American college football season
2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football |
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![](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/Sam_Houston_State_word_mark.png/285px-Sam_Houston_State_word_mark.png) |
WAC champion WAC–ASUN Challenge champion |
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Conference | AQ7 |
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Ranking |
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STATS | No. 5 |
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FCS Coaches | No. 4 |
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Record | 11–1 (6–0 AQ7) |
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Head coach | - K. C. Keeler (8th season)
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Offensive coordinator | Ryan Carty (4th season) |
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Offensive scheme | Spread option |
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Defensive coordinator | Clayton Carlin (5th season) |
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Base defense | 4–2–5 |
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Home stadium | Bowers Stadium |
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Seasons |
2021 Western Athletic Conference football standings | Conf | | | Overall |
Team | | W | | L | | | | | W | | L | |
No. 5 Sam Houston $^ | | 5 | – | 0 | | | | | 11 | – | 1 | |
No. 21 Stephen F. Austin ^ | | 4 | – | 1 | | | | | 8 | – | 4 | |
Abilene Christian | | 2 | – | 2 | | | | | 5 | – | 6 | |
Tarleton State * | | 2 | – | 3 | | | | | 6 | – | 5 | |
Dixie State * | | 0 | – | 3 | | | | | 1 | – | 10 | |
Lamar | | 0 | – | 4 | | | | | 1 | – | 9 | |
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- $ – Conference champion
- ^ – FCS playoff participant
- * – Ineligible for FCS playoffs due to transition from Division II
Rankings from STATS Poll |
The 2021 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The Bearkats were led by eighth-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium.
The Western Athletic Conference and ASUN Conference announced the formation of the WAC–ASUN Challenge (AQ7) for the 2021 season on February 23, 2021. The Challenge included the four fully qualified Division I (FCS) members of the WAC (Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston , and Stephen F. Austin) and Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, and Jacksonville State of the ASUN Conference. The winner of the challenge received an auto-bid to the NCAA Division I FCS football playoffs.[1]
Preseason
Preseason polls
WAC Poll
The Western Athletic Conference coaches released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Bearkats were picked to finish first in the conference. In addition, several Bearkats were selected to the preseason WAC Offense, Defense, and Special teams. Eric Schmid was selected preseason offensive player of the year. Jahari Kay was selected defensive player of the year.[2]
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
1 | Sam Houston | 20 (5) |
2 | Stephen F. Austin | 16 (1) |
3 | Tarleton State | 11 |
4 | Lamar | 8 |
5 | Abilene Christian | 5 |
- Note: Dixie State is not included since they are not playing a full WAC schedule due to previous non-conference game contracts. Dixie State players are eligible for individual rewards.
Preseason All–WAC Team
Offense - Eric Schmid – Quarterback, JR
- Ramon Jefferson – Running back, JR
- Ramon Jefferson – Running back, JR
- Jequez Ezzard – Wide receiver, GR
- Isaac Schley – Tight end, GR
- Eleasah Anderson – Offensive lineman, JR
- Prince Pines – Offensive lineman, SO
- Colby Thomas – Offensive lineman, SR
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Defense - Jahari Kay – Defensive lineman, SR
- Trace Mascorro – Defensive lineman, SR
- Joseph Wallace – Defensive lineman, SR
- Quentin Brown – Linebacker, JR
- Trevor Williams – Linebacker, JR
- Zyon McCollum – Defensive back, SR
- Jalen Thomas – Defensive back, SR
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Special teams - Seth Morgan – Kicker, FR
- Matt McRobert – Punter, SR
- Jequez Ezzard – Kick Returner, GR
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AQ7 Poll
The AQ7 coaches also released their preseason poll on July 27, 2021. The Bearkats were picked to finish first in the ASUN-WAC Challenge.[3]
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
1 | Sam Houston State | 49 (7) |
2 | Central Arkansas | 40 |
3 | Jacksonville State | 37 |
4 | Stephen F. Austin | 27 |
5 | Eastern Kentucky | 20 |
6 | Abilene Christian | 15 |
7 | Lamar | 8 |
Roster
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 2 | 8:00 p.m. | at Northern Arizona* | No. 1 | | ESPN+ | W 42–16 | 8,564 |
September 11 | 6:00 p.m. | Southeast Missouri State* | No. 1 | | ESPN+ | W 52–14 | 7,728 |
September 25 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 25 Central Arkansas | No. 1 | | ESPN+ | W 45–35 | 9,475 |
October 2 | 4:00 p.m. | vs. Stephen F. Austin | No. 1 | | ESPN+ | W 21–20 | 25,007 |
October 9 | 2:00 p.m. | Lamar | No. 1 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ESPN+ | W 41–7 | 9,836 |
October 23 | 2:00 p.m. | Jacksonville State | No. 1 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge)
| ESPN+ | W 42–7 | 7,559 |
October 30 | 6:00 p.m. | at Tarleton State | No. 1 | | ESPN+ | W 45–27 | 8,245 |
November 6 | 12:00 p.m. | Dixie State | No. 1 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX
| ESPN+ | W 59–10 | 5,004 |
November 13 | 12:00 p.m. | Eastern Kentucky | No. 1 | - Bowers Stadium
- Huntsville, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge)
| ESPN+ | W 42–28 | 6,570 |
November 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Abilene Christian | No. 1 | | ESPN+ | W 35–9 | 4,421 |
December 4 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 13 Incarnate Word* | No. 1 | | ESPN+ | W 49–42 | 6,722 |
December 11 | 8:30 p.m. | No. 7 Montana State* | No. 1 | | ESPN+ | L 19–42 | 7,565 |
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[4][5]
Game summaries
At Northern Arizona
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 1 Bearkats | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
Lumberjacks | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 16 |
Statistics
Statistics | Sam Houston | Northern Arizona |
First downs | 24 | 20 |
Total yards | 562 | 383 |
Rushing yards | 294 | 91 |
Passing yards | 268 | 292 |
Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
Time of possession | 28:53 | 31:07 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Sam Houston | Passing | Eric Schmid | 21/37, 268 yards, 3 TDS, 1 INT |
Rushing | Ramon Jefferson | 11 carries 143 yards, long 45 yards, 1 TD |
Receiving | Cody Chrest | 7 catches, 106 yards, long 45 yards. |
Northern Arizona | Passing | Jeff Widener | 20/34, 275 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Jeff Widener | 9 carries, 33 yards, long 17 yards |
Receiving | Stacy Chukwumezie | 6 catches, 113 yard, long 54 yards, 1 TD |
Southeast Missouri State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Redhawks | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
No. 1 Bearkats | 7 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 52 |
At No. 25 Central Arkansas
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 1 Bearkats | 14 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 45 |
No. 25 Bears | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
Vs. Stephen F. Austin
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Lumberjacks | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
No. 1 Bearkats | 0 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 21 |
Lamar
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Cardinals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
No. 1 Bearkats | 14 | 6 | 7 | 14 | 41 |
Statistics
Statistics | Lamar | Sam Houston |
First downs | 10 | 24 |
Total yards | 158 | 438 |
Rushing yards | 23 | 267 |
Passing yards | 135 | 171 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 31:39 | 28:21 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
Lamar | Passing | Mike Chandler | 11/18, 135 yards |
Rushing | Chaz Ward | 11 carries, 23 yards, long 8 yards |
Receiving | Jeremy Davis | 2 catches, 52 yard, long 28 yards |
Sam Houston | Passing | Eric Schmid | 13/31, 159 yards, 2 TDS |
Rushing | Noah Smith | 14 carries 120 yards, long 49 yards |
Receiving | Cody Chrest | 4 catches, 81 yards, long 37 yards. |
Jacksonville State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Gamecocks | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
No. 1 Bearkats | 7 | 14 | 21 | 0 | 42 |
At Tarleton State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 1 Bearkats | 14 | 14 | 17 | 0 | 45 |
Texans | 14 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 27 |
Dixie State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Trailblazers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
No. 1 Bearkats | 28 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 59 |
Eastern Kentucky
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Colonels | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 28 |
No. 1 Bearkats | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
At Abilene Christian
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
No. 1 Bearkats | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 9 |
Players drafted into the NFL
References
- ^ "ASUN, WAC form 2021 alliance, seek FCS playoff bid". Verizon Media. February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ "WAC Coaches Select Sam Houston, Schmid, Kay as Preseason Favorites". Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "AQ7 Coaches Select Sam Houston as Preseason Favorite". Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Sam Houston State Bearkats Football Schedule". GoBearkats.com.
- ^ "2021 Sam Houston State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
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Venues | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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National championship seasons in bold |
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I-A/FBS | |
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I-AA/FCS | |
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National championships in bold |
2021 NCAA Division I FCS playoff participants |
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Champion – North Dakota State |