Sam Houston Edges Liberty in Week 14 Defensive Struggle
Sam Houston defeated Liberty 20-18 in a tightly contested Week 14 matchup that saw 14 lead changes and featured significant defensive pressure throughout. The Bearkats controlled the game early, scoring 17 points in the first half before Liberty mounted a fourth-quarter comeback that fell just short.
Sam Houston's offense was led by running back Jevyon Ducker, who rushed for 96 yards. Hunter Watson directed the Bearkats' passing attack with key completions including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Simeon Evans in the second quarter, though he also threw an interception during that same period.
Liberty's Kaidon Salter completed 83 passing yards and led a furious fourth-quarter rally, including a notable 33-yard run that resulted in a failed two-point conversion attempt. Receiver Jacob Jenkins caught 9 passes for the Flames.
The game stayed well under the 47.5-point over/under, with neither team scoring in the fourth quarter after Salter's late touchdown drive. Sam Houston's defense made crucial stops, including a game-sealing incomplete pass in the final period, to secure the home victory and cover the 2-point spread.
AI-generated recap · Aug 29, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Liberty | 2 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 18 |
 Sam Houston | 3 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | Liberty | Sam Houston |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 12-37 | 19-34 |
| Pass Yards | 83 | 202 |
| Rush Yards | 179 | 131 |
| Total Yards | 262 | 333 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 3-16 | 5-16 |
| Penalties | 4-20 | 7-45 |
| Possession | 24:42 | 35:18 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Simeon Evans run for 6 yds to the SHSU 31
Jay Ducker run for 15 yds to the SHSU 46 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson pass complete to Ife Adeyi for 15 yds to the LIB 39 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson sacked by Joseph Carter for a loss of 6 yards to the LIB 45
Jay Ducker run for 10 yds to the LIB 35
Hunter Watson pass complete to Simeon Evans for 7 yds to the LIB 28 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson run for 4 yds to the LIB 24
Jay Ducker run for no gain to the LIB 24
Hunter Watson run for 2 yds to the LIB 22
Christian Pavon 39 Yd Field Goal
Quinton Cooley run for 3 yds to the LIB 38
Quinton Cooley run for 4 yds to the LIB 42
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Reese Smith
Max Morgan punt for 46 yds , Simeon Evans returns for no gain to the SHSU 12
Jay Ducker run for 5 yds to the SHSU 17
Jay Ducker run for 5 yds to the SHSU 22 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Ife Adeyi
Jay Ducker run for 6 yds to the SHSU 28
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Simeon Evans
Jadon Cardell punt for 45 yds , Brylan Green returns for 20 yds to the LIB 47
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Reese Smith for 9 yds to the SHSU 44
Quinton Cooley run for 2 yds to the SHSU 42 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Vaughn Blue
Quinton Cooley run for 6 yds to the SHSU 36
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Quinton Cooley for 4 yds Quinton Cooley fumbled, recovered by LIB for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Tyson Mobley
Hunter Watson run for 3 yds to the SHSU 39
Hunter Watson pass complete to Jay Ducker for no gain to the SHSU 39
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Qua'Vez Humphreys
Jadon Cardell punt for 44 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the LIB 24 , Brylan Green returns for 7 yds to the LIB 24
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Elijah Canion
Quinton Cooley run for 2 yds to the LIB 26
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Donte Lee Jr.
Max Morgan punt for 67 yds
Jay Ducker run for 2 yds to the SHSU 3
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Jay Ducker for a SAFETY
Christian Pavon kickoff for 59 yds , Julian Gray return for 15 yds to the LIB 36
Billy Lucas run for 5 yds to the LIB 41
Billy Lucas run for 3 yds to the LIB 44
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Elijah Canion for 6 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Billy Lucas run for a loss of 1 yard to the LIB 49
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Donte Lee Jr.
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Tyson Mobley
Max Morgan punt for 38 yds, fair catch by Ife Adeyi at the SHSU 13
Hunter Watson pass complete to Zach Hrbacek for 2 yds to the SHSU 15
Zach Hrbacek run for 3 yds to the SHSU 18
Hunter Watson pass complete to Simeon Evans for 32 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down Sam Houston Penalty, (-10 Yards) to the SHSU 40 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Noah Smith
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Simeon Evans
Hunter Watson pass complete to Noah Smith for 13 yds to the LIB 47 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Qua'Vez Humphreys
Hunter Watson pass complete to Noah Smith for 8 yds to the LIB 39
Hunter Watson run for 1 yd to the LIB 38
Hunter Watson run for 1 yd to the LIB 37 for a 1ST down
PENALTY SHSU False Start (Larson,Rhett) 5 yards from LU37 to LU42. NO PLAY.
Hunter Watson pass complete to Michael Phoenix II for 21 yds to the LIB 21 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson run for 4 yds to the LIB 17
Simeon Evans 17 Yd pass from Hunter Watson (Christian Pavon Kick)
Liberty Penalty, (Yards) declined
Quinton Cooley run for 3 yds to the LIB 26
Hunter Watson pass complete to Noah Smith for 10 yds to the LIB 21 for a 1ST down
Jay Ducker run for no gain to the LIB 21
Hunter Watson pass complete to Jay Ducker for 17 yds to the LIB 4 for a 1ST down
Jay Ducker run for 2 yds to the LIB 2
Hunter Watson pass complete to Simeon Evans for 2 yds for a TD (Christian Pavon KICK)
Christian Pavon kickoff for 62 yds , Julian Gray return for 28 yds to the LIB 31
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Donte Lee Jr.
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Julian Gray
PENALTY LU False Start (Hall,Jordan) 5 yards from LU31 to LU26. NO PLAY.
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Reese Smith
Max Morgan punt for 46 yds, fair catch by Ife Adeyi at the SHSU 28
Jay Ducker run for 6 yds to the SHSU 34
Jay Ducker run for 2 yds to the SHSU 36
Hunter Watson pass complete to Simeon Evans for 13 yds to the SHSU 49 for a 1ST down
Jay Ducker run for 3 yds to the LIB 48
Hunter Watson pass intercepted
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Reese Smith for 11 yds to the SHSU 40 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Donte Lee Jr.
Quinton Cooley run for 16 yds to the SHSU 24 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Elijah Canion for 4 yds to the SHSU 20
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Treon Sibley for 5 yds to the SHSU 15
Quinton Cooley run for 5 yds to the SHSU 10 for a 1ST down
Elijah Canion 10 Yd pass from Kaidon Salter (Colin Karhu Kick)
Jay Ducker run for no gain to the SHSU 35
Hunter Watson run for 4 yds to the SHSU 39
No Huddle-Shotgun Watson,Hunter pass complete short right to Adksim,Lonnie caught at SHSU48, for 9 yards to the SHSU48 (Sweeney,Jayden) PENALTY SHSU Illegal Touch-Pass (Adksim,Lonnie). NO PLAY.
Jadon Cardell punt for 50 yds , Julian Gray returns for 8 yds to the LIB 19
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Elijah Canion
Billy Lucas run for 2 yds to the LIB 21
End of 2nd Quarter
Christian Pavon kickoff for 64 yds , Julian Gray return for 31 yds to the LIB 32
Quinton Cooley run for 1 yd to the LIB 33
Ryan Burger run for 7 yds to the LIB 40
Ryan Burger run for 1 yd to the LIB 41
Quinton Cooley run for 1 yd to the LIB 42 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 11 yds to the SHSU 47 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 1 yd to the SHSU 46
Ryan Burger run for 5 yds to the SHSU 41
Quinton Cooley run for a loss of 1 yard to the SHSU 42
Ryan Burger pass incomplete to Reese Smith
Jay Ducker run for 4 yds to the SHSU 46
Hunter Watson pass complete to Noah Smith for 9 yds to the LIB 45 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson pass complete to Noah Smith for 7 yds to the LIB 38
Jay Ducker run for 15 yds to the LIB 23 for a 1ST down
Jay Ducker run for 4 yds to the LIB 19
Hunter Watson pass complete to Noah Smith for no gain to the LIB 19
Hunter Watson pass complete to Simeon Evans for 1 yd to the LIB 18 Sam Houston Penalty, (-5 Yards) to the LIB 23
Hunter Watson run for 2 yds to the LIB 21
Christian Pavon 38 Yd Field Goal
Ryan Burger pass incomplete to Julian Gray
Billy Lucas run for 8 yds to the LIB 33
Ryan Burger run for no gain to the LIB 33
Max Morgan punt for 37 yds
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Noah Smith
Jay Ducker run for 4 yds to the SHSU 34
Hunter Watson pass complete to Simeon Evans for 12 yds to the SHSU 46 for a 1ST down
Hunter Watson run for 1 yd to the SHSU 47
Hunter Watson pass complete to Noah Smith for 9 yds to the LIB 44 for a 1ST down
Noah Smith run for 2 yds to the LIB 42
Jay Ducker run for 3 yds to the LIB 39
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Qua'Vez Humphreys
PENALTY LU Offside (Bush,TJ) 5 yards from LU39 to LU34, 1ST DOWN. NO PLAY.
Michael Phoenix II run for a loss of 5 yards to the LIB 39
Hunter Watson pass complete to Ife Adeyi for 8 yds to the LIB 31
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Jay Ducker
Hunter Watson run for 15 yds to the LIB 16 for a 1ST down
Jay Ducker run for 2 yds to the LIB 14
Jase Bauer pass incomplete to Michael Phoenix II
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Noah Smith
Christian Pavon 32 yd FG MISSED
No Huddle-Shotgun Salter,Kaidon pass incomplete short right to Smith,Reese thrown to LU26 PENALTY LU Pass Interference (Lee Jr.,Donte) 10 yards from LU20 to LU10. NO PLAY.
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Donte Lee Jr.
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Reese Smith for 6 yds to the LIB 16
Kaidon Salter pass intercepted
Hunter Watson run for 4 yds to the LIB 26
Jay Ducker run for 3 yds to the LIB 23
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Ife Adeyi
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Simeon Evans
Billy Lucas run for 12 yds to the LIB 35 for a 1ST down
Billy Lucas run for 6 yds to the LIB 41
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Elijah Canion
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Jacob Jenkins for 9 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Jacob Jenkins
Billy Lucas run for 16 yds to the SHSU 34 for a 1ST down
Sam Houston Penalty, (10 Yards) to the SHSU 12 for a 1ST down
Ryan Burger run for a loss of 6 yards to the SHSU 18
Liberty Penalty, (Yards) to the SHSU 25
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Tyson Mobley
Colin Karhu 43 Yd Field Goal
Max Morgan kickoff for 65 yds , Zach Hrbacek return for 26 yds to the SHSU 26
Jay Ducker run for a loss of 2 yards to the SHSU 24
Jay Ducker run for 2 yds to the SHSU 26
Hunter Watson pass incomplete to Simeon Evans
Jadon Cardell punt for 36 yds
Quinton Cooley run for 9 yds to the LIB 47
Quinton Cooley run for 10 yds to the SHSU 43 for a 1ST down
Quinton Cooley run for 5 yds to the SHSU 38
Quinton Cooley run for 5 yds to the SHSU 33 for a 1ST down
Sam Houston Penalty, (15 Yards) to the SHSU 17 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Reese Smith
Kaidon Salter sacked for a loss of 3 yards to the SHSU 20
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Elijah Canion
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Jacob Jenkins
Jay Ducker run for 4 yds to the SHSU 24
Jay Ducker run for 1 yd to the SHSU 25
Hunter Watson run for 1 yd to the SHSU 26
Jadon Cardell punt for 45 yds, punt out-of-bounds at the LIB 36 , Julian Gray returns for 7 yds to the LIB 36
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Tyson Mobley for 5 yds to the LIB 41
Kaidon Salter pass incomplete to Reese Smith
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Tyson Mobley for 3 yds to the LIB 44
Quinton Cooley run for 6 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter pass complete to Treon Sibley for 17 yds to the SHSU 33 for a 1ST down
Kaidon Salter 33 Yd Run (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)
H. Watson takes a knee
H. Watson takes a knee