Sam Houston St. 43, Northwestern St. 17

Published Nov. 12, 2011 7:46 p.m. ET

foxsports

Tim Flanders rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown, Richard Sincere added two more scores on the ground, and unbeaten Sam Houston State clinched its first outright Southland Conference title with a 43-17 win Saturday over Northwestern State.

Flanders and Sincere each also caught touchdown passes from Brian Bell, who made the most of a 10-for-14 day with 200 yards passing for the Bearkats (10-0, 7-0). Darnell Taylor returned a Brad Henderson interception 23 yards for a score, and Craig Alaniz kicked a 38-yard field goal.

Henderson was 21 for 39 for 215 yards for the Demons (5-5, 3-3). D.J. Palmer scored a rushing touchdown, and Anthony Gilbert recovered a bad SHSU snap in the end zone for the other Northwestern State TD. Don Shaughnessy added a 34-yard field goal.

The Bearkats became the last undefeated FCS team in the country Saturday when North Dakota State lost to Youngstown State.