Bearkats to play Texas Southern at BBVA Compas Stadium

After a shocking loss to Central Arkansas, the Sam Houston State Bearkats (1-2) look to bounce back tonight against Texas Southern University (1-3) at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

The Bearkats lead the Tigers with an all-time record of 8-5. The last time the two teams met were in 1997 and Sam Houston won 40-7. The Bearkats are 6-26-2 in their 97 years of playing football in Houston.

Both teams are in desperate need of a win. Texas Southern has lost three games in a row to North Texas, Jackson State and Alabama A&M after defeating Prairie View A&M in their season opener. The Bearkats are coming off of two consecutive road losses against Baylor and Central Arkansas.

Giving up leads in the second half has been somewhat of a problem for the Bearkats this season. They led Baylor 20-10 at halftime and even received the ball to begin the half, but could not hold the lead.

Last Saturday, the Kats led the Bears of UCA with the same score, but this time there were only five minutes left in the game before the Bearkats gave up two touchdowns for the loss.

The loss against UCA ended Sam Houston’s nine-game winning streak against Southland Conference (SLC) opponents. The Bearkats will have a chance to get back in the win column of the SLC when they face their greatest rival, Stephen F. Austin, at the “Battle of the Piney Woods,” at Reliant Stadium in Houston on Oct. 6.

Since the first time the annual game has been played in Reliant Stadium in 2010, both teams have walked away with a win.

For the time being, however, SFA will face UCA this weekend while the Bearkats play the Tigers. In order for UCA to move back down in the SLC standings, they would need to lose to SFA.

For once, Sam Houston students will be rooting for the dreaded Lumberjacks to get a win over the Bears before meeting them in Houston next weekend.

Tonight’s game will be streamed live courtesy of Texas Southern on www.southland.org/southlandtv . Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.