Special teams spark 21-17 comeback in Corvallis
CORVALLIS, Ore. — The Sam Houston Bearkats broke through for their first victory of the 2025 season Saturday night, storming back from 17 points down to defeat Oregon State 21-17 at Reser Stadium.
The win was the first for head coach Phil Longo at Sam Houston and his first as a head coach since 2005.
Oregon State (2-8) led 17-0 midway through the second quarter behind two rushing touchdowns from Anthony Hankerson, who finished with 166 yards on 33 carries. Sam Houston (1-8) finally got going late in the half when defensive back Dravon Wilson intercepted Gabarri Johnson, setting up a 35-yard touchdown pass from Mabrey Mettauer to Chris Reed with 1:14 left before halftime.
Sam Houston cut further into the deficit on the opening kickoff of the second half when Tim Burns Jr. raced 98 yards for a touchdown, the Bearkats’ first kickoff return score since 2017.
The game-winner came in the fourth quarter after Lyric Smith blocked a Beaver punt and Brody Henderson recovered it, sprinting 31 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 8:29 remaining.
Oregon State had two chances late, but the Bearkat defense held firm. Tyler Bailey intercepted Johnson with under two minutes to play, and on the Beavers’ final drive Cecil Powell broke up a fourth-down pass near the goal line to seal the win.
Sam Houston was outgained 474-157 in total offense but forced three turnovers and held the Beavers scoreless in the second half. Dylan Frazier led the defense with 13 tackles and one sack. Wilson added a forced fumble and an interception, and C.J. Brown made 10 tackles.
Mettauer completed 4 of 10 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown, while Landyn Locke went 5 of 14 for 42 yards. The Bearkats rushed for 72 yards on 24 carries, led by Elijah Green with 22. Reed caught three passes for 47 yards and the first-half score.
Johnson threw for 286 yards on 29-of-42 passing for Oregon State. David Wells Jr. caught nine passes for 112 yards.
Sam Houston improved its takeaway streak to 27 of its last 28 games and avoided what would have been the program’s first 0-9 start.
The Bearkats return home Nov. 15 to face Delaware at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
Scoring summary:
Oregon St. 10 7 0 0 — 17
Sam Houston 0 7 7 7 — 21
First Quarter
OSU — A. Hankerson 2-yd run (C. Ojeda kick), 11:55.
OSU — C. Ojeda 33-yd FG, 8:00.
Second Quarter
OSU — A. Hankerson 13-yd run (C. Ojeda kick), 6:53.
SHSU — C. Reed 35-yd pass from M. Mettauer (C. Pavon kick), 1:14.
Third Quarter
SHSU — T. Burns Jr. 98-yd kickoff return (C. Pavon kick), 14:42.
Fourth Quarter
SHSU — B. Henderson 31-yd blocked punt return (C. Pavon kick), 8:29.
Team statistics:
First downs — Sam Houston 8, Oregon State 28.
Total offense — Sam Houston 157 (24-72 rush, 9-85 pass); Oregon State 474 (40-188 rush, 29-286 pass).
Fumbles-lost — Sam Houston 0-0, Oregon State 1-1.
Penalties-yards — Sam Houston 6-58, Oregon State 4-35.
Turnovers — Sam Houston 1, Oregon State 3.
Time of possession — Sam Houston 22:05, Oregon State 37:55.
Individual leaders:
Passing — Sam Houston, Mettauer 4-10-0 43 1 TD; Locke 5-14-1 42
Oregon State, Johnson 29-42-2 286.
Rushing — Sam Houston, Green 6-22, Brown 5-19;
Oregon State, Hankerson 33-166-2.
Receiving — Sam Houston, Reed 3-47-1;
Oregon State, Wells Jr. 9-112.
Defense — Sam Houston, Frazier 13 tackles, 1 sack; Brown 10 tackles; Wilson 1 INT, 1 FF; Bailey 1 INT.
Records — Sam Houston 1-8, Oregon State 2-8.
Attendance — 31,626 at Reser Stadium, Corvallis, Oregon.
Weather — Cloudy, 50 degrees, wind NW 3 mph.