Senior Elivs Akpla's remarkable catch on Saturday ranked No. 3 on ESPN's Top 10 for the day.
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
MSU Season Ends on Plains of East Texas
12/10/2011 2:07:00 PM | Football
Sam Houston State races past Bobcats 49-13
Sam Houston State's Brandon Closner returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter, answering a half-opening Bobcat touchdown and giving the top-seeded Bearkats all the points and momentum they would need in a 49-13 win over Montana State in Huntsville, Tex., on Saturday.
Everett Gilbert had scored on a seven-yard run on the first drive of the third quarter to pull MSU within 21-13, but Closner's kick return stemmed the tide and boosted SHSU into a semifinal matchup next weekend. After talking about the Bearkats' speed all week, Ash said that burst proved decisive.
“That kickoff return was the big play of the game,” Ash said after his team finished its first 10-win season since 1984. “I thought we had a good drive to open the second half, scoring a touchdown was huge, and they grabbed all the momentum. That play was huge.”
That score launched the Bearkats on a string of three touchdowns in three possessions, and except for a missed field goal they scored on their first four drives of the second half. SHSU all-purpose back Richard Sincere finished with 160 yards rushing on the afternoon, and another 43 receiving. SHSU rushed for 428 yards.
The game didn't start as a Sam Houston runaway. Montana State's defense began fast, forcing three-and-outs on early possessions and keeping the Bearkats off the scoreboard until late in the quarter. With the Bobcats leading 3-0, Bell found Grant Merritt for an 11-yard touchdown. That play capped an eight play, 81-yard scoring drive.
After a Bobcat drive that produced a field goal, Bell scampered 41 yards for the second Bearkat score of the half and a 14-6 lead. The big play of the half came with two-and-a-half minutes remaining. Bell's third-and-long pass bounced off Na'a Moeakiola's hands and right to Richard Sincere for a touchdown. Cunningham missed one long field goal and had another blocked in the second quarter.
The day's highlight play came in the second quarter, when Elvis Akpla made an acrobatic snag that set up an unsuccessful field goal try. The senior finished with his third consecutive 100-yard receiving day, catching six balls for exactly 100 yards. DeNarius McGhee finished 21-for-36 for 272 yards. Jody Owens led the Bobcats with seven tackles.
Everett Gilbert had scored on a seven-yard run on the first drive of the third quarter to pull MSU within 21-13, but Closner's kick return stemmed the tide and boosted SHSU into a semifinal matchup next weekend. After talking about the Bearkats' speed all week, Ash said that burst proved decisive.
“That kickoff return was the big play of the game,” Ash said after his team finished its first 10-win season since 1984. “I thought we had a good drive to open the second half, scoring a touchdown was huge, and they grabbed all the momentum. That play was huge.”
That score launched the Bearkats on a string of three touchdowns in three possessions, and except for a missed field goal they scored on their first four drives of the second half. SHSU all-purpose back Richard Sincere finished with 160 yards rushing on the afternoon, and another 43 receiving. SHSU rushed for 428 yards.
The game didn't start as a Sam Houston runaway. Montana State's defense began fast, forcing three-and-outs on early possessions and keeping the Bearkats off the scoreboard until late in the quarter. With the Bobcats leading 3-0, Bell found Grant Merritt for an 11-yard touchdown. That play capped an eight play, 81-yard scoring drive.
After a Bobcat drive that produced a field goal, Bell scampered 41 yards for the second Bearkat score of the half and a 14-6 lead. The big play of the half came with two-and-a-half minutes remaining. Bell's third-and-long pass bounced off Na'a Moeakiola's hands and right to Richard Sincere for a touchdown. Cunningham missed one long field goal and had another blocked in the second quarter.
The day's highlight play came in the second quarter, when Elvis Akpla made an acrobatic snag that set up an unsuccessful field goal try. The senior finished with his third consecutive 100-yard receiving day, catching six balls for exactly 100 yards. DeNarius McGhee finished 21-for-36 for 272 yards. Jody Owens led the Bobcats with seven tackles.
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