Courtesy of gobearkats.com

100th Anniversary of first Kat game Oct. 6

When Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin duel in the 87th "Battle of the Piney Woods" in Reliant Stadium Saturday, Oct. 6, the contest will be more than another contest in the annual rivalry game and a meeting between the two teams listed one and two in the preseason Southland Conference preseason poll.
The date also will mark the 100th anniversary of Sam Houston State University's first football game.

The Rice Owls defeated Sam Houston 20-6 on Oct. 6, 1912 in Huntsville.

Dr. S. R. Warner, who had come to Huntsville as an instructor in the biology department and had played football as a student at William & Mary, served as volunteer coach for the first two Sam Houston football teams in 1912 and 1913.

The first team consisted of 19 players whose average height and weight were 5-8 and 150 pounds.

Lynn Baldwin scored Sam Houston's first touchdown on a five-yard run for the team's only points against Rice. Baldwin never punted but passed out of bounds on fourth down. Under 1912 rules, the opponent would take over possession where the pass crossed the sideline.

The Sam Houston football team won their next two games, defeating Bryan Baptist Academy 27-6 and Blinn College 18-6. Lon Morris College defeated Sam Houston 19-7 in the final game of the year. All three games also were played in Huntsville.

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