Bell’s arm lifts Sam Houston

Saturday, December 8, 2012

— Brian Bell threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns and Sam Houston State cruised to a 34-16 Football Championship Subdivision playoff quarterfinal victory over Montana State on Friday night.

The Bearkats (10-3) took advantage of Jon Ellis’ fumble on a first down reception to take control of the game late in the third quarter. Montana State (11-2) had cut Sam Houston State’s lead to 20-9 on its first drive of the second half only to see the turnover set up a touchdown pass from Bell to Chance Nelson and give Sam Houston State a 27-9 lead.

Sam Houston State running back Tim Flanders had 106 yards on 31 carries.

Richard Sincere scored on a 12-yard run for the Bearkats in the second half. Trey Diller scored on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Bell. The Bearkats led 20-3 at the end of the first half.

Sam Houston State,which shared the Southland Conference championship with Central Arkansas, will face the winner between Eastern Washington and Illinois State.

The Bearkats eliminated Montana State in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year. Last season, the Bearkats routed the Bobcats 49-13 in Huntsville, Texas.

PLAYOFF GLANCE All times Central

NCAA FOOTBALL

CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION SECOND ROUND

Saturday, Dec. 1 Wofford 23, New Hampshire 7 Ga. Southern 24, Cent. Arkansas 16 Old Dominion 63, Coastal Carolina 35 Illinois St. 38, Appalachian St. 37, OT N. Dakota St. 28, S. Dakota St. 3 Sam Houston State 18, Cal Poly 16 Eastern Washington 29, Wagner 19 Montana State 16, Stony Brook 10

QUARTERFINALS Friday’s game Sam Houston St. 34, Montana St. 16 Today’s games Georgia Southern (9-3) at Old Dominion (11-1), 11 a.m.

Wofford (9-3) at N. Dakota St. (11-1), 2 p.m.

Illinois State (9-3) at Eastern Washington (10-2), 5 p.m.

SEMIFINALS Friday, Dec. 14 or Saturday, Dec. 15 Sam Houston State vs. Illinois State-Eastern Washington winner Georgia Southern-Old Dominion winner vs. North Dakota St.-Wofford winner

CHAMPIONSHIP Saturday, Jan. 5 At FC Dallas Stadium, Frisco, Texas Semifinal winners, noon

Sports, Pages 25 on 12/08/2012