Phil Longo leans on belief in his team despite shutout loss to No. 8 Texas, vows to fix mistakes ahead of Conference USA season
The scoreboard tells a stark story: on Saturday, September 20, the Sam Houston Bearkats were routed 55-0 by the No. 8 Texas Longhorns at DKR Memorial Stadium in Austin, bumping Sam Houston to 0–4 overall. It was a difficult night for the Bearkats, who never found traction on either side of the ball.
Texas Dominates From the Start
Texas imposed its will early and never relented. The Longhorns rolled up more than 600 yards of offense while holding Sam Houston to just over 100. Quarterback Arch Manning was nearly flawless, completing 18 of 21 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns while also running for two scores. Texas’ defense added to the lopsided result by shutting down the Bearkats’ attempts to sustain drives.
For Sam Houston, quarterback Hunter Watson returned after missing the previous week, throwing for 86 yards and rushing for 32 more. He accounted for most of the Bearkats’ offensive production, but mistakes and pressure from Texas’ front seven kept the offense bottled up. The Bearkats managed only six first downs and were forced to punt nine times.
Longo Doesn’t Sugarcoat It
In the postgame press conference, first-year Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo admitted the defeat was humbling. “I just talked to our guys. We were outclassed tonight,” Longo said. He reflected on the rare magnitude of the loss. “I went and sat in the coach’s locker room for about a minute and a half while we let the team come back in. I tried to think about the last time I’ve been a part of a loss like this. It has been a long, long time.” But Longo stressed that his team did not quit. “I like the fight we have. I like the competitiveness. I like that we don’t change our demeanor regardless of how difficult a game gets.”
The coach drew a line between being overpowered and self-destructing. “There were some things that happened that were negative for us because a player across the line of scrimmage was simply better than we are. When we get beat that way, I can handle it. What I cannot live with is when we give up on a play because of something self-inflicted and we are not playing at our best.” He added, “I don’t think it is an effort issue, but when we don’t play a clean football game, when we make mistakes or we are out of position, that is what we have to correct.”
Asked what the team could take away, Longo emphasized composure. “I hate losing as much as anybody in our locker room, but I think there is a way to handle it. I can punch a hole in the wall, throw a helmet, rant and rave, or I can model what I want our players to do. That means assessing what we did well, what we did wrong, and then burying this game tomorrow after we evaluate it.”
Fighting Until the End
Even in a blowout, Longo saw resilience in his team. “That is probably the best thing about this football team. I did not have to do a lot of talking to keep us in the game. We just kept coaching, correcting fundamental technique, and addressing assignments. At times we played smart football and at times we did not. But never once during the four quarters did I feel like this group had any quit in them.” He said that determination will be key moving forward. “As long as we continue to do that, this team is going to get better every week.”
What Must Be Fixed
Looking ahead to the upcoming matchup with New Mexico State, Longo was clear about priorities. “We have to play cleaner football. It is not an effort issue and it is not about physicality as much as execution. We have to play cleaner football, particularly on offense, but we have things to clean up everywhere.” Special teams, which had been a strength, also faltered. “We had issues with the punt team. We only had one penalty, but we had four plays that were negatively affected because we did not take care of our business. It had nothing to do with Texas. It was about our alignments. Those are things you cannot hand to the other team for free.” Quarterback play is also under review. “We had some mental mistakes and some miscues at quarterback. If we are not ready to go early on, especially with the quarterbacks, which is my responsibility, then that is on me. We are going to take a long look at what we are asking them to do. I can promise you we will get better play from our quarterbacks moving forward.” Longo also praised Watson for his toughness. “Hunter is a fighter. He is a competitor. He cares and lays his body on the line every single week. We are doing our best to keep him healthy, and I thought he did a good job managing some things early in the game.”
Bottom Line
The 55-0 defeat was a harsh reminder of where the Bearkats stand compared with the nation’s elite. They were overpowered, but they also gave away opportunities with unforced errors. Still, Longo remains confident in his roster and his staff. “I believe in my kids without question. I believe in our staff without question. We are going to get a lot fixed in the next couple of weeks.” The Bearkats’ response to this loss, rather than the loss itself, may define their season. Longo has framed the setback as a learning opportunity, and the next two weeks of preparation will reveal how much his program can absorb from a night when everything went wrong.
Looking Ahead
Sam Houston’s next task comes Thursday, October 2, on the road at New Mexico State, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Las Cruces time. That marks the Bearkats’ Conference USA opener, and it offers Longo and his staff their first chance to test adjustments against a league opponent. New Mexico State enters the season with experience in CUSA competition and will be resting familiar with midweek preparations. For Sam Houston, this game is not just about securing a win—it’s about proving that the program can bounce back, clean up mistakes, and begin conference play with momentum.
Phil Longo, Postgame Press Conference
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Houston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Texas | 14 | 17 | 17 | 7 | 55 |
Team Statistics
- First downs: Sam Houston 7, Texas 26
- Total plays-yards: Sam Houston 51 for 113 yards, Texas 69 for 607 yards
- Rushing yards: Sam Houston 27, Texas 264
- Passing yards: Sam Houston 86, Texas 343
- Comp-Att-Int (Passing): Sam Houston 13-25-1, Texas 23-28-0
- Penalties-yards: Sam Houston 6 for 40, Texas 9 for 70
- Time of possession: Sam Houston 26:09, Texas 33:51
- Third down efficiency: Sam Houston 2 of 14, Texas 7 of 11
- Fourth down efficiency: Sam Houston 0 of 2, Texas 0 of 0
Individual Leaders & Notables
- Texas QB Arch Manning: 18 of 21, 309 yards, 3 passing TDs, 0 INT.
- Manning also ran for two touchdowns.
- Texas rushing leader: Christian Clark, 13 carries for 62 yards, 1 touchdown.
- Texas top receiver: Ryan Wingo, 4 catches for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns.
- Sam Houston QB Hunter Watson: 13 of 25, 86 yards, 1 INT.
- Sam Houston’s leading receiver: Landan Brown with 37 yards.
- Attendance: 103,003