Bearkat football team pops Colonels with heated play, 41-0

Playing all four quarters and finishing was the motto for the Bearkats in Sam Houston State University’s conference matchup against Nicholls State University Saturday.

“The main point of this game was coach said is play four quarters,” junior linebacker Jesse Beauchamp said. “Last game and all the other games we played good at times, in quarters, but we never really finished the game. This is the first game we actually came out and played hard every quarter and did what we needed to do.”

SHSU offense scored 41 unanswered points and posted 451 total yards against NSU’s defense as quarterback Brian Bell became SHSU’s second all-time leader in passing touchdowns after completing two touchdowns and led the SHSU offense with 180 passing yards. Along with Bell, running back Timothy Flanders claimed the title of the all-time leading scorer in SHSU football history with 270 total career points.

“[We] did a good job playing four quarters,” Coach Willie Fritz said. “We did a really good job offensively controlling the clock. In this day and age it’s really hard to get a shut out.”

The Bearkats were slow to attack in the first half with a scoreless first quarter. Flanders broke the scoreless matchup with a two yard touchdown rush early in the second quarter. The junior running back would strike two more times in the third quarter to add to his total of 67 rushing yards on the night.

“We went down the field early on them,” Flanders said. “We actually scored in the red zone…we just kept going, [and] kept rolling.”

Bell’s first of two passing touchdowns came in the second quarter with a five yard completion to receiver Melvis Pride after driving 46-yards down field. Bell would connect for 18-yards with receiver Chance Nelson in the last seconds of the third quarter to give the Bearkats a 38-0 lead going into the fourth quarter.  

“We really weren’t worried about the score,” Flanders said. “We just wanted to keep going out there and keep driving the ball [and] take the time off the clock and keep scoring touchdowns.”

Junior linebacker Jesse Beauchamp, who was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week,  headed the Bearkat defense. The Bearkats held  NSU to only 258 total yards. Beauchamp had six tackles and two assists including a sack for a loss of eight yards.

Early in the game NSU abandoned their running game to combat SHSU’s dominant defensive line.

“That’s what our defense is set up to do,” Beauchamp said. “We stopped the run early so they become one dimensional and just pass the ball. We’re used to a lot of teams doing that so we were ready for it.”

Overall the Bearkat defense racked up five sacks for a loss of 29 yards as well as containing NSU’s offense to 17 first downs.

“We just played assignment sound when it counted and it worked out good,” Beauchamp said.

This Saturday the Bearkats return home to line-up against conference rival McNeese State University for SHSU’s homecoming.

“We’ve had a touch stretch of five games on the road basically here after the beginning of the season,” Fritz said. “Finally we get to go back home.”

This past Saturday the Cowboys lost in a close match 26-27 to Central Arkansas at home. Currently McNeese is 4-2 overall but is 1-2 in conference.

Last year SHSU overmatched the Cowboys with a 38-14 victory. According to Beauchamp to continue to be victorious for the rest of the season the Bearkats need to have repeat performances similar to Saturday’s. 

“The job we did [against NSU] needs to keep happening,” Beauchamp said. “We just need to keep doing what we’re doing.”

Kickoff against McNeese state will be underway 7 p.m. at Bowers Stadium.

For tickets and more information, visit www.gobearkats.com.