Leighton Chamblee
Football
11/14/2024 2:51:00 PM
Story Links
Game 10 • Kennesaw, Ga. • Fifth Third Stadium
Sam Houston (7-2, 4-1 CUSA) at Kennesaw State (1-8, 1-4 CUSA)
Saturday, November 16 • 2:00 PM CT
TV: ESPN+ (Nolan Alexander, Barclay Miller)
RADIO: BSN (Carlos Zimmermann, Brian Adams), Sirius XM 992
HOW TO FOLLOW: Live Stats • @BearkatsFB on X
GAME NOTES: Sam Houston • Kennesaw State
Series vs the Owls: SHSU leads 2-0
KENNESAW, Ga. – With just three weeks left in the regular season, the Sam Houston Bearkats are on a mission to secure their place in the Conference USA Championship Game, beginning with a pivotal showdown against Kennesaw State at Fifth Third Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
Kickoff for the highly anticipated matchup is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CT at Fifth Third Stadium, where fans can watch the game streaming live on ESPN+ with play-by-play commentary by Nolan Alexander and Barclay Miller, alongside sideline reports from Lauren Hoffman. For those wishing to catch the action on the airwaves, the Bearkat Sports Network and Sirius XM Radio 992 will provide coverage featuring Carlos Zimmermann and Brian Adams in the booth.
KATS RETURN TO PLAY AFTER 18-DAY LAYOFF
– Sam Houston currently holds its destiny in its own hands, aiming for a spot in the CUSA Championship Game set for December 6, which will be aired on CBS Sports Network. As it stands, Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State remain ahead in the standings with perfect conference records. However, if the Bearkats can clinch victories in their final three contests – facing Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, and Liberty – they would secure their place in the title game.
– Having not competed since their 9-3 victory over Louisiana Tech on October 29, the Bearkats are eager to return to the field, concluding an 18-day hiatus – the longest among all FBS teams in 2024.
– This Saturday’s clash spotlights two of Conference USA’s newest members, as Sam Houston joined the league last year while Kennesaw State is embarking on its inaugural season in 2024. The Bearkats have successfully completed their two-year transition to the FBS before this season, with the Owls preparing to reach the same milestone prior to the start of the 2025 season.
– The Bearkats have already achieved bowl eligibility, making them the first team in Conference USA in 2024 to do so and marking a significant accomplishment for the program. They join an exclusive group of four NCAA programs that have made the leap from lower divisions to achieve bowl eligibility within two seasons at the FBS level (Jax State, James Madison, Liberty).
– Notably, the Bearkats have claimed 10 victories out of their last 13 games after a tough start to their FBS journey with an 0-8 record in 2023.
– The recent victory over Louisiana Tech was significant for head coach KC Keeler, marking his 95th win with Sam Houston, thus surpassing Paul Pierce to rank second all-time at the university. Both coaches are decorated, having led the Bearkats to national championships, trailing only Ron Randleman’s impressive record of 131 wins.
– Remarkably, the Bearkats made history as the first FBS program to begin a season with an 0-8 record and then win at least seven of their first nine games the following year, a feat last accomplished by Georgia Southern in 2017 and 2018.
– The triumph over Louisiana Tech secured their first winning season at the FBS level, a commendable achievement that marks their 14th winning season in the past 15 years. The Bearkats have not experienced a losing season since 2009 and completed their tenure at the FCS level with a streak of 13 consecutive winning campaigns.
– After finishing 2023 ranked last in Conference USA for rushing statistics, the Bearkats’ ground game has become a considerable strength in 2024. Their offensive strategy has proven effective, as they have yet to surpass 250 passing yards in any game this season and have also not completed more than 19 passes in a single matchup.
– Defensive prowess has been a hallmark of the Bearkats’ recent performances, with opponents managing just a 20% success rate on fourth-down conversions in their past four games. In the recent encounter against Louisiana Tech, the Bulldogs struggled significantly, failing to convert on four fourth-down attempts and surrendering three turnovers.
– A highlight for the defense includes the impressive streak of not allowing an offensive touchdown since the second half of their game against FIU, showcasing their formidable defensive capabilities.
– The Bearkats are tied with Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State for a league-best 18 takeaways this season and have amassed 10 of those turnovers in just the last four games, including four in their dominant victories over UTEP and Louisiana Tech.
– The initial points in the game against Louisiana Tech were credited to the defense when linebacker Kendrick DuJour executed a critical sack on quarterback Evan Bullock in the end zone for a safety – marking the first safety by the Bearkat defense since 2022 at Utah Tech. DuJour’s stellar performance included another sack, joining teammate Chris Murray to establish a rare feat as the only Bearkats with multiple sacks in a single game this season.
– After a slow start in the first half of the season with just 7 sacks in their opening five contests, the Bearkats’ defense has made a significant turnaround, recording 14 sacks across their last four games, propelling them into second place for total sacks in Conference USA.
SERIES HISTORY
– The upcoming matchup against Kennesaw State will mark the third encounter between these two teams, with the previous two meetings taking place on neutral grounds and now being hosted on the Owls’ home turf in Georgia.
– The teams first clashed during the 2017 FCS playoffs and met again in 2023 while both were undergoing transitions to the FBS; both contests ended in victories for the Bearkats, held at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville.
– The trip to Fifth Third Stadium will complete the Bearkats’ journey of visiting three first-time venues in the 2024 season, providing an exciting conclusion to their unique schedule.
– Although Kennesaw State’s interim head coach Chandler Burks is new at the helm, the Bearkats have a history with him on the field. Burks was previously the Owls’ quarterback during their first meeting in 2017, where he contributed with 43 rushing yards and a touchdown, alongside throwing for 120 yards and another score in a closely contested game that the Bearkats won 34-27 in the FCS playoffs.
What strategies has Leighton Chamblee implemented to improve the Bearkats’ offensive performance this season?
**Interview with Leighton Chamblee, Sam Houston Bearkats Offensive Coordinator**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Leighton. With the upcoming game against Kennesaw State, how is the team preparing after an 18-day layoff?
**Leighton Chamblee:** Thanks for having me! It’s been a long break, but the players have been extremely focused and are eager to get back on the field. We’ve used this time to assess our performance, fine-tune our strategies, and ensure that everyone is in top shape both physically and mentally.
**Editor:** The Bearkats have had quite a turnaround after last season’s struggles. What do you attribute that success to this year?
**Leighton Chamblee:** A lot of it comes down to determination and hard work. We’ve got a great group of players who learned from last season’s challenges and didn’t let those setbacks define them. The coaching staff has also done a fantastic job in making adjustments and reinforcing our defensive strategy, which is helping us a lot this year.
**Editor:** Speaking of defense, your unit has been impressive, especially with the recent streak of not allowing an offensive touchdown since the FIU game. How important is defense in your overall strategy?
**Leighton Chamblee:** Defense is crucial for setting the tone of the game. Our defense has been phenomenal and is giving us a lot of confidence. When they perform at that level, it allows us to play smart and be more aggressive on offense, knowing we can rely on them to keep the score down.
**Editor:** As you look toward the Kennesaw State game, what key areas will you focus on to secure a victory and inch closer to the Conference USA Championship Game?
**Leighton Chamblee:** We need to maintain our ground game and ensure that we’re efficient. This season, we haven’t relied on the passing game as much, but it’s essential that we continue to keep that balance. Additionally, we have to capitalize on any turnover opportunities and be solid in our execution on third downs to keep the chain moving.
**Editor:** You’ve mentioned that the Bearkats are already bowl eligible, an exciting milestone. How do you keep the team grounded and focused on the present while also keeping the bigger picture in mind?
**Leighton Chamblee:** We emphasize taking one game at a time. It’s great to have bowl eligibility secured, but our focus is squarely on Kennesaw State right now. We talk about our goals, but the priority is always about executing our game plan and performing to the best of our abilities in each matchup.
**Editor:** Thanks for your insights, Leighton. Best of luck with the game this Saturday—looking forward to seeing how the Bearkats perform!
**Leighton Chamblee:** Thank you! We’re excited and ready to give our best.