2014 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

American college football season

2014 Sam Houston State Bearkats football

Southland co-champion
FCS Playoffs Semifinals, L 3–35 vs. North Dakota State
Conference	Southland Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 6
FCS Coaches	No. 6
Record	11–5 (7–1 Southland)
Head coach	K. C. Keeler (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Phil Longo (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Mike Collins (2nd season)
Co-defensive coordinator	Brad Sherrod (1st season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Bowers Stadium
Seasons← 2013 2015 →

2014 Southland Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 6 Sam Houston St +^	7	–	1	11	–	5
No. 14 SE Louisiana +^	7	–	1	9	–	4
Lamar	5	–	3	8	–	4
Stephen F. Austin ^	5	–	3	8	–	5
Central Arkansas	5	–	3	6	–	6
McNeese State	4	–	4	6	–	5
Abilene Christian *	4	–	4	6	–	6
Northwestern State	4	–	4	6	–	6
Incarnate Word *	2	–	6	2	–	9
Houston Baptist	1	–	7	2	–	9
Nicholls State	0	–	8	0	–	12

+ – Conference co-champions ^ – FCS playoff participant * – ineligible for FCS playoffs due to transition from NCAA Division II Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2014 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team represented Sam Houston State University in the 2014 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bearkats were led by first-year head coach K. C. Keeler and played their home games at Bowers Stadium. They are a member of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 11–5, 7–1 in Southland play to finish in a share of the Southland Conference title. They received the Southland's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where they defeated Southeastern Louisiana, Jacksonville State, and Villanova to advance to the Semifinals where they lost to North Dakota State. But, along the way they lost to eventual D-2 Champion CSU-Pueblo.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 23	2:30 pm	at No. 1 Eastern Washington*	No. 17	Roos Field Cheney, WA (FCS Kickoff)	ESPN	L 35–56	10,310
August 30	6:30 pm	Alabama State*	No. 17	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX		W 51–20	7,595
September 6	6:30 pm	at No. 12 (FBS) LSU*	No. 15	Tiger Stadium Baton Rouge, LA	SECN	L 0–56	100,338
September 13	6:30 pm	No. 2 (D-II) CSU–Pueblo*	No. 15	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	BSN	L 21–47	9,678
September 27	7:00 pm	at Lamar		Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont, TX		W 42–10	9,308
October 11	3:00 pm	No. 5 McNeese State		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	SLCTV	W 38–22	8,418
October 18	3:00 pm	at Northwestern State	No. 24	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	SLCTV	L 27–31	7,895
October 25	3:00 pm	Abilene Christian		Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	BSN	W 38–21	7,073
November 1	3:00 pm	vs. No. 24 Stephen F. Austin		Reliant Stadium Houston, TX (Battle of the Piney Woods)	SLCTV	W 42–28	26,788
November 8	6:00 pm	at Incarnate Word		Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium San Antonio, TX		W 40–19	3,476
November 15	3:00 pm	at Houston Baptist		Husky Stadium Houston, TX	FSSW	W 76–0	3,124
November 22	12:30 pm	Central Arkansas	No. 23	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	SLCTV	W 38–31	5,717
November 29	1:00 pm	No. 11 Southeastern Louisiana*	No. 19	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX (NCAA Division I First Round)	ESPN3	W 21–17	4,758
December 6	1:00 pm	at No. 3 Jacksonville State*	No. 19	JSU Stadium Jacksonville, AL (NCAA Division I Second Round)	ESPN3	W 37–26	10,832
December 13	12:00 pm	at No. 5 Villanova*	No. 19	Villanova Stadium Villanova, PA (NCAA Division I Quarterfinal)	ESPN3	W 34–31	2,333
December 19	7:00 pm	at No. 2 North Dakota State*	No. 19	Fargodome Fargo, ND (NCAA Division I Semifinal)	ESPN2	L 3–35	18,025
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

Game summaries

At Eastern Washington

#14 Sam Houston State at #2 Eastern Washington

	1	2	3	4	Total
#14 Bearkats	0	21	0	14	35
• #2 Eagles	7	14	7	28	56

Date: August 23
Location: Roos Field
Cheney, WA
Game start: 12:35 PM PST
Elapsed time: 3:57
Game attendance: 10,310
Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), Sunny, winds NE at 8mph
Referee: Gregg Wilson
TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones, Rod Gilmore, Collin Cowherd, & Jessica Mendoza

Sources:

Scoring summary

1	6:35	EWU	Blair Bomber 3-yard touchdown reception from Vernon Adams, Roldan Alcobendas kick good	EWU 7–0

2	14:51	SHSU	Keshawn Hill 79-yard touchdown run, Luc Swimberghe kick good	Tied 7–7

2	14:34	SHSU	Interception returned 55 yards for touchdown by Trenier Orr, Swimberghe kick good	SHSU 14–7

2	12:04	EWU	Kendrick Bourne 13-yard touchdown reception from Adams, Alcobendas kick good	Tied 14–14

2	10:53	SHSU	Jared Johnson 53-yard touchdown run, Swimberghe kick good	SHSU 21–14

2	6:33	EWU	Jalen Moore 34-yard touchdown run, Alcobendas kick good	Tied 21–21

3	9:28	EWU	Bomber 3-yard touchdown reception from Adams, Alcobendas kick good	EWU 28–21

4	14:50	EWU	Zach Wimberly 1-yard touchdown run, Alcobendas kick good	EWU 35–21

4	12:21	SHSU	Derreck Edwards 6-yard touchdown reception from Johnson, Swimberghe kick good	EWU 35–28

4	8:44	EWU	Cooper Kupp 5-yard touchdown reception from Jordan West, Alcobendas kick good	EWU 42–28

4	5:14	SHSU	Shane Young 1-yard touchdown reception from Johnson, Swimberghe kick good	EWU 42–35

4	3:13	EWU	Bourne 13-yard touchdown reception from Adams, Alcobendas kick good	EWU 49–35

4	0:31	EWU	Moore 1-yard touchdown run, Alcobendas kick good	EWU 56–35

Alabama State

Alabama State at #14 Sam Houston State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hornets	7	3	10	0	20
• #14 Bearkats	14	24	10	3	51

Date: August 30
Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX
Game attendance: 7,595

Sources:

At LSU

CSU-Pueblo

#2 CSU-Pueblo at #15 Sam Houston State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #2 (D-II) ThunderWolves	14	13	17	3	47
#15 Bearkats	0	0	7	14	21

Date: September 13
Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX
Game start: 6:30 PM CST
Game attendance: 9,678
Television network: BSN

Sources:

At Lamar

Sam Houston State at Lamar

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Bearkats	13	6	7	16	42
Cardinals	0	3	7	0	10

Date: September 27
Location: Provost Umphrey Stadium
Beaumont, TX
Game start: 7:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 9,308

Sources:

McNeese State

#5 McNeese State at Sam Houston State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#5 Cowboys	0	7	0	15	22
• Bearkats	14	7	14	3	38

Date: October 11
Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX
Game start: 3:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 8,418
Television network: SLCTV

Sources:

At Northwestern State

#24 Sam Houston State at Northwestern State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#24 Bearkats	14	7	0	6	27
• Demons	7	14	0	10	31

Date: October 18
Location: Harry Turpin Stadium
Natchitoches, LA
Game start: 3:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 7,895
Television network: SLCTV

Sources:

Abilene Christian

Abilene Christian at Sam Houston State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	0	14	0	7	21
• Bearkats	7	17	7	7	38

Date: October 25
Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX
Game start: 3:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 7,073
Television network: BSN

Sources:

Stephen F Austin (Reliant Stadium)

Stephen F. Austin vs Sam Houston State (Battle of the Piney Woods)

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	7	7	7	7	28
• Bearkats	7	14	14	7	42

Date: November 1
Location: Reliant Stadium
Houston, TX
Game start: 3:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 26,788
Television network: SLCTV

Sources:

At Incarnate Word

Sam Houston State at Incarnate Word

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Bearkats	23	7	3	7	40
Cardinals	0	16	0	3	19

Date: November 8
Location: Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium
San Antonio, TX
Game start: 6:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 3,476

Sources:

At Houston Baptist

Sam Houston State at Houston Baptist

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Bearkats	35	20	7	14	76
Huskies	0	0	0	0	0

Date: November 15
Location: Husky Stadium
Houston, TX
Game start: 3:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 3,124
Television network: SLCTV

Sources:

Central Arkansas

Central Arkansas at #23 Sam Houston State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	7	14	0	10	31
• #23 Bearkats	14	10	14	0	38

Date: November 22
Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX
Game start: 12:30 PM CST
Game attendance: 5,717
Television network: SLCTV

Sources:

FCS Playoffs

Southeastern Louisiana (FCS Playoffs First Round)

#11 Southeastern Louisiana at #19 Sam Houston State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Lions	3	7	0	7	17
• #19 Bearkats	0	0	7	14	21

Date: November 29
Location: Bowers Stadium
Huntsville, TX
Game start: 1:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 4,758
Television network: ESPN3

Sources:

At Jacksonville State (FCS Playoffs Second Round)

#19 Sam Houston State at #3 Jacksonville State

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #19 Bearkats	7	17	13	0	37
#3 Gamecocks	14	12	0	0	26

Date: December 6
Location: JSU Stadium
Jacksonville, AL
Game start: 1:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 10,832
Television network: ESPN3

Sources:

At Villanova (FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals)

#19 Sam Houston State at #5 Villanova

	1	2	3	4	Total
• #19 Bearkats	7	10	7	10	34
#5 Wildcats	13	3	8	7	31

Date: December 13
Location: Villanova Stadium
Villanova, PA
Game start: 12:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 2,333
Television network: ESPN3

Sources:

At North Dakota St (FCS Playoffs Semifinal)

#19 Sam Houston State at #2 North Dakota State

	1	2	3	4	Total
#19 Bearkats	0	3	0	0	3
• #2 Bison	7	0	14	14	35

Date: December 19
Location: Fargodome
Fargo, ND
Game start: 7:00 PM CST
Game attendance: 18,025
Television network: ESPN2

Sources:

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
**Legend:** ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	Final
Sports Network	17	15	15	25	RV	RV	RV	24	RV	RV	RV	RV	23	19	6
Coaches	14	13	15	25	RV	RV	RV	25	RV	—	RV	RV	RV	19	6

References

Lenz, John (November 29, 2014). "Sam Knocks Lions Out of Postseason". Daily Star (Hammond). p. 1B. Archived from the original on December 4, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
"Kats advance with 37-26 win at Jax State". Sam Houston State University. December 6, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
"Football - Schedule". Sam Houston State University Department of Athletics. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
"#14 Sam Houston State at #2 Eastern Washington". Stat Broadcast. Retrieved August 23, 2014.

v t e Sam Houston Bearkats football
Venues	Pritchett Field (1912–1985) Bowers Stadium (1986–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games 2024 New Orleans Bowl Stephen F. Austin: Battle of the Piney Woods Texas State
Culture & lore	Sammy Bearkat "Bearkat Fight Song" Bearkat Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Southland Conference football champions
College Division	Lamar Tech (1964) Lamar Tech (1965) Arlington State & Lamar Tech (1966) UT Arlington (1967) Arkansas State (1968) Arkansas State (1969) Arkansas State (1970) Lamar, Louisiana Tech, & Trinity (1971) Louisiana Tech (1972)
Division II	Louisiana Tech (1973) Louisiana Tech (1974)
Division I	Arkansas State (1975) McNeese State (1976) Louisiana Tech (1977)
Division I-A	Arkansas State & Louisiana Tech (1978) McNeese State (1979) McNeese State (1980) UT Arlington (1981)
Division I-AA/FCS	Louisiana Tech (1982) North Texas State & Northeast Louisiana (1983) Louisiana Tech (1984) Arkansas State (1985) Arkansas State (1986) Northeast Louisiana (1987) Northwestern State (1988) Stephen F. Austin (1989) Northeast Louisiana (1990) McNeese State & Sam Houston State (1991) Northeast Louisiana (1992) McNeese State (1993) North Texas (1994) McNeese State (1995) Troy State (1996) McNeese State & Northwestern State (1997) Northwestern State (1998) Stephen F. Austin & Troy State (1999) Troy State (2000) McNeese State & Sam Houston State (2001) McNeese State (2002) McNeese State (2003) Northwestern State & Sam Houston State (2004) Nicholls State & Texas State (2005) McNeese State (2006) McNeese State (2007) Central Arkansas (2008) McNeese State & Stephen F. Austin (2009) Stephen F. Austin (2010) Sam Houston State (2011) Central Arkansas & Sam Houston State (2012) Southeastern Louisiana (2013) Sam Houston State & Southeastern Louisiana (2014) McNeese State (2015) Sam Houston State (2016) Central Arkansas (2017) Incarnate Word & Nicholls (2018) Central Arkansas & Nicholls (2019) Sam Houston State (2020) Incarnate Word (2021) Incarnate Word & Southeastern Louisiana (2022) Nicholls (2023) Incarnate Word (2024)
National championships in bold

v t e 2014 NCAA Division I FCS playoff participants
Chattanooga Coastal Carolina Eastern Kentucky Eastern Washington Fordham Illinois State Indiana State Jacksonville State James Madison Liberty Montana Montana State Morgan State New Hampshire North Dakota State Northern Iowa Richmond Sacred Heart Sam Houston State San Diego South Dakota State Southeastern Louisiana Stephen F. Austin Villanova
Champion – North Dakota State

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