2020 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team explained
The 2020 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Bearkats were led by seventh-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium.
Background
In August 2020, the Southland Conference canceled all fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, with the hope that sports would be playable in Spring 2021. That decision canceled all 12 games of the Bearkats' original schedule, putting their season on hold indefinitely.[1] A revised schedule for Spring 2021 was later released.
Preseason
Preseason poll
The Southland Conference released their spring preseason poll in January 2021. The Bearkats were picked to finish second in the conference.[2] In addition, nine Bearkats were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team[3]
| 1 | Nicholls | 67 (7) |
| 2 | Sam Houston State | 65 (6) |
| 3 | Southeastern Louisiana | 48 |
| 4 | McNeese State | 45 (1) |
| 5 | Incarnate Word | 32 |
| 6 | Northwestern State | 20 |
| 7 | Lamar | 17 | |
Preseason All–Southland Teams
Offense
1st Team
- Donovan Williams – Running back, JR
- Colby Thomas – Offensive lineman, SR
- Matt McRobert – Punter, RS-SR
2nd Team
- Eleasah Anderson – Offensive lineman, RS-JR
Defense
1st Team
- Trace Mascorro – Defensive lineman, SR
- Joseph Wallace – Defensive lineman, SR
2nd Team
- Jevon Leon – Defensive lineman, SO
- Zyon McCollum – Defensive back, SR
- Jaylen Thomas – Defensive back, SR
Schedule
Sam Houston State had games scheduled against Mississippi Valley State and Tarleton State, but were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] [5]
In the delayed 2020 season, played in early 2021, the Bearkats went 6–0 in regular season games. The team then won four games in the FCS Playoffs to complete an undefeated 10–0 season, including a 23–21 victory over South Dakota State in the FCS Championship Game, securing the Bearkats their first FCS title.
[6] [7]
Game summaries
No. 18 Southeastern Louisiana
See also: 2020 Southeastern Louisiana Lions football team.
| Statistics | SELA | SHSU |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 26 |
| Total yards | 536 | 672 |
| Rushing yards | 74 | 244 |
| Passing yards | 462 | 428 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:02 | 26:58 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Southeastern Louisiana | Passing | | 36/53, 462 yards, 4 TD |
| Rushing | Morgan Ellison | 12 carries, 29 yards |
| Receiving | C. J. Turner | 11 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TD |
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 25/40, 428 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Ramon Jefferson | 12 carries, 139 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Chandler Harvin | 7 receptions, 118 yards | |
No. 7 Nicholls
See also: 2020 Nicholls Colonels football team.
| Statistics | NICH | SHSU |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 23 |
| Total yards | 337 | 556 |
| Rushing yards | 118 | 190 |
| Passing yards | 219 | 366 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:54 | 31:06 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Nicholls | Passing | | 14/35, 186 yards, TD, INT |
| Rushing | Dontaze Costly | 3 carries, 41 yards |
| Receiving | | 5 receptions, 83 yards, TD |
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 21/32, 366 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Daryon Triche | 5 carries, 60 yards |
| Receiving | Jequez Ezzard | 3 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD | |
At Lamar
See also: 2020 Lamar Cardinals football team.
| Statistics | SHSU | LAM |
|---|
| First downs | 22 | 9 |
| Total yards | 531 | 181 |
| Rushing yards | 181 | 28 |
| Passing yards | 350 | 153 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 27:57 | 32:03 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 19/29, 343 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Donovan Williams | 7 carries, 47 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jequez Ezzard | 4 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD |
| Lamar | Passing | Austin Scott | 10/19, 123 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Jaylon Jackson | 6 carries, 40 yards |
| Receiving | Jaylon Jackson | 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD | |
At Northwestern State
See also: 2020 Northwestern State Demons football team.
| Statistics | SHSU | NWST |
|---|
| First downs | 23 | 24 |
| Total yards | 445 | 453 |
| Rushing yards | 133 | 43 |
| Passing yards | 312 | 410 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 32:30 | 27:30 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 22/41, 312 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Ramon Jefferson | 18 carries, 107 yards |
| Receiving | Ife Adeyi | 6 receptions, 134 yards, TD |
| Northwestern State | Passing | Bryce Rivers | 29/51, 410 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | Scooter Adams | 13 carries, 34 yards |
| Receiving | Javon Antonio | 10 receptions, 190 yards, TD | |
McNeese State
See also: 2020 McNeese State Cowboys football team.
| Statistics | MCN | SHSU |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 19 |
| Total yards | 328 | 392 |
| Rushing yards | 37 | 190 |
| Passing yards | 291 | 202 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 30:02 | 29:58 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| McNeese State | Passing | Cody Orgeron | 27/42, 291 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Cody Orgeron | 18 carries, 18 yards |
| Receiving | Joshua Matthews | 6 receptions, 95 yards, TD |
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 12/24, 202 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Eric Schmid | 15 carries, 92 yards |
| Receiving | Jequez Ezzard | 3 receptions, 87 yards | |
At No. 25 Incarnate Word
See also: 2020 Incarnate Word Cardinals football team.
| Statistics | SHSU | UIW |
|---|
| First downs | 29 | 21 |
| Total yards | 599 | 340 |
| Rushing yards | 229 | 35 |
| Passing yards | 370 | 305 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:52 | 27:08 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 25/34, 370 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Ramon Jefferson | 13 carries, 92 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jequez Ezzard | 7 receptions, 155 yards, TD |
| Incarnate Word | Passing | | 32/53, 305 yards, 2 TD |
| Rushing | | 9 carries, 64 yards |
| Receiving | Robert Ferrel | 9 receptions, 98 yards | |
No. 10 Monmouth (FCS First Round)
See also: 2020 Monmouth Hawks football team.
| Statistics | MONM | SHSU |
|---|
| First downs | 27 | 9 |
| Total yards | 412 | 267 |
| Rushing yards | 115 | 134 |
| Passing yards | 297 | 133 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 39:41 | 20:19 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Monmouth | Passing | | 29/46, 297 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Juwon Farri | 25 carries, 98 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Terrance Greene Jr. | 9 receptions, 94 yards, TD |
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 12/24, 133 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Ramon Jefferson | 9 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD |
| Receiving | Cody Chrest | 8 receptions, 67 yards, TD | |
No. 6 North Dakota State (FCS Quarterfinals)
See also: 2020 North Dakota State Bison football team.
| Statistics | NDSU | SHSU |
|---|
| First downs | 13 | 16 |
| Total yards | 229 | 317 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 90 |
| Passing yards | 90 | 227 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:03 | 29:57 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| North Dakota State | Passing | Cam Miller | 7/18, 90 yards, 2 INT |
| Rushing | | 12 carries, 57 yards |
| Receiving | | 1 reception, 35 yards |
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 25/37, 227 yards, TD |
| Rushing | Eric Schmid | 10 carries, 36 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Noah Smith | 10 receptions, 103 yards, TD | |
No. 1 James Madison (FCS Semifinals)
See also: 2020 James Madison Dukes football team.
| Statistics | JMU | SHSU |
|---|
| First downs | 23 | 18 |
| Total yards | 430 | 336 |
| Rushing yards | 159 | 118 |
| Passing yards | 271 | 218 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 35:54 | 24:06 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| James Madison | Passing | Cole Johnson | 16/26, 271 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Rushing | Percy Agyei-Obese | 24 carries, 98 yards |
| Receiving | | 7 receptions, 89 yards, TD |
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 13/27, 218 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Rushing | Ramon Jefferson | 15 carries, 60 yards, TD |
| Receiving | Jequez Ezzard | 4 receptions, 107 yards, TD | |
Vs. No. 2 South Dakota State (FCS National Championship)
See also: 2020 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team and 2021 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game.
| Statistics | SHSU | SDST |
|---|
| First downs | 19 | 17 |
| Total yards | 353 | 362 |
| Rushing yards | 144 | 239 |
| Passing yards | 209 | 123 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:09 | 28:51 |
|
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
|---|
| Sam Houston State | Passing | Eric Schmid | 20/37, 209 yards, 3 TD |
| Rushing | Ramon Jefferson | 16 carries, 96 yards |
| Receiving | Jequez Ezzard | 10 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD |
| South Dakota State | Passing | Keaton Heide | 11/22, 107 yards, INT |
| Rushing | | 14 carries, 178 yards, 3 TD |
| Receiving | Zach Heins | 3 receptions, 44 yards | |
Notes and References
- Web site: Southland Conference postpones fall sports, no football for NSU . ArkLaTexHomepage . 28 August 2020 . 13 August 2020.
- Web site: Nicholls Favored to Win Southland Football Spring Season . www.southland.org . 8 August 2021 . en.
- Web site: Southland Announces 2020 Preseason All-Conference Football Teams . www.southland.org . 8 August 2021 . en.
- Web site: Visser . David . SWAC Suspends Fall Football Season. FBSchedules.com . July 20, 2020 . July 21, 2020.
- Web site: Tarleton State Postpones Football Season Until Spring. 2020-08-10. NBC DFW. en-US.
- Web site: 2020-21 Sam Houston State Bearkats Football Schedule. 7 August 2021.
- Web site: Sam Houston State Bearkats . ESPN . 7 August 2021.
