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.
Preseason
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.
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
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
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.
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
Roster
Schedule
Game summaries
At Northern Arizona
Statistics SHSUNAU 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 StatisticsSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 21/37, 268 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ramon Jefferson 11 rushes, 143 yards, TD Receiving Cody Chrest 7 receptions, 106 yardsNorthern Arizona Passing Jeff Widener 20/34, 275 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Jeff Widener 9 rushes, 33 yards Receiving Stacy Chukwumezie 6 receptions, 113 yards, TD
Southeast Missouri State
Statistics SEMOSHSU First downs 13 26 Total yards 306 561 Rushing yards 103 297 Passing yards 203 264 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:14 29:46 Team Category Player StatisticsSoutheast Missouri State Passing C. J. Ogbonna 13/27, 168 yards, TD, INT Rushing Geno Hess 15 rushes, 42 yards, TD Receiving Aaron Alston 3 receptions, 63 yards, TDSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 16/28, 243 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Ramon Jefferson 11 rushes, 153 yards, 2 TD Receiving Cody Chrest 6 receptions, 72 yards, TD
At No. 25 Central Arkansas
Statistics SHSUCARK First downs 23 19 Total yards 478 326 Rushing yards 195 38 Passing yards 283 288 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 33:08 26:52 Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 19/37, 283 yards, 4 TD Rushing Ramon Jefferson 22 rushes, 104 yards, TD Receiving Ife Adeyi 4 receptions, 80 yardsCentral Arkansas Passing Breylin Smith 25/41, 288 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Darius Hale 10 rushes, 36 yards, TD Receiving Tyler Hudson 11 receptions, 181 yards, 2 TD
Vs. Stephen F. Austin
Statistics SHSUSFA First downs 17 16 Total yards 289 311 Rushing yards 67 96 Passing yards 222 215 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 29:31 30:29 Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston Passing Keegan Shoemaker 16/29, 222 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ramon Jefferson 19 rushes, 61 yards Receiving Jequez Ezzard 4 receptions, 74 yards, TDStephen F. Austin Passing Trae Self 17/34, 215 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Miles Reed 16 rushes, 47 yards Receiving Xavier Gipson 9 receptions, 100 yards, TD
Lamar
Statistics LAMSHSU 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 StatisticsLamar Passing Mike Chandler 11/18, 135 yards Rushing Chaz Ward 11 rushes, 23 yards Receiving Jeremy Davis 2 receptions, 52 yardsSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 13/31, 159 yards, 2 TD Rushing Noah Smith 14 rushes, 120 yards Receiving Cody Chrest 4 receptions, 81 yards
Jacksonville State
Statistics JVSTSHSU First downs 15 25 Total yards 319 463 Rushing yards 123 228 Passing yards 196 235 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 28:03 31:57 Team Category Player StatisticsJacksonville State Passing Zerrick Cooper 15/33, 169 yards, INT Rushing Uriah West 7 rushes, 69 yards Receiving Ahmad Edwards 3 receptions, 69 yardsSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 17/30, 227 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ramon Jefferson 14 rushes, 110 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ife Adeyi 3 receptions, 88 yards, TD
At Tarleton State
Statistics SHSUTAR First downs 30 22 Total yards 575 464 Rushing yards 268 61 Passing yards 307 403 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 33:15 26:45 Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 26/38, 307 yards, 5 TD, INT Rushing Ramon Jefferson 23 rushes, 173 yards Receiving Cody Chrest 9 receptions, 148 yardsTarleton State Passing Steven Duncan 25/43, 403 yards, 4 TD Rushing Derrel Kelly III 9 rushes, 19 yards Receiving Tariq Bitson 7 receptions, 130 yards, 2 TD
Dixie State
Statistics DXSTSHSU First downs 18 22 Total yards 298 592 Rushing yards 58 403 Passing yards 240 189 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 29:52 30:08 Team Category Player StatisticsDixie State Passing Kobe Tracy 28/48, 240 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Drew Kannely-Robles 10 rushes, 42 yards Receiving Michael Moten 8 receptions, 93 yardsSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 10/19, 124 yards, TD, INT Rushing Weston Stephens 7 rushes, 90 yards, TD Receiving Derrick Rose 3 receptions, 57 yards
Eastern Kentucky
Statistics EKUSHSU First downs 18 28 Total yards 368 521 Rushing yards 30 129 Passing yards 338 392 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 29:19 30:41 Team Category Player StatisticsEastern Kentucky Passing Parker McKinney 28/45, 338 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kyeaure Magloire 4 rushes, 10 yards Receiving Matt Wilcox Jr. 9 receptions, 103 yardsSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 27/44, 392 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ramon Jefferson 15 rushes, 55 yards, 2 TD Receiving Ife Adeyi 7 receptions, 138 yards, TD
At Abilene Christian
Statistics SHSUACU First downs 21 17 Total yards 424 265 Rushing yards 174 91 Passing yards 250 174 Turnovers 0 1 Time of possession 30:01 29:59 Team Category Player StatisticsSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 18/32, 244 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ramon Jefferson 14 rushes, 86 yards, TD Receiving Jequez Ezzard 5 receptions, 106 yardsAbilene Christian Passing Peyton Mansell 20/35, 130 yards, INT Rushing Davion Johnson 3 rushes, 36 yards Receiving Anthony Smith 6 receptions, 49 yards
No. 13 Incarnate Word (NCAA Divisional I Second Round)
Statistics UIWSHSU First downs 31 30 Total yards 600 556 Rushing yards 119 346 Passing yards 481 210 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 24:28 35:32 Team Category Player StatisticsIncarnate Word Passing Cam Ward 39/61, 481 yards, 5 TD Rushing Kevin Brown 12 rushes, 64 yards Receiving Darion Chafin 11 receptions, 172 yards, 2 TDSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 21/32, 210 yards, TD Rushing Ramon Jefferson 22 rushes, 166 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jequez Ezzard 4 receptions, 60 yards, TD
No. 7 Montana State (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal)
Statistics MTSTSHSU First downs 14 20 Total yards 359 433 Rushing yards 190 79 Passing yards 169 354 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 27:01 32:59 Team Category Player StatisticsMontana State Passing Tommy Mellott 6/11, 165 yards, 2 TD Rushing Isaiah Ifanse 24 rushes, 105 yards, TD Receiving Lance McCutcheon 2 receptions, 98 yards, TDSam Houston Passing Eric Schmid 27/39, 354 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT Rushing Noah Smith 6 rushes, 34 yards Receiving Ife Adeyi 9 receptions, 184 yards, 2 TD
Players drafted into the NFL
5 157 Zyon McCollum DB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
References