The Bearkats’ closest game of the 2025 season ended in heartbreaking fashion on Thursday night.

Sam Houston rallied to take a late lead but ultimately suffered a 29-27 loss to the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, who connected on a game-winning field goal as time expired. Thursday’s defeat makes six consecutive losses for Sam Houston to begin the 2025 season.  

“This is a very difficult loss,” Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo said. “The staff is seeing the progress in this locker room, that’s the best full four quarter game, I’m not saying it was without mistakes or bad plays but that was the best game we put together as a team.

“We made a few too many mistakes at the end, and it cost us, we played better physically on the line of scrimmage and started controlling the line of scrimmage and that was the improvement going into the second, third and fourth quarter.” 

The Bearkats took the lead with 52 seconds left after a touchdown reception by wide receiver Chris Reed. The Gamecocks got the ball and drove down the field, and kicker Garrison Ripper nailed a 52-yard field goal as time expired.  

Senior quarterback Hunter Watson finished the game with 136 passing yards and three touchdowns. Senior running back Alton McCaskill led the team in rushing with 87 rushing yards and junior wide receiver Chris Reed led the team in receiving with 63 yards and two touchdowns.  The Gamecocks were led by junior running back Cam Cook, who dominated with 218 rushing yards and two touchdowns.  

SHSU struggled early, but after a fumble recovery by linebacker Dean Ford that led to a rushing touchdown by running back Landan Brown, the Bearkats found momentum for the rest of the game.  

“That was one of those things that goes your way in the game and could have been bad for us to not take advantage of it, but we did,” Longo said. “The morale and the momentum shifted, and it was pretty much that way for the remaining course.” 

Sam Houston will take on UTEP on Oct.15 at home. After that, they will travel to face Louisiana Tech.