Sam Houston bowl eligible after shift to FBS

Oct 22, 2024, 11:22 PM ET

MIAMI– Jase Bauer tossed for 76 yards and rushed for 72 more in his very first career start for Sam Houston, and the Bearkats held off Florida International 10-7 on Tuesday night to become bowl eligible in their first season following a two-year transition to the FBS.Sam Houston (6-2, 3-1 Conference USA) becomes the fourth successive program to make the transition up and become bowl eligible within the first two seasons of remaining in the FBS, signing up with Jacksonville State (2023 ), James Madison (2023) and Liberty (2018 ).

Sam Houston opened the scoring with 6:38 left in the 3rd quarter when DJ McKinney scored from 1-yard out. The 3-yard drive was set up by Jaylon Jimmerson’s obstructed punt and return. FIU responded to with a 12-play, 65-yard drive ending in Chayden Peery’s 25-yard scoring pass to Eric Rivers to tie it at 7-all.

Christian Pavon made a 20-yard basket with 1:57 left in the fourth to put Sam Houston ahead after a 12-play, 79-yard drive chewed up simply over six minutes.FIU started its last drive at its 37-yard line, but the Panthers were reversed by three holding penalties.FIU(2-6, 1-3)was held to just 199 total yards.Sam Houston missed a basket on its opening two possessions of the game.

Kavian Gaither obstructed the first pass of the game, but Sam Houston might not make the most of the short field as Pavon’s 41-yard field-goal attempt struck the ideal upright. The Bearkats stopped FIU on its next drive at midfield when Chris Murray sacked Keyone Jenkins on fourth down, however Pavon missed a 49-yarder. It was the second scoreless first half in a FBS game this season, joining Nebraska vs. Purdue on Sept. 28. Peery, a fourth-string QB, began with 1:42 left in the first half and finished his very first pass in a FIU uniform. He completed 7-of-12 for 58 backyards.