and total control over. And yet, Sam Houston State was able to overcome a 22-point deficit.
The Bearkats overcame the fact that they were in a massive hole early on and completed one of the most impressive comebacks that Sam Houston State football has seen throughout the entirety of its history.
105 – the number of rushing yards from SHSU quarterback Hunter Watson
Texas State isn’t exactly known for having the best defense ever, but it’s fascinating that Sam Houston State quarterback Hunter Watson was able to routinely gash the Bearkats all throughout this game.
Watson was one heck of a fun quarterback in this game and he will continue to be one of the most fun Conference USA quarterbacks to keep up with this season.
3 – the number of touchdowns scored by Bearkats running back Jay Ducker
While Hunter Watson gained most rushing yards than anyone else on Sam Houston’s roster on Saturday, Jay Ducker was still a huge component of Sam Houston’s strategy in mounting a comeback against the Texas State Bobcats.
Ducker was a huge reason why the Bearkats offense was able to get rolling in the second quarter and he was a huge reason why the deficit went from 22 points to 11 points by halftime.
What’s next for Sam Houston State and Texas State?
The Bearkats have a very quick turnaround after this game and they’ll be playing the UTEP Miners in a Conference USA matchup on Thursday. Sam Houston State has a very real chance at setting themselves up for a nice bowl game if they can keep playing like this.
There is still plenty of season left up ahead for GJ Kinne and the Texas State Bobcats, but this has to feel a little deflating, I imagine. This Thursday, Texas State will hit the road to face off against the Troy Trojans.
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