FCS title game will be influenced by many Houston high school products

The Sam Houston State Bearkats energized their alumni and fan base on December 16 when they held off Montana State, 31-28, in the NCAA FCS Division national semifinal game to earn the school’s first-ever berth in the national championship game.

With the win, they also guaranteed that metropolitan Houston would have several former area high school players in the national title game that will be played at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco on January 7.

But, what may surprise some is that the Bearkats’ opponent—the North Dakota State Bison—will be powered by a trio of contributors who played at Houston-area high schools as well.

The FCS national championship will have a distinct Houston influence to it.

Sam Houston State has 25 players on its roster that played high school football at Houston-area schools. Five of the 25 played at Galveston Ball before heading north to Huntsville, including sophomore Richard Sincere, who is the second-leading rusher on the team with 965 yards and all-purpose yards with 1,414.

Sincere’s versatility has been a key to the Bearkats’ offensive success this season.

“We try to find some ways to get the ball in his hands,” said SHSU head coach Willie Fritz during a recent conference call. “Richard has had some very good games for us and an outstanding season.”

Another Ball grad, junior defensive back Kenneth Jenkins, is the second-leading tackler on the team.

Freshman running back Keyshawn Hill from Klein, who has gained 330 yards on 53 carries, leads a contingent of four Klein ISD former players who are on the team. Three graduates of both Cy-Fair ISD and Conroe ISD dot the roster as well.

Kicker Craig Alaniz, who has connected on 10 of 11 field goals and 39-40 extra point attempts, hails from Deer Park.

While North Dakota State’s collection of Houston-area players is much smaller—three—they’ve been important contributors to the Bison’s success.

D.J. McNorton, Warren Holloway and Aireal Boyd could all play significant roles in Saturday’s game as well. And, according to NDSU head coach Craig Bohl, it’s no coincidence that the trio found their way to North Dakota.

“We have recruited specifically the greater Houston area,” Bohl stated. “That's where our Texans are from.”

It is a move that has paid dividends for Bohl.

McNorton, a senior running back from Channelview, enters the game as the Bison team leader in all-purpose yards. He has 981 rushing yards, 210 receiving yards and another 183 yards in returns.

Holloway, a senior wide receiver from Galena Park who has been dubbed ‘Big Tex’ by his teammates, is the team’s leading receiver and will have an opportunity to surpass the 1,000-yard plateau on Saturday. Holloway has 75 receptions for 988 yards and eight touchdowns this year.

For Bohl, the fact that this year’s championship game will be played in Frisco, which is north of Dallas, carries an added meaning for McNorton and Holloway.

“Anytime you have a person, a student‑athlete from the state of Texas, to be able to go home and have an opportunity to show their skills and their program off to their relatives and friends, I think it's extremely important,” he said.

Aireal Boyd, a junior cornerback from La Porte, hasn’t started any of NDSU’s 14 games this year, but he has appeared in every one on defense and special teams.

Family members for the players from both teams will definitely be on-hand when the game kicks off at noon on Saturday. And with the total number of Houston players on the field, chances are good that those family member and friends will see a local product factor into the outcome of the contest.

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January 7, 2012