American college football season
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 .
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]
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]
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
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[ edit ] 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
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
Special teams
Seth Morgan – Kicker, FR Matt McRobert – Punter, SR Jequez Ezzard – Kick Returner, GR
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]
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
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance 8:00 p.m. at Northern Arizona * No. 1 ESPN+ W 42–168,564 September 11 6:00 p.m. Southeast Missouri State * No. 1 ESPN+ W 52–147,728 September 25 4:00 p.m. at No. 25 Central Arkansas No. 1 ESPN+ W 45–359,475 October 2 4:00 p.m. vs. Stephen F. Austin No. 1 ESPN+ W 21–2025,007 October 9 2:00 p.m. Lamar No. 1 Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX ESPN+ W 41–79,836 October 23 2:00 p.m. Jacksonville State No. 1 Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge) ESPN+ W 42–77,559 October 30 6:00 p.m. at Tarleton State No. 1 ESPN+ W 45–278,245 November 6 12:00 p.m. Dixie State No. 1 Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX ESPN+ W 59–105,004 November 13 12:00 p.m. Eastern Kentucky No. 1 Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (WAC/ASUN Challenge) ESPN+ W 42–286,570 November 20 1:00 p.m. at Abilene Christian No. 1 ESPN+ W 35–94,421 December 4 2:00 p.m. No. 13 Incarnate Word * No. 1 ESPN+ W 49–426,722 December 11 8:30 p.m. No. 7 Montana State * No. 1 ESPN+ L 19–427,565
[ 4] [ 5]
At Northern Arizona [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total No. 1 Bearkats 7 14 14 7 42 Lumberjacks 0 7 9 0 16
Statistics
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
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
Southeast Missouri State [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Redhawks 7 7 0 0 14 No. 1 Bearkats 7 24 14 7 52
At No. 25 Central Arkansas [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total No. 1 Bearkats 14 17 0 14 45 No. 25 Bears 7 7 14 7 35
Vs. Stephen F. Austin [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total Lumberjacks 10 3 7 0 20 No. 1 Bearkats 0 6 0 15 21
1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 7 0 0 7 No. 1 Bearkats 14 6 7 14 41
Statistics
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
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.
1 2 3 4 Total Gamecocks 7 0 0 0 7 No. 1 Bearkats 7 14 21 0 42
1 2 3 4 Total No. 1 Bearkats 14 14 17 0 45 Texans 14 0 0 13 27
1 2 3 4 Total Trailblazers 0 0 3 7 10 No. 1 Bearkats 28 17 7 7 59
1 2 3 4 Total Colonels 0 0 14 14 28 No. 1 Bearkats 7 14 14 7 42
At Abilene Christian [ edit ] 1 2 3 4 Total No. 1 Bearkats 14 14 7 0 35 Wildcats 0 3 6 0 9
Players drafted into the NFL [ edit ] ^ "ASUN, WAC form 2021 alliance, seek FCS playoff bid" . Verizon Media. February 23, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021 . ^ "WAC Coaches Select Sam Houston, Schmid, Kay as Preseason Favorites" . Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021 . ^ "AQ7 Coaches Select Sam Houston as Preseason Favorite" . Western Athletic Conference. July 27, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021 . ^ "2021 Sam Houston State Bearkats Football Schedule" . GoBearkats.com . ^ "2021 Sam Houston State Football Schedule" . FBSchedules.com . Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021 .
Venues Bowls & rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold