The Sam Houston Bearkats are finally in the win column.
Sam Houston was the second last FBS program to pick up its first victory of 2025, leaving UMass as the only remaining winless team after Week 11.
The Bearkats stormed into Corvallis, OR and scored 21 unanswered points, stunning Oregon State in a 21-17 upset. It marked the first victory for Phil Longo as an FBS head coach and the first victory for Sam Houston since the 2024 New Orleans Bowl — 324 days prior.
Despite the end result, a quick glance at the box score would suggest a comfortable Oregon State victory. The Beavers out-gained the Bearkats 474-157, limiting Sam Houston to a 9-of-24, 85-yard showing through the air and a 72-yard performance on the ground. Yet turnovers and special teams proved to be the great equalizers in this Pac-12 vs. CUSA matchup.
Oregon State crafted a 17-0 lead in the middle of the second quarter on an Anthony Hankerson rushing score. Hankerson nearly recorded his second-straight 1,000-yard season Saturday night, generating 166 yards and two touchdowns on 33 attempts to increase his season total to 969.
Right when Hankerson and the Beavers’ offense were preparing to extend the margin of separation past 17, disaster struck in Sam Houston territory. Quarterback Gabarri Johnson’s pass deflected off his targets hands and into those of Sam Houston cornerback Dravon Wilson. Wilson recorded a 36-yard return, and one play later, the Bearkats ended their scoring drought on a 35-yard connection from Mabrey Mettauer to Chris Reed.
Trailing 17-7 at halftime, Sam Houston started the third quarter with the ultimate bang. After offsetting penalties caused a re-kick, Tim Burns Jr. fielded the second half kickoff and navigated through a sea of black jerseys to find daylight. Burns sprinted 98 yards to the house, marking Sam Houston’s first kick return touchdown since joining the FBS in 2023.
Then with 8:29 remaining in the fourth quarter, special teams saved Sam Houston once again. Lyric Smith blocked an Oregon State punt and Brody Henderson scooped it up for a 31-yard return. That play secured a 21-0 run to hand Sam Houston its first lead on the road since Aug. 23, and it was in unconventional fashion — scoring on a 1-play, 35-yard drive off an interception and two special teams touchdowns.
Oregon State’s offense could not overcome the special teams woes. Johnson threw an interception on the ensuing drive, and on the Beavers’ last opportunity, they failed to convert 4th and 5 from the Sam Houston 23. The Bearkats broke up the pass in crunch time, allowing backup quarterback Landyn Locke to take the first victory formation kneeldown of 2025.
Oregon State (2-8, 1-0 Pac-12) produced another horrific special teams outing, which has become a theme in this disappointing season. The Beavers have now seen five field goals and two punts get blocked this year. They finished 1-of-3 on field goals Saturday night in a 4-point defeat and surrendered 14 of their 21 points allowed on special teams.
Sam Houston (1-8, 0-5 CUSA) can finally let out a sigh of relief after claiming its long-awaited first win of Longo’s tenure. The Bearkats similarly started 0-8 two years ago and finished strong by winning three of their last four. Sam Houston looks for a similar improvement trajectory in 2025 with Delaware, Middle Tennessee, and FIU remaining on the CUSA docket.
