Sports Update For Week Of Sept. 3

BEARKATS GET FIRST DIVISION I-A FOOTBALL WIN

After the Cajuns tied the game 14-14 on a two-yard Jerome Coleman run with 0:43 to play in the third, the Bearkat offense dominated the fourth quarter. The Bearkats held the ball for 10:12 minutes, first scoring the winning touchdown, then running out the clock to clinch the victory.

Senior quarterback ALBERT BRADLEY, who missed the 1998 season with an ankle injury, then played in seven games last season as back-up quarterback, showed outstanding leadership and ability in directing the Bearkat offense. In the second quarter, Bradley led the Bearkats on a 14 play, 93-yard drive. MATT DOMINGUEZ scored the touchdown on a two-yard pass from Bradley. Then, in the fourth period, Bradley took advantage of a 21-yard punt return by JARON DABNEY to the Cajun 35 to direct a seven play scoring drive that ended with a three-yard Dabney touchdown. Finally, the offense whittled away the final 3:06 of the game, picking up two big first downs to close out the victory.

Following Saturday's game, Foster was named as Southland Football League Special Teams "Player of the Week."

Sam Houston State's 21-14 victory over University of Louisiana at Lafayette marked the third year in a row the Bearkats have won their season opener. SHSU defeated Angelo State 27-26 to start the 1998 season and Delta State 38-31 to begin last year.

THURSDAY NIGHT HOME OPENER

Prior to last year's season opener, Sam Houston State had not played a home game on a Thursday night since 1984. The Bearkats have played a total of 15 games on Thursdays in their 84 years of football. Sam Houston State is 11-3 in games on Thursdays. SHSU has never lost in Huntsville on a Thursday night. Besides last year, the Kats defeated Stephen F. Austin in a Thursday night TV game at Pritchett Field in 1984 and went unbeaten in six Thanksgiving Day home games between 1926 and 1947.

Since Sam Houston State moved up to the NCAA Division I-AA level in 1986, the Bearkats have won 15 of their 19 games against NCAA Division II opponents. Last year, SHSU defeated Delta State of the Gulf South Conference 38-31 in Huntsville and Texas A&M-Kingsville of the Lone Star Conference 34-24 in Kingsville. The Javelinas were the last NCAA Division II team to defeat the Bearkats, winning 16-10 in Huntsville in 1998.

VOLLEYBALL TEAM OPENS TUESDAY

The SHSU women started the 2000 season with three tough losses to top national teams in the UTSA/Hampton Inn Volleyball Classic hosted by Texas-San Antonio Friday and Saturday. Sam Houston State fell in three games to Oregon and Wyoming and lost in four games to Mississippi.

CROSS COUNTRY MEET STOPPED BY LIGHTNING

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Media Contact: Paul Ridings
Sept. 3, 2000
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