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2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

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2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football
ConferenceConference USA
Record3–9 (2–6 C–USA)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrad Cornelsen (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Co-defensive coordinatorClayton Carlin (7th season)
Co-defensive coordinatorJoe Morris (3rd season)
Base defense4–2–5
Home stadiumBowers Stadium
Seasons
← 2022
2024 →
2023 Conference USA football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 25 Liberty y$   8 0     13 1  
New Mexico State y   7 1     10 5  
Jacksonville State*   6 2     9 4  
Western Kentucky   5 3     8 5  
Middle Tennessee   3 5     4 8  
UTEP   2 6     3 9  
Sam Houston*   2 6     3 9  
Louisiana Tech   2 6     3 9  
FIU   1 7     4 8  
Championship: Liberty 49, New Mexico State 35
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • * – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 Sam Houston Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in Conference USA during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bearkats were led by tenth-year head coach K. C. Keeler. They played their home games at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville, Texas. They were ineligible for a bowl game, the conference championship, or the College Football Playoff due to rules governing transitions from FCS to FBS.[1]

Offseason

[edit]

Transfers

[edit]

Outgoing

[edit]
Player Position Destination
Kam Alexander CB UTSA
Erick Conley DL None

Incoming

[edit]
Player Position Previous Team
Bobby Duncum DL SMU
Grant Gunnell QB North Texas
Rhett Larson OT SMU
Jaden Phillips EDGE New Mexico
Xavier Ward QB Washington State
John Gentry RB Utah State
Akeem Smith DL Georgia State

[2]

Preseason

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Conference USA media poll

[edit]
Conference USA media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Western Kentucky (18)
2 Liberty (4)
3 Middle Tennessee
4 Louisiana Tech
5 New Mexico State
6 UTEP
7 Jacksonville State
T8 FIU
Sam Houston
Source:[3]

Schedule

[edit]

Sam Houston and Conference USA announced the 2023 football schedule on January 10, 2023.

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 29:15 p.m.at BYU*FS1L 0–1459,006
September 97:00 p.m.vs. Air Force*CBSSNL 3–1325,121
September 236:00 p.m.at Houston*
ESPN+L 7–3835,044
September 287:00 p.m.Jacksonville StateESPNUL 28–35 OT14,566
October 56:00 p.m.at LibertyCBSSNL 16–2117,100
October 118:00 p.m.at New Mexico StateCBSSNL 13–2712,812
October 186:00 p.m.FIU
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
CBSSNL 27–33 2OT7,543
October 257:00 p.m.UTEP
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
ESPN2L 34–376,889
November 412:00 p.m.Kennesaw State*dagger
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
ESPN+W 24–217,143
November 112:00 p.m.at Louisiana TechESPN+W 42–2715,080
November 182:30 p.m.at Western KentuckyESPN+L 23–2811,041
November 2511:00 a.m.Middle Tennessee
  • Bowers Stadium
  • Huntsville, TX
ESPN+W 23–205,349

[4]

Game summaries

[edit]

at BYU

[edit]
Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) at BYU Cougars (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 0 0 000
Cougars 7 0 0714

at LaVell Edwards StadiumProvo, Utah

  • Date: September 2
  • Game time: 9:15 p.m. CDT/8:15 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 74 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 59,006
  • Referee: Dan Scanlan
  • TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • (10:39) BYU – Kedon Slovis 5-yard run (Will Ferrin kick) (BYU 7–0; Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:54)
Second quarter
  • No scoring plays
Third quarter
  • No scoring plays
Fourth quarter
  • (14:49) BYU – Kedon Slovis 1-yard run (Will Ferrin kick) (BYU 14–0; Drive: 11 plays, 55 yards, 4:56)
Statistics Sam Houston BYU
First downs 11 12
Plays–yards 57–185 67–257
Rushes–yards 23–38 33–112
Passing yards 147 145
Passing: comp–att–int 18–33–3 20–33–0
Time of possession 28:27 31:33
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston Passing Keegan Shoemaker 18/33, 147 yards, 3 INT
Rushing John Gentry 8 rushes, 19 yards
Receiving Noah Smith 3 receptions, 44 yards
BYU Passing Kedon Slovis 20/33, 145 yards
Rushing LJ Martin 16 rushes, 91 yards
Receiving Darius Lassiter 4 receptions, 43 yards

Vs. Air Force

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Air Force Falcons vs. Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 3 01013
Bearkats 0 0 303

at NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information
First quarter
  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

  • AF – Matthew Dapore 42-yard field goal, 8:36. Falcons 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 5:03.

Third quarter

  • SHSU – Colby Sessums 45-yard field goal, 6:03. Tied 3–3. Drive: 13 plays, 33 yards, 6:49.

Fourth quarter

  • AFA – Matthew Dapore 42-yard field goal, 13:41. Falcons 6–3. Drive: 13 plays, 45 yards, 7:15.
  • AFA – Owen Burk 5-yard run (Matthew Dapore kick), 5:14. Falcons 13–3. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 6:20.
Statistics AFA SHSU
First downs 18 6
Total yards 258 80
Rushing yards 244 36
Passing yards 14 44
Turnovers 1 0
Time of possession 36:38 23:22
Team Category Player Statistics
Air Force Passing Zac Larrier 1/3, 14 yards
Rushing Owen Burk 18 rushes, 75 yards, TD
Receiving John Lee Eldridge III 1 reception, 14 yards
Sam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 8/14, 44 yards
Rushing Zach Hrbacek 10 rushes, 29 yards
Receiving Ife Adeyi 3 receptions, 20 yards

At Houston

[edit]
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Houston Cougars – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 7 0 007
Cougars 10 14 7738

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

Game information
First quarter
  • HOU – Jack Martin 23-yard field goal, 9:05. Cougars 3–0. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 5:55.
  • SHSU – Trapper Pannell 2-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 6:02. Bearkats 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 83 yards, 2:58.
  • HOU – Parker Jenkins 4-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 1:47. Cougars 10–7. Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 4:08.

Second quarter

  • HOU – Parker Jenkins 1-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 7:22. Cougars 17–7. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards, 4:13.
  • HOU – Parker Jenkins 2-yard run (Jack Martin kick), 0:49. Cougars 24–7. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 1:17.

Third quarter

  • HOU – Matthew Golden 6-yard pass from Donovan Smith (Jack Martin kick), 2:59. Cougars 31–7. Drive: 15 plays, 86 yards, 8:42.

Fourth quarter

  • HOU – Stacy Sneed 58-yard pass from Ui Ale (Jack Martin kick), 10:06. Cougars 38–7. Drive: 1 play, 58 yards, 0:10.
Statistics SHSU HOU
First downs 8 27
Total yards 178 538
Rushing yards 52 186
Passing yards 126 352
Turnovers 2 0
Time of possession 25:05 34:55
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing Grant Gunnell 14/22, 100 yards, INT
Rushing Tobias Weaver 6 rushes, 18 yards
Receiving John Gentry 5 receptions, 32 yards
Houston Passing Donovan Smith 31/40, 294 yards, TD
Rushing Parker Jenkins 20 rushes, 105 yards, 3 TD
Receiving Matthew Golden 9 receptions, 92 yards, TD

Jacksonville State

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Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Gamecocks 7 0 714735
Bearkats 14 7 07028

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

Game information
First quarter
  • JVST – Malik Jackson 26-yard run (Alen Karajic kick), 9:47. Gamecocks 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 86 yards, 0:51.
  • SHSU – John Gentry 56-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 8:10. Tied 7–7. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:37.
  • SHSU – Noah Smith 22-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 1:37. Bearkats 14–7. Drive: 3 plays, 38 yards, 1:02.

Second quarter

  • SHSU – Trapper Pannell 3-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 10:20. Bearkats 21–7. Drive: 11 plays, 89 yards, 5:02.

Third quarter

  • JVST – Michael Pettway 31-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Alen Karajic kick), 8:32. Bearkats 21–14. Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 1:46.

Fourth quarter

  • JVST – Logan Smothers 16-yard run (kick failed), 8:44. Bearkats 21–20. Drive: 3 plays, 31 yards, 0:57.
  • SHSU – Trapper Pannell 1-yard run (Colby Sessums kick), 1:11. Bearkats 28–20. Drive: 7 plays, 20 yards, 0:46.
  • JVST – Perry Carter 28-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Logan Smothers pass to Quinton Lane), 0:13. Tied 28–28. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 0:58.

Overtime

  • JVST – Sean Brown 24-yard pass from Logan Smothers (Colby Sessums kick). Gamecocks 35–28. Drive: 2 plays, 25 yards.
Statistics JVST SHSU
First downs 20 25
Total yards 393 435
Rushing yards 196 136
Passing yards 197 299
Turnovers 3 1
Time of possession 17:36 42:24
Team Category Player Statistics
Jacksonville State Passing Logan Smothers 16/28, 197 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Malik Jackson 13 rushes, 129 yards, TD
Receiving Michael Pettway 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Sam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 22/38, 285 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing John Gentry 30 rushes, 97 yards
Receiving Noah Smith 10 receptions, 97 yards, TD

At Liberty

[edit]
Sam Houston State Bearkats at Liberty Flames – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 10 0 6016
Flames 7 14 0021

at Williams Stadium, Lynchburg, Virginia

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT/7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 68 °F (20 °C)
  • Game attendance: 17,100
  • Referee: Rory Brenard
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Chick Hernandez and Robert Turbin
  • Box score, Recap
Game information
First quarter
  • LIB - Kaidon Salter 10-yard run (Nick Brown kick), 12:52. Flames 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 74 yards, 2:02.
  • SHSU - Al'Vonte Woodard 7-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 6:46. Tied 7-7. Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 6:00.
  • SHSU - Colby Sessums 33-yard field goal, 4:27. Bearkats 10-7. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:32.

Second quarter

  • LIB - Quinton Cooley 1-yard run (Nick Brown kick), 14:54. Flames 14-10. Drive: 9 plays, 77 yards, 4:26.
  • LIB - CJ Daniels 51-yard pass from Kaidon Salter (Nick Brown kick), 2:21. Flames 21-10. Drive: 4 plays, 62 yards, 1:15.

Third quarter

  • SHSU - Al'Vonte Woodard 20 yard-pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Keegan Shoemaker pass incomplete), 4:36. Flames 21-16. Drive: 6 plays, 68 yards, 2:48.

Fourth quarter

  • No scoring plays
Statistics SHSU LU
First downs 19 19
Total yards 327 448
Rushing yards 72 191
Passing yards 255 257
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 27:24 32:36
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 27/41, 255 yards, 2 TD, INT
Rushing Keegan Shoemaker 7 rushes, 52 yards
Receiving Noah Smith 13 receptions, 97 yards
Liberty Passing Kaidon Salter 11/19, 257 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Quinton Cooley 17 rushes, 106 yards, TD
Receiving CJ Daniels 5 receptions, 157 yards, TD

At New Mexico State

[edit]
Sam Houston State Bearkats at New Mexico State Aggies – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 0 0 6713
Aggies 14 13 0027

at Aggie Memorial Stadium, Las Cruces, New Mexico

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT/7:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Clear, 80 °F (27 °C)
  • Game attendance: 12,812
  • Referee: Joe Lehring
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn and Robert Turbin
Game information
First quarter
  • NMSU – Diego Pavia 22-yard run (Ethan Albertson kick), 4:46. Aggies 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 87 yards, 6:39.
  • NMSU – Trent Hudson 78-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 1:42. Aggies 14–0. Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:52.

Second quarter

  • NMSU – Ethan Albertson 22-yard field goal, 10:39. Aggies 17–0. Drive: 9 plays, 66 yards, 4:07.
  • NMSU – Ethan Albertson 39-yard field goal, 4:18. Aggies 20–0. Drive: 7 plays, 31 yards, 2:29.
  • NMSU – Trent Hudson 12-yard pass from Diego Pavia (Ethan Albertson kick), 0:27. Aggies 27–0. Drive: 11 plays, 89 yards, 1:42.

Third quarter

  • SHSU – Noah Smith 16-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (pass failed), 5:55. Aggies 27–6. Drive: 2 plays, 18 yards, 0:34.

Fourth quarter

  • SHSU – Noah Smith 6-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 12:01. Aggies 27–13. Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 2:44.
Statistics SHSU NMS
First downs 19 20
Total yards 367 458
Rushing yards 82 172
Passing yards 285 286
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 27:50 32:10
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 32/48, 285 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Keegan Shoemaker 7 rushes, 42 yards
Receiving Malik Phillips 10 receptions, 118 yards
New Mexico State Passing Diego Pavia 20/36, 286 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Diego Pavia 15 rushes, 115 yards, TD
Receiving Trent Hudson 3 receptions, 122 yards, 2 TD

FIU

[edit]
FIU Panthers at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 0 000
Bearkats 0 0 000

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

  • Date: October 18
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game attendance: 7,543
  • TV: CBSSN
Statistics FIU SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
FIU Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

UTEP

[edit]
UTEP Miners at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Miners 0 0 000
Bearkats 0 0 000

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

  • Date: October 25
  • Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
  • TV: ESPN2
Statistics UTEP SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
UTEP Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Kennesaw State

[edit]
Kennesaw State Owls at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Owls 14 7 0021
Bearkats 0 7 71024

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

  • Date: November 4
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny
  • Game attendance: 7,143
  • Referee: Joe Lehring
  • TV: ESPN+
  • Box score, Recap
Game information
First quarter
  • KENN - Michael Benefield 75-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 11:00. Owls 0-7. Drive: 3 plays, 83 yards, 1:03.
  • KENN - Micheal Benefield 3-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 2:13. Owls 0-14. Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:57.

Second quarter

  • SHSU - Noah Smith 24-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 7:18. Owls 7-14. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:35.
  • KENN - Jonathan Murphy 57-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 4:58. Owls 21-7. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:20.

Third quarter

  • SHSU - Elijah Sohn 5-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 0:33. Owls 14-21. Drive: 13 plays, 74 yards, 5:08.

Fourth quarter

  • SHSU - Jay Rockwell 2-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 3:49. Tied 21-21. Drive: 16 plays, 80 yards, 9:24.
  • SHSU - Colby Sessums 35-yard field goal, 0:00. Bearkats 24-21. Drive: 9 plays, 36 yards, 2:59.
Statistics KSU SHSU
First downs 9 27
Total yards 291 347
Rushing yards 247 105
Passing yards 44 242
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 24:06 35:54
Team Category Player Statistics
Kennesaw State Passing Johnathan Murphy 8/14, 44 yards, INT
Rushing Micheal Benefield 11 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD
Receiving Rowan Darnell 2 receptions, 18 yards
Sam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 30/38, 242 yards, 3 TD, INT
Rushing Zach Hrbacek 18 rushes, 50 yards
Receiving Noah Smith 7 receptions, 78 yards, TD

At Louisiana Tech

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Sam Houston State Bearkats at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 7 7 141442
Bulldogs 3 3 14727

at Joe Aillet Stadium, Ruston, Louisiana

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 62 °F (17 °C), SW 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 15,080
  • Referee: Garrett Dickerson
  • TV: ESPN+
Statistics SHSU LT
First downs 19 20
Total yards 413 524
Rushing yards 144 105
Passing yards 269 419
Turnovers 0 4
Time of possession 28:37 31:23
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing Keegan Shoemaker 18/28, 269 yards, TD
Rushing Adrian Murdaugh 9 carries, 67 yards, TD
Receiving Noah Smith 6 receptions, 115 yards
Louisiana Tech Passing Hank Bachmeier 29/42, 384 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Charvis Thornton 2 carries, 48 yards
Receiving Cyrus Allen 7 receptions, 170 yards, TD

At Western Kentucky

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Sam Houston State Bearkats at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bearkats 0 0 000
Hilltoppers 0 0 000

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium, Bowling Green, Kentucky

  • Date: November 18
  • Game time: 2:30 p.m. CST
Statistics SHSU WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Sam Houston State Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Western Kentucky Passing
Rushing
Receiving

Middle Tennessee

[edit]
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Blue Raiders 0 0 000
Bearkats 0 0 000

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

  • Date: November 25
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
Statistics MTSU SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics
Middle Tennessee Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Sam Houston State Passing
Rushing
Receiving

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Becton, Stan (October 24, 2022). "Making sense of FCS conference realignment". NCAA.com. Retrieved December 24, 2022.
  2. ^ "2023 Sam Houston State Bearkats Football Transfers". on3.com. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  3. ^ "FB: CUSA Announces Media's Predicted Order of Finish". July 21, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  4. ^ "2023 Sam Houston Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved December 24, 2022.