1961 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1961 Sam Houston State Bearkats football Lone Star Conference LSC 8–1 7–0 Paul Pierce 10th Pritchett Field LSC champion The 1961 Sam Houston State Bearkats football team was an American football team that represented Sam Houston State Teachers College (now known as Sam Houston State University) as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1961 college football season. In their tenth year under head coach Paul Pierce, the Bearkats compiled an 8–1 record (7–0 in conference games), won the LSC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 154 to 73. The team played its home games at Pritchett Field in Huntsville, Texas. Schedule 1961 small college AP September 16 l y 1961 Louisiana College Wildcats Louisiana College Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX 3–17 5,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116142700/wildcats-trim-texans-by-173/ Lake Charles American-Press Wildcats trim Texans by 17–3 September 17, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com September 23 w y y 1961 Corpus Christi Tarpons Corpus Christi UCC Stadium Corpus Christi, TX 13–6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116142984/sam-houston-state-edges-tarpons-136/ Corpus Christi Caller-Times Sam Houston State edges Tarpons, 13–6 September 24, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com October 7 w 1961 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets Howard Payne Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX 10–6 4,500 Sam Houston scores 10–6 win https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116143181/sam-houston-scores-106-win/ Victoria Advocate October 8, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com October 14 w y 1961 East Texas State Lions East Texas State Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX 14–0 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116143432/sam-houston-state-tops-east-texas-st/ Wichita Falls Times Sam Houston State tops East Texas St. October 14, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com October 21 w 1961 Texas A&I Javelinas Texas A&I 7 Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX 28–14 7,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116143596/texas-ai-loses-2814-to-bearkats/ Corpus Christi Caller-Times Texas A&I loses, 28–14, to Bearkats October 22, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com October 28 w y Southwest Texas State Evans Field San Marcos, TX 9–7 5,000–6,000 Sam Houston holds lead in Lone Star https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96813646/sam-houston-holds-lead-in-lone-star/ The Abilene Reporter-News October 29, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Southwest Texas State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/670/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association July 4, 2022 November 4 w 1961 Sul Ross Lobos Sul Ross Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX 27–0 5,500 Sam Houston routs Sul Ross with Pope https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116143844/sam-houston-routs-sul-ross-with-pope/ The Abilene Reporter-News November 5, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com November 11 w y 1961 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Stephen F. Austin Memorial Stadium Nacogdoches, TX rivalry 41–16 5,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116144012/sam-houston-smashes-sf-austin/ The Austin American-Statesman Sam Houston smashes SF Austin November 12, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com November 18 w Lamar Tech Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX 9–7 7,300–7,500 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/116144245/sharp-footed-sam-houston-edges-cards/ The Tyler Courier-Times Sharp-footed Sam Houston edges Cards November 19, 1961 January 9, 2023 Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Lamar Tech) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/346/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association January 9, 2023 Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (1961 Sam Houston State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/624/stats/12865 National Collegiate Athletic Association January 9, 2022 1961 Football Schedule https://gobearkats.com/sports/football/schedule/1961 Sam Houston State University January 9, 2023 Statistics The Bearkats gained 2,337 yards of total offense (259.7 per game), consisting of 1,578 rushing yards (175.3 per game) and 759 passing yards (84.3 per game). On defense, they held opponents to 1,603 yards (178.1 per game), including 997 rushing yard (110.8 per game) and 606 passing yards (67.3 per game). The team was led on offense by quarterbacks Calvin Pope and Ken Wigington. Pope led the team in passing (32-for-55, 363 passing yards, three touchdowns, six interceptions) and scoring (58 points, three touchdowns, 16 extra point kicks, eight field goals). Wigington led the team with 435 yards of total offense, consisting of 312 passing yards and 123 rushing yards. The team's leading rushers were Eliseo Villareal (356 yards, 86 carries) and Sammy McDonald (285 yards, 56 carries). The leading receivers were halfbacks Larry May (12 receptions, 163 yards) and Eliseo Villareal (11 receptions, 106 yards). Dave Smith was the team's punter. He had 40 punts for a 34.3-yard average. Awards and honors Two Sam Houston players received first-team honors on the 1961 All-Lone Star Conference football team: tackle Walter Dollar and guard Steve Shaver. Two others were named to the second team: halfback Eliseo Villareal and end Henry Adair. Five others received honorable mention: quarterback Calvin Pope; halfbacks Sammy McDonald and Larry May; fullback Albert Thompson; and center Pat Derrick.Lone Star: Two Hogs Named All-Conference Corpus Christi Caller-Times November 28, 1961 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-lone-star-t/156995599/ Newspapers.com References Sam Houston State Category:Sam Houston Bearkats football seasons Category:Lone Star Conference football champion seasons Sam Houston State Bearkats football