Sam Houston State Wins Lonestar Championship

02.28.2023College Men

Sam Houston State held off Texas State in a very busy and challenging Lonestar Conference finals weekend to win the conference.

The tournament featured three games over two days, with shortened quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday and the final on Sunday.

SHSU had little trouble with LeTourneau in the quarterfinals 43-10 while Texas State were challenged by a tough Dallas University side 22-11. UT San Antonio and Southern Methodist also moved on.

Tully Everill scored three tries for Sam Houston in that quarterfinals, while Lane O'Brien scored 11 points with a try and three conversions.

In the semis, Sam Houston beat UTSA 31-7 behind three tries from Etienne Tenie. But it was a weird game in that after Colby Bonds scored in the opening minute for Sam Houston, the game stayed 5-0 until well into the second half. That's when Jaxon Stokley broke through and the floodgates kind of opened up. UTSA managed to get a try over in the final minute.

Meanwhile, once again Texas State had to fight for it, edging Southern Methodist 22-15.

So on to the final. Sam Houston struck quickly with flyhalf Matthew Alvarez going over and Tenie converting. The score remains 7-0 until about midway through the first half when Tenie raced over for a 12-0 lead. Texas State responded with a try but that was answered by Stokley at inside center.

Right before halftime, Texas State scored a key try to inch the score closer at 17-12. The Renegades stormed ahead then with a try right after the break and another to make it 24-17 Texas State with about 20 minutes to go. But SHSU finished strong. At fullback O'Brien scored a try to bring his side within two points, and then power-running No. 8 Corinthian Cormier thundered over. Tenie converted and SHSU held on 29-24.

Along with Tenie, Cormier, Stokley, and O'Brien, outside center Tremel Christian II and flanker Garrett Ros led the defensive effort. New player Joe Nervis Jr. played a solid game on the wing.

"The boys wanted it more," said Sam Houston State Head Coach Ramon Serrano. "Fitness and ball movement were something that kept us on top [as well as] hard running lines, strong defensive sequences. We ran into some card trouble but overcame that."

Quick starts were also the order of the weekend as SHSU scored within the first four minutes in every game.

O'Brien ended the weekend with 16 points and Tenie logged 15. Stokley scored a try in every game for SHSU.