The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
58°F
Current Conditions
Few clouds
View complete weather report
Subscribe now

Bearkats batter Montana State in quarterfinal

Montana State’s Elvis Akpla, right, makes the reception against Daxton Swanson. (Associated Press)
Montana State’s Elvis Akpla, right, makes the reception against Daxton Swanson. (Associated Press)

HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Richard Sincere had a career game, and Sam Houston State dominated the battle of rushing offenses.

Sincere rushed for a career-high 160 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries as Sam Houston State piled up a season-high 428 rushing yards on Saturday in beating Montana State 49-13 in a Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinal game.

“Richard was on fire,” Sam Houston State coach Willie Fritz said. “He did a sensational job of reading the option and doing what he needed to and pitching it when he needed to. He did a super job.”

The top-seeded Bearkats (13-0) will host Montana in the semifinals either Friday or Saturday. It marks the first trip to the semis for Sam Houston since Montana defeated the Bearkats 34-13 in 2004. The Grizzlies (11-2) beat Northern Iowa 48-10 Friday night to advance to next week’s game.

Sincere caught two passes for 43 yards and a TD, while Torrance Williams rushed for 99 yards and two scores on five carries for the Bearkats.

“We wanted to come out and start fast and find some way to get to next week, so we can be 1-0 again,” Sincere said.

Brian Bell rushed for 63 yards and a TD on four carries for Sam Houston State, and threw for 73 yards and a TD.

The Bobcats (10-3) gained just 77 yards on the ground their second-lowest rushing total of the season.

DeNarius McGhee was 21 of 36 for 272 yards and a TD and Elvis Akpla caught six passes for 100 yards for Montana State, which reached the FCS quarterfinals by defeating New Hampshire 26-25 last week.