HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 9
Sam Houston held its own and finished as the 21st-ranked scoring defense . They amassed 20.46 points per game and held teams under 14 points five times that season . Cassity led one of the best seasons for the Bearkats as Caleb Weaver and Jaylon Jimmerson each had four interceptions on the year .
Kavian Gaither , Isaiah Cash and David Fisher each had two interceptions for the Kats as the defense was inside the top 10 in college football in the turnover margin at plus 27 on the year .
Sam Houston forced 11 fumbles and recovered 11 over the year and the defensive line also surged .
In 13 games , Sam Houston had 28 sacks and had another 73 tackles for loss this season . With all the pressure in the backfield , teams could never get things going as opponents held them to 144.53 rushing yards per game . But that number was skewered by a 384-rushing yards performance by Central Florida .
Opponents were held to under 100 yards four times as it was an entire defensive effort for the Bearkats on all fronts .
But all that came together as Sam Houston found themselves a Western Kentucky missed field goal away from playing the Conference USA Title game .
As the Conference title was just out of reach , Sam Houston still found itself bowl-eligible and completing a turnaround . Then Keeler was hired as the head coach of Temple University . With the bowl game to go , Sam Houston turned to its offensive coordinator to lead the team as the interim head coach .
Brad Cornelsen took over for the final few weeks of the season and found himself guiding the Bearkats to a victory over Georgia Southern on the Bearkats ’ biggest stage .
Since the bowl win , Sam Houston will still face a lot of uncertainty but they have its head man in place . Athletic director Bobby Williams hired former offensive coordinator Phil Longo to lead this team in its third year of FBS .
Longo will have to retool a staff and create a new roster practically as a good chunk of the roster hits the portal .
But things should remain pointed up for the Bearkats as they enter year three .
Bearkats
HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 9