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.
Quick Facts Sam Houston Bearkats football, WAC championWAC–ASUN Challenge champion ...
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More information Conf, Overall ...
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More information Conf, Overall ...
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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 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]
More information Predicted finish, Team ...
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 |
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- 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]
More information Predicted finish, Team ...
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 |
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More information Players, Coaches ...
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More information Date, Time ...
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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| 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]
At Northern Arizona
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 1 Bearkats |
7 |
14 |
14 |
7 |
42 |
Lumberjacks |
0 |
7 |
9 |
0 |
16 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, Sam Houston ...
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
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 |
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Southeast Missouri State
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Redhawks |
7 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
No. 1 Bearkats |
7 |
24 |
14 |
7 |
52 |
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At No. 25 Central Arkansas
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 1 Bearkats |
14 |
17 |
0 |
14 |
45 |
No. 25 Bears |
7 |
7 |
14 |
7 |
35 |
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Vs. Stephen F. Austin
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Lumberjacks |
10 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
20 |
No. 1 Bearkats |
0 |
6 |
0 |
15 |
21 |
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Lamar
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Cardinals |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
No. 1 Bearkats |
14 |
6 |
7 |
14 |
41 |
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Statistics
More information Statistics, Lamar ...
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 |
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More information Team, Category ...
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. |
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Jacksonville State
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Gamecocks |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
No. 1 Bearkats |
7 |
14 |
21 |
0 |
42 |
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At Tarleton State
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 1 Bearkats |
14 |
14 |
17 |
0 |
45 |
Texans |
14 |
0 |
0 |
13 |
27 |
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Dixie State
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Trailblazers |
0 |
0 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
No. 1 Bearkats |
28 |
17 |
7 |
7 |
59 |
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Eastern Kentucky
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
Colonels |
0 |
0 |
14 |
14 |
28 |
No. 1 Bearkats |
7 |
14 |
14 |
7 |
42 |
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At Abilene Christian
More information Total ...
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
No. 1 Bearkats |
14 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
35 |
Wildcats |
0 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
9 |
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More information Round, Pick ...
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