Opinion
3 min read

Clash at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium: Sam Houston State Bearkats vs Kennesaw State Owls in Football Showdown

As the Sam Houston State Bearkats prepare to host the Kennesaw State Owls at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium, fans are eager for a turnaround after a challenging season. The Bearkats' performance has been less than stellar, with an 0-8 record that speaks volumes about their struggles on both sides of the ball.


Sep 23, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Sam Houston State Bearkats quarterback Grant Gunnell (8) attempts a pass during the first quarter against the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

In their last outing on October 26 against the UTEP Miners, SHS fell just short with a score of 34-37. Despite this loss, there were positive takeaways for the Bearkats; they showed offensive resilience by amassing 354 total yards and converting all five red zone opportunities into scores. Their passing game was particularly effective with two touchdowns and an average gain of nearly 5 yards per play.


However, defensive woes continue to plague SHS as they failed to record any sacks or quarterback hits against UTEP. This lack of pressure could be detrimental when facing KENN's offense if not addressed promptly.


Looking back further to October 18 against Florida International Panthers (FIU), SHS displayed defensive improvements with four sacks and nine tackles for loss but still came up short in a 27-33 defeat. The offense generated over 400 total yards but struggled on third down conversions which proved costly in maintaining drives.


The most glaring issue for SHS has been consistency; flashes of potential are overshadowed by periods of underperformance during crucial moments in games. Against New Mexico State Aggies on October 12, while they managed two passing touchdowns and avoided turnovers entirely, their inability to convert on third down (only one success out of twelve attempts) hindered their ability to control the game's tempo.


As we look ahead to November 4th's matchup against KENN at home turf where kickoff is scheduled for noon local time (5 PM GMT), it is imperative that SHS capitalizes on its strengths while addressing its weaknesses head-on if they wish to secure their first win of the season.


Fans can catch all the action live from Huntsville or tune into ESPN+ where every play will be broadcasted as these teams battle it out under Texas skies at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.

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