Kats blitzkrieg: Sam Houston State rattles off 3 TDs in 2 minutes to take lead in FCS semifinal
At halftime, a comeback Sam Houston State looked to be a tall order in the FCS semifinal.
The Bearkats trailed James Madison 24-3 at halftime, but the home team quickly on a blitzkrieg at the end of the third quarter — in the final 2:22 to be precise — thanks to a pair of huge plays, including a special teams touchdown, from Jequez Ezzard.
Ezzard caught a 69-yard touchdown, then added an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown as Sam Houston pulled within three points.
The scoring flurry happened in the midst of an apparent serious injury to Sam Houston’s Darrel Hawkins-Williams, who lay motionless after a tackle attempt on a kickoff return. He was later carted off the field and ESPN reported that he was transported to a local hospital.
After Ezzard’s touchdowns, QB Eric Schmid ran a pair of his own touchdowns, first a 20-yarder to close the third quarter, and then an 11-yard score to open the fourth quarter. That gave the Bearkats a 38-27 lead.
Earlier in the day, South Dakota State beat Delaware 33-3. SDSU will meet the winner of of the JMU-Sam Houston game next Sunday.
Schmid takes it 20 yards for a BEARKAT TOUCHDOWN!!
KATS LEAD!#EatEmUpKats
📊 https://t.co/GbN18ytVRq
📺 https://t.co/kQ3jJt3Cwc pic.twitter.com/AudLXVEHBX— Sam Houston Football (@BearkatsFB) May 8, 2021
Fear not, Jequez Ezzard is here🤐
80-yard punt return, TOUCHDOWN#EatEmUpKats📊 https://t.co/GbN18ytVRq
📺 https://t.co/kQ3jJt3Cwc pic.twitter.com/M48mzwI5YI— Sam Houston Football (@BearkatsFB) May 8, 2021