The 2020 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season as a member of the Southland Conference. The Bearkats were led by seventh-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium.
Background In August 2020, the Southland Conference canceled all fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, with the hope that sports would be playable in Spring 2021. That decision canceled all 12 games of the Bearkats' original schedule, putting their season on hold indefinitely. A revised schedule for Spring 2021 was later released.
Preseason Preseason poll The Southland Conference released their spring preseason poll in January 2021. The Bearkats were picked to finish second in the conference. In addition, nine Bearkats were chosen to the Preseason All-Southland Team.
Preseason All–Southland Teams
Offense
1st Team Donovan Williams – Running back, JR Colby Thomas – Offensive lineman, SR Matt McRobert – Punter, RS-SR
2nd Team Eleasah Anderson – Offensive lineman, RS-JR
Defense
1st Team Trace Mascorro – Defensive lineman, SR Joseph Wallace – Defensive lineman, SR
2nd Team Jevon Leon – Defensive lineman, SO Zyon McCollum – Defensive back, SR Jaylen Thomas – Defensive back, SR
Roster
Schedule Sam Houston State had games scheduled against Mississippi Valley State and Tarleton State, but were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In the delayed 2020 season, played in early 2021, the Bearkats went 6–0 in regular season games. The team then won four games in the FCS Playoffs to complete an undefeated 10–0 season, including a 23–21 victory over South Dakota State in the FCS Championship Game, securing the Bearkats their first FCS title.
Rankings
Game summaries No. 18 Southeastern Louisiana
Statistics SELASHSU First downs 27 26 Total yards 536 672 Rushing yards 74 244 Passing yards 462 428 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 33:02 26:58
Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheastern Louisiana Passing Cole Kelley 36/53, 462 yards, 4 TD Rushing Morgan Ellison 12 carries, 29 yards Receiving C. J. Turner 11 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 25/40, 428 yards, 2 TD Rushing Ramon Jefferson 12 carries, 139 yards, TD Receiving Chandler Harvin 7 receptions, 118 yards
No. 7 Nicholls
Statistics NICHSHSU First downs 19 23 Total yards 337 556 Rushing yards 118 190 Passing yards 219 366 Turnovers 4 2 Time of possession 28:54 31:06
Team Category Player StatisticsNicholls Passing Lindsey Scott Jr. 14/35, 186 yards, TD, INT Rushing Dontaze Costly 3 carries, 41 yards Receiving Dai'Jean Dixon 5 receptions, 83 yards, TDSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 21/32, 366 yards, 6 TD, 2 INT Rushing Daryon Triche 5 carries, 60 yards Receiving Jequez Ezzard 3 receptions, 139 yards, 2 TD
At Lamar
Statistics SHSULAM First downs 22 9 Total yards 531 181 Rushing yards 181 28 Passing yards 350 153 Turnovers 4 4 Time of possession 27:57 32:03
Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 19/29, 343 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Donovan Williams 7 carries, 47 yards, TD Receiving Jequez Ezzard 4 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TDLamar Passing Austin Scott 10/19, 123 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jaylon Jackson 6 carries, 40 yards Receiving Jaylon Jackson 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD
At Northwestern State
Statistics SHSUNWST First downs 23 24 Total yards 445 453 Rushing yards 133 43 Passing yards 312 410 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 32:30 27:30
Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 22/41, 312 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Ramon Jefferson 18 carries, 107 yards Receiving Ife Adeyi 6 receptions, 134 yards, TDNorthwestern State Passing Bryce Rivers 29/51, 410 yards, 2 TD Rushing Scooter Adams 13 carries, 34 yards Receiving Javon Antonio 10 receptions, 190 yards, TD
McNeese State
Statistics MCNSHSU First downs 19 19 Total yards 328 392 Rushing yards 37 190 Passing yards 291 202 Turnovers 1 3 Time of possession 30:02 29:58
Team Category Player StatisticsMcNeese State Passing Cody Orgeron 27/42, 291 yards, TD Rushing Cody Orgeron 18 carries, 18 yards Receiving Joshua Matthews 6 receptions, 95 yards, TDSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 12/24, 202 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Eric Schmid 15 carries, 92 yards Receiving Jequez Ezzard 3 receptions, 87 yards
At No. 25 Incarnate Word
Statistics SHSUUIW First downs 29 21 Total yards 599 340 Rushing yards 229 35 Passing yards 370 305 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 32:52 27:08
Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 25/34, 370 yards, TD Rushing Ramon Jefferson 13 carries, 92 yards, TD Receiving Jequez Ezzard 7 receptions, 155 yards, TDIncarnate Word Passing Cam Ward 32/53, 305 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kevin Brown 9 carries, 64 yards Receiving Robert Ferrel 9 receptions, 98 yards
No. 10 Monmouth (FCS First Round)
Statistics MONMSHSU First downs 27 9 Total yards 412 267 Rushing yards 115 134 Passing yards 297 133 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 39:41 20:19
Team Category Player StatisticsMonmouth Passing Tony Muskett 29/46, 297 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Juwon Farri 25 carries, 98 yards, TD Receiving Terrance Greene Jr. 9 receptions, 94 yards, TDSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 12/24, 133 yards, TD Rushing Ramon Jefferson 9 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cody Chrest 8 receptions, 67 yards, TD
No. 6 North Dakota State (FCS Quarterfinals)
Statistics NDSUSHSU First downs 13 16 Total yards 229 317 Rushing yards 139 90 Passing yards 90 227 Turnovers 3 0 Time of possession 30:03 29:57
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Dakota State Passing Cam Miller 7/18, 90 yards, 2 INT Rushing Hunter Luepke 12 carries, 57 yards Receiving Christian Watson 1 reception, 35 yardsSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 25/37, 227 yards, TD Rushing Eric Schmid 10 carries, 36 yards, TD Receiving Noah Smith 10 receptions, 103 yards, TD
No. 1 James Madison (FCS Semifinals)
Statistics JMUSHSU First downs 23 18 Total yards 430 336 Rushing yards 159 118 Passing yards 271 218 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 35:54 24:06
Team Category Player StatisticsJames Madison Passing Cole Johnson 16/26, 271 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Percy Agyei-Obese 24 carries, 98 yards Receiving Antwane Wells Jr. 7 receptions, 89 yards, TDSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 13/27, 218 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Ramon Jefferson 15 carries, 60 yards, TD Receiving Jequez Ezzard 4 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Vs. No. 2 South Dakota State (FCS National Championship)
Statistics SHSUSDST First downs 19 17 Total yards 353 362 Rushing yards 144 239 Passing yards 209 123 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 31:09 28:51
Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston State Passing Eric Schmid 20/37, 209 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ramon Jefferson 16 carries, 96 yards Receiving Jequez Ezzard 10 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TDSouth Dakota State Passing Keaton Heide 11/22, 107 yards, INT Rushing Isaiah Davis 14 carries, 178 yards, 3 TD Receiving Zach Heins 3 receptions, 44 yards
References