Story by
The Huntsville Item, Texas
Bearkats look to fire up run game against Nicholls
- Story byThe Huntsville Item, Texas
- Bearkats look to fire up run game against Nicholls
After being given a golden opportunity to knock off Tulsa, Sam Houston will still be searching for its first win and explosive run game against Nicholls .
This will mark the 36th meeting between the two schools, with most coming as Southland Conference foes. The last time the two teams met was a 71-17 thumping of the Colonels during the spring 2021 season, when the Bearkats went on to win the FCS National Championship.
Advertisement
With Sam Houston now in Conference USA, this has become a buy-game for the Kats and an opportunity to spark the team before going to Lubbock. This should be a win for Sam Houston, if you base it on levels, but nothing is a given.
But it does give the Bearkats a tune-up in multiple areas before opening CUSA play on Oct. 8 with a trip to Liberty .
One of those things is getting the run game going.
Through two games, Sam Houston is averaging just 38 yards per game on the ground. The Kats' season high was 55 yards against Tulsa, and they neglected it on the five-yard line with two timeouts in their pocket.
Advertisement
Against the Golden Hurricane, the Bearkats had more rushing attempts and have 55 on the year, one more than the passing attempts in two games. The problem is success.
If you take out the quarterback rushing stats, which are swayed negatively by sacks, Sam Houston has netted 147 yards on the ground. It still needs to take a step up.
"It goes back to our thoughts on how important it is to have an efficient run game. We have to do it efficiently. It has been erratic; we will rip off a six-yard run and then a one-yard TFL," Sam Houston coach Phil Longo said. "Short yardage was better for us, but we are used to a more explosive run game. I think we have to generate a run game a little earlier."
Sam Houston has two backs they trust in Alton McCaskill and Landan "Coco" Brown for a second consecutive year. Those two guys have proven they can compete on this level, but need that breakout game.
Advertisement
Nicholls is a chance for that.
The Colonels have allowed over 100 yards twice this season, with Kansas State running for 312. Mississippi Valley crossed the century mark in the opener with 149 yards in the opener.
With McCaskill and Brown as the two premier backs, a third has emerged for the squad, with Jerrian Parker Jr. as one lurking.
Parker caught a shovel pass from quarterback Landyn Locke that went for 96 yards and a score. While the play goes down as a pass, it was identical to a run and shows the Bearkats can do it.
They also have the prime opportunity to do it.
"Jerrian is probably the best all-around guy we have," Longo said. "We have two physical backs in Coco Brown and Alton McCaskill. Alton has a fifth gear to him as well, and Coco can be explosive at times. Jerrian is a lighter, quicker back that has natural route-running ability and hands. We've always utilized two or three backs, but all three are competent at each facet of the position."
Advertisement
While the run game needs to tick up, Sam Houston's pass game has been pretty comfortable, with Locke averaging 325 yards per game. The Kats saw multiple guys return that have elevated the pass game.
Chris Reed and Grady O'Neill stand out.
O'Neill, a primary slot guy, leads the team with 12 receptions and 148 yards. Reed hauled in deep passes against Tulsa and caught one near the sideline to keep a drive alive.
Locke has completed 67.5% of his passes this year, and when the game was on the line against Tulsa, Longo left the game in his hands.
That boils down to how Longo wants this team to play offensively across the board.
Advertisement
"I want guys to play instinctively. We want our guys to go out and play without doing a lot of thinking," Longo said. "We recruited them to be athletes. You want to allow guys to play with the speed they have been given. That is where we are with Landyn, and he has taken it to another level. As our tempo gets better, you are going to know that the quarterback is in sync.
Landyn is quickly getting to the point. It's hard for me to explain all the things he has to do, the decisions he has to make and the amount of cerebral work that goes into games. I can't tell you how many times he got me out of a bad call and into a good play. I don't wanna have to be smarter than the DC across the field; that is never gonna happen. You want your quarterback to put you in a better play if we didn't call a great one. I am happy with what we can do with Landyn Locke at the helm."
Sam Houston will search for the first win of 2026 at 6 p.m. Saturday against Nicholls. The game will serve as the Kats homecoming game.
