HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Sam Houston State Bearkats have not lost a game all season.
They claimed the Southland Conference title in convincing fashion and they believe their group has a chance to do what their previous two teams could not do – advance to the FCS title game and win.
These guys got here for a reason, they’re a very good football team,” Sam Houston State head coach K.C. Keeler said.
“I think they are playing some of their best football of the season right now.”
That timing is good as they hope to build on recent playoff success, having reached the semifinals in each of the last two seasons and in the process earning valuable experience.
“The first couple of years, we were kind of young, we didn’t know what to expect going to the playoffs,” defensive end P.J. Hall said.
“But now we’ve all had the experience. We’ve been there, done that, before.”
This marks the Bearkats sixth consecutive trip to the postseason and this year’s group they have what it takes to bring home the big prize.
“Almost all the guys on this team have that bad taste in their mouth from last year against Jacksonville State,” quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe said of the team's 62-10 semifinal loss to the Gamecocks.
“No one wants to let that happen again and that has kind of been the fire that we’ve been using,” Briscoe, the Southland Conference player of the year added.
Briscoe has tossed 52 touchdown passes and over 4,000 yards in their 11 games and the Bearkats are the highest scoring team in the country.
Coach Keeler, who has eight national championship appearances already under his belt, said this team stacks up very well with any he’s coached.
“(They’re) right there with the 2003 national championship team (Delaware), not only talent-wise, but there some chemistry things and leadership,” Keeler said.
Sam Houston hosts Chattanooga on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. on campus at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville.