SHSU

[purplestorm]

This will be a tough game in the midst of a tough stretch of six games. Tougher than Missouri State, La Tech or SLU? No, but tough nonetheless. In order to get over the hump staring our football team in the face, we must begin to win games like this one at home. Can we beat them? Yes. Will we? We shall see. They are playing very well right now and seem to have corrected their issues that hindered them in a home loss to a very good DII team -- Colorado State-Pueblo. My keys to victory, which mean absolutely nothing, are to focus on stopping the run. Johnson (QB), Overstreet (transfer RB from Texas) and Hill (RB) are a formidable trio and they run the ball much better than they throw it. With that being said, they have about three guys that can flat out catch the ball, too. One being LaDarius Brown, a transfer from TCU. Sam is a team filled with transfers, much like SLU. Their QB is a lot like Bennett at SLU, too.  Only Johnson is faster. It's our job to stop them as often as we can, keep the turnovers to a minimum and win special teams in order to give ourselves a chance to win the game. Should be a great matchup as both teams are closely ranked in the Gridiron Power Index and Massey Ratings Service.

[Cajundemon11]

Sam took in a boatload of transfers?? Thats weird, not usually their style…(kidding). It'll be an interesting game for sure, they are not better than La Tech so we have a better chance than we've had in the last few years but I still give the Kats the edge on saturday, although I still think we play well. They really lucked out with their conference schedule, all 3 of the newbies and no SLU. Must be nice.

SHSU 35
NSU 28

[purplestorm]

If the NSU team that beat La Tech shows up, at home, Sam can pack it in. If the Sam team that lost to CS-Pueblo shows up, they can pack it in, yet again. Conversely, if the NSU team that lost to SLU and Missouri State and the Sam team that beat Lamar and McNeese shows up, we'll have to regroup next week on the road against UCA. Whew! The Southland Conference is pretty dadgum tough.

[purplestorm]

Sam fans are saying we don't have a dressing room for opposing teams. Uh, we've had one since 1977, it's clean and well kept. It is small, I'm told, but bigger than some we've encountered in our travels. Hopefully they'll stop trying to find peripheral ways to compare themselves to us and let the two teams work it out on the field. And they must understand, the days of them owning us are coming to an end. This year? Next year? Who knows, but soon. In saying all this, I respect Sam and think they are a worthy opponent and have accomplished some wonderful things over the past few years. May the best team Saturday win.

[Cajundemon11]

Wouldn't waste your time on their message boards, saying we don't have a visitor locker room is the dumbest knock on us I've ever heard. Its right there on the north end of the west stands..where its always been. Some of the biggest assholes on the AGS site are Sam fans. Granted its not all of them, but wow the few turds on there make them easy to hate.

[Bearkat41]

This should be a good game. The Kats seem to be getting better each week, but nobody has forgotten the Pueblo disaster. If the Kats keep building on what they have done the last two games then I think SHSU has a pretty good chance to walk away with a win. If the play and play calling from a few weeks ago shows up, it could be an ugly game for the Kats.

[Cajundemon11]

Oct 16, 2014 17:17:35 GMT Bearkat41 said:

This should be a good game. The Kats seem to be getting better each week, but nobody has forgotten the Pueblo disaster. If the Kats keep building on what they have done the last two games then I think SHSU has a pretty good chance to walk away with a win. If the play and play calling from a few weeks ago shows up, it could be an ugly game for the Kats.

I give the Kats a 70% chance to win in my mind. Sam can clearly compete with the elite of FCS, and we just aren't at that level yet. Frtiz built this powerhouse run game and you can't just abandon that in one year. Not saying the run and shoot won't work but the run game is still the strength of Sam (from what i've seen). I don't think we are a pushover by any means but my gut is going with a Kat win on saturday. 

[purplestorm]

Gridiron Index and Massey Ratings have us favored by about a field goal. Sagarin has Sam favored by about a touchdown. All that means nothing come 3pm Saturday. That's why we let the kids play the game and we watch and enjoy. Should be a great game.

[mcneese75]

The Demon passing game will play a major role in this game. Sam's strength is their running game but their secondary has been lit up by good passing QB's.

[purplestorm]

Good luck against Abilene. I think the Cowboys will rebound nicely at home.

[kats89]

Oct 16, 2014 17:17:35 GMT Bearkat41 said:

This should be a good game. The Kats seem to be getting better each week, but nobody has forgotten the Pueblo disaster. If the Kats keep building on what they have done the last two games then I think SHSU has a pretty good chance to walk away with a win. If the play and play calling from a few weeks ago shows up, it could be an ugly game for the Kats.

Well its good to see that Keeler and Longo had the brains to go back to what has worked with this team and that's the running game. When this part of the game is clicking, Kat offense is pretty unstoppable.    Lets just hope they continue this trend to open up the passing game.

Defense has looked like a totally different unit the last two games. They have really been getting after the opponent. PJ Hall and Darion Flowers have been playing like mad men. Secondary has improved somewhat. Kids are flying all over the place. This should be a good game to watch.

[purplestorm]

It's all going to boil down to which NSU and SHSU teams show up. NSU held SLU, at their place, to 235 yards offense. SLU's offense is ranked higher than SHSU's. Not saying SHSU can't be better than SLU on a given day, mind you. If NSU's offense and defense show up tomorrow, it will be a long day for your Bearkats. If SHSU's complete package shows up and we falter on one side or both, it will be a long day for us. Will be fun to watch. Hope both teams can come out of this game healthy and enjoy the rest of the season. Good luck.

[Bearkat41]

I think slu is overrated. I wasn't overly impressed with their offense last year and it's not as good this year. They're a good offense but Bennett is in my opinion very overhyped.

I expect your defense to be stout but personally I think that the results you had against slu were a combo of a good defense matching up against a decent offense. I can tell you that if our coaches will call a smart game you will see that Johnson is a much more deadly qb than Bennett with his speed. If the gameplan calls for him to keep throwing deep balls then you will think I am a nut job as he will likely look pretty bad.

[purplestorm]

I've seen Johnson play on TV a couple of times. He's very good. I also agree with your assessment, but remember, Sam and SLU have one common opponent thus far and that is Lamar in Beaumont. They put up 61 and Sam put up 42. To be fair, their defense gave up 30 something and Sam's only 10. So, I'm not sure they're overrated. I think Johnson is faster than Bennett, but I'm not sure he's better than Bennett on the whole. I think Sam has better RB's and WR's on paper, though. No doubt. SLU is more of a "system" offense and Sam is more of a "playmaker" offense, if you will. Our defense will have its work cut out, for sure. Our offense will have to help them out in order to have a chance.

[SLC Observer]

The Demons matchup with Sam a lot better than McNeese does, especially their defense vs Sam's offense. McNeese has a small front seven and vulnerable to being pushed around. NW is bigger and has more team speed. I expect Mike Lucas to try and make Sam one dimensional, and I expect he'll have success doing it. Johnson is a horrible passer, especially if he's got to fit balls into tight coverage. If the Demons can string together some offense, I like their chances of winning this game at home.