Spring 2021 Playoff Preview: Sam Houston State

The Jackrabbits head to Texas to take on Sam Houston State in the FCS Championship in Frisco.  Sam Houston is coming in with a perfect 9-0 record.  Sam Houston is balanced on offense, plays aggressive defense, and can be explosive on special teams.  K.C. Keeler led Delaware to a National Title in 2003 and has rebuilt an always tough Sam Houston team that used to be more finesse but now is built to win in the trenches.  

Offense

The Sam Houston offense puts up an outstanding 39 points per game through a balanced attack.  On the ground they go for 160 yards per game and through the air 290.  They possess the ball for only 28:25 per game but are converting on 42% of their down conversions, and have scored on 37 of 43 attempts in the redzone with 28 being touchdowns.  

The straw that stirs the drink of the Sam Houston offense is #3 Eric Schmid (6-1, 180).  He is an accomplished passer and may be even more dangerous with his legs.  He has a 60.42% completion percentage for 2,599 yards and 17 TD along with 9 interceptions.  Schmid has also rushed for 504 gross yards (383 net) for 8 TD. I've watched him in both the NDSU game and the JMU game and he is a heck of a player.  The Jacks have prepped the last three weeks for a very mobile quarterback so they should be prepared for what Schmid can bring to the table.  Lobanowitz from SIU had plenty of success, Henderson from Delaware had some, and Sluka from Holy Cross had very little.  Schmid is probably a step up from all of those players so the defense will have to be ready.

When Schmid drops back to pass he has weapons all of the field.  #89 Cody Chrest (6-1, 195) is the big bodied receiver of the group and he leads the team with 40 receptions for 460 yards and 2 TD.  The next two guys are a bit more electric. #12 Jequez Ezzard (5-9, 190) has 28 receptions for 753 yards, a 26.89 ypc average, and 7 TD. He has also carried the ball 4 times for 33 yards and a TD.  Ezzard turned the tide of the game last week with his punt return and 69 yard TD reception.  #2 Ife Adeyi is no slouch either.  He has 25 receptions for 515 yards and 2 TD and has 7 carries for 52 yards and 2 TD.  This trio is dangerous and really unlike any group of receivers the Jacks have faced this season.  SIU did have a pretty good trio by the end of the season but I'm not sure if they can match the athleticism that SH brings to the table.  At tight end, #16 Isaac Schley (6-5, 250) has 15 receptions of his own for 185 yards. 

The Bearkats do more than pass the ball in 2021 and feature two impressive running backs.  #4 Ramon Jefferson (5-10, 210) has 110 attempts for 656 yards and 7 TD.  His partner, #6 Noah Smith (5-10, 175), has 32 attempts for 126 yards and 1 TD but it is his working the passing game that is most impressive.  He has 27 receptions for 258 yards and 4 TD. Against NDSU he had 10 receptions alone for 103 yards and a TD. 

The offensive line for Sam Houston is BIG.  From left to right they go #75 Eleasah Anderson (6-4, 345), #76 Prince Pines (6-5, 340), #57 Ethan Hagler (6-2, 290), #52 Colby Thomas (6-2, 305), and #66 D'Ary Patton (6-4, 300). Patton became the starter after a season ending injury to Moses Johnson.  This group allowed 3 sacks last week to JMU but pitched a shutout against NDSU the week prior.  ON the year they have allowed just 15 sacks.  They are good and Schmid is good enough to escape when he needs to.

Defense

The Sam Houston defense is the area that has improved the most over the past few years.  They bounce between a 3 and 4 man front and play with 5 defensive backs on the field most of the time.  They have a whopping 37 sacks on the season and the pressure comes from many different guys.  In their opening round victory over Monmouth they had 6 sacks, just 1 against NDSU, and then 5 against JMU. Opponents are scoring 19.44 ppg, have 79 ypg on the ground, and pass for 277.5 ypg.  The most points they have given up this season is 38 back in February to SELA and 35 last week against JMU.  They are stout.

Up front they are experienced, big, quick, and nasty.  #33 Markel Perry (6-2, 210) and #55 Jahari Kay (6-2, 255)  are explosive bookends.  Perry has 37 tackles, 13 TFL, and 6.5 sacks.  He is the player who will also stand up and play as a 3-3 linebacker when they align in that formation.  Kay has 35 tackles, 13 TFL, and 6 sacks along with 1 INT, 1 PBU, 3 QBH, and 4 forced fumbles.  The interior is anchored by #95 Joseph Wallace (6-1, 300) who impressed me with his quickness vs. NDSU.  He has 30 tackles, 8.5 TFL, and 2.5 sacks.  He is flanked by #90 Trace Mascorro (6-1, 270) who has 10 stops, 2 TFL, and 1.5 sacks on the year. Key reserves are #94 Jevon Leon (6-3, 255), #92 Scean Mustin (6-3, 225), and #97 Chris Scott (6-1, 275).  Leon has 19 tackles, 6 TFL, and 4 sacks.  Mustin and Scott have 10 and 7 tackles and a combined 5.5 sacks.    

The linebackers for SHU make plays all over the field.  #1 Trevor Williams (5-8, 205) leads the team in tackles with 79, has 14 TFL, has 3 sacks, and 4 PBU.  He is undersized but truly a gifted player.  He is joined by #8 Quentin Brown (6-1, 215) who is third on the team in tackles with 57 to go along with 8 TFL, and 4 sacks.  Again, Perry does drop back and play linebacker at times.  His backup is #42 Jaylen Phillips (6-2, 210) and he has 13 tackles, 5 TFL, and 1 sack, INT, PBU, QBH, and Fumble Recovery. #50 Ysidro Mascorro (5-11, 210) has 17 stops in the year and a sack in a reserve role. This group is all over the place.  

The secondary for the Bearkats has been tested against some of the best aerial assaults in the country given that they play in the Southland.  #22 Zyon McCollum (6-4, 195) is a big corner who has 43 tackles, 1 INT, 6 PBU, and 2 forced fumbles.  Opposite him is #9 Jaylen Thomas (5-10, 170) who has 24 tackles, a sack, 1 INT, and 5 PBU.  This senior duo is a good one and will make it a challenge to move the ball through the air.   #13 Isaiah Downes (6-0, 180) is a rover between the safety and slot position and has 32 tackles, 2 INT, and 6 PBU of his own.  The backups are #17 Ke'Shon Murray (5-10, 170) and #21 Kameryn Alexander (6-0, 170) both look like exceptional athletes with Murray have 20 tackles and 2 PBU and Alexander having 16 tackles and 8 PBU of his own.

The starting safties are #36 Braiden Clopton (5-10, 170) and #23 Tristin McCollum (6-3, 185).  Clopton is second on the team with 62 tackles, 2 TFL, and a fumble recovery.  McCollum has 46 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT, and 2 PBU. #5 Darrel Hawkins-Williams (5-10, 190) has 18 tackles this season.     

Special Teams

The Sam Houston special teams units have been all over the place these playoffs.  Against NDSU they allowed a kick return, a punt return, and had a safety on a punt.  It was truly a wreck.  Against JMU it felt like they changed the tide of the game with the punt return.  We'll see which version the Jackrabbits get.  

Handling the place kicking duties is freshman #87 Seth Morgan.  On the season he is 11 for 13 with a long of 44.  He has had one blocked.  #37 Cameron Hearn handles the kick off duties and on 64 attempts he has a 56.2 average with just 17 touchbacks.  It appears that Sam Houston is trying to trap opponents inside the 25.  #47 Matt McRobert has 35 punts for a 42.43 yard average, long of 59, has just 3 touchbacks, and has forced 11 to be fair caught.  He also has 14 that have landed inside the 20 and 5 that have traveled 50+ yards.  Sam Houston has allowed just 54 punt return yards on 12 attempts outside of the 76 yard return vs. NDSU.   

The return game is dynamic for the Kats.  #12 Jequez Ezzard has two 80 yard punt returns on the season and still has a 9.4 yard average on his other 15 attempts.  Dinkel will have to give plenty of time for the coverage units to get down the field.  The kick return game is lead by reserve defensive back #21 Kameryn Alexander and he has a 21.5 yard average with a long of 56.  

Prediction

The Jackrabbit defense has stood up to every test that has been thrown their way this spring.  It hasn't always been pretty but they have gotten the job done.  The Jackrabbit offense has been dominant since the stinker against YSU.  The rain in the forecast also needs to be monitored.  As always, I'm picking the Jacks to win 30-27 in an instant classic.

How to Watch

The game is now sold out.  If you don't plan to watch from Frisco then the game will air on ABC at 1pm.

Go Jacks!

Matt