Oct. 16, 2004

Final Stats

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - When it comes to keys to a game, limiting big plays is always standard fair. In beating Texas State 38-21 Saturday, Cal Poly could have filled a highlight tape just in the first half.

Before a sold-out, school record crowd announced at 9,352, No. 9 Cal Poly was able to throw a pair of touchdown bombs, build an early lead and answer every Texas State score to improve to 6-0 on the year. After losing to a second-nationally ranked Division I-AA opponent, Texas State, now 2-4, will look to rebound from the loss as it begins Southland Conference play when it plays host to No. 10 Stephen F. Austin this Saturday.

"We were not ready to play," said Texas State coach David Bailiff said. "And that falls squarely on me. I'm the head coach. We will evaluate our game preparation and learn from it. But Cal Poly is a good football team. You don't get to 6-0 and being ranked No. 9 nationally without being a good team."

Cal Poly quarterback Anthony Garnett, making just his second career start, completed 11-of-15 passes for 326 yards and four touchdowns. All four Mustang receivers who caught a ball had a touchdown reception including wide receiver Darrell Jones, who caught six passes for 145 yards and a score and also had one carry for 22 yards to convert a third-down play.

All told, Cal Poly had 578 yards of total offense while Texas State had 381. The Bobcats' rushing offense, ranked among the top 10 in Division I-AA was held to just 91 yards on the night.

Texas State fell behind 35-14 by halftime, thanks in part to a pair of long touchdown pass receptions. Garnett tossed an 88-yard touchdown pass to Jones on the first play of the second quarter to answer a Texas State scoring drive and give the Mustangs a 21-7 lead.

Later in the quarter and up 28-14, Cal Poly's defense held the `Cats on a fourth-down play to stop a Bobcat drive at the Mustang 26. Garnett delivered on Cal Poly's next play from scrimmage, hooking up with Jonah Russell for a 74-yard scoring strike.

The second half featured a monsoon described by the locals as "the first rain since March 24."

Despite deteriorating conditions, Texas State was able to cut the lead to 35-21 late in the third quarter when Bobcat quarterback Barrick Nealy tossed a 34-yard touchdown pass to John Tyson.

But the Bobcats were only able to amass 38 yards in the fourth quarter and would not threaten.

CP place kicker Yoon Byungwoo kicked a 23-yard field goal in the downpour to extend the Mustangs' lead to 38-21 with 7:17 to play.

Cal Poly scored on its first two offensive series to jump out to an early 14-0 lead.

The Mustangs converted on a pair of third downs including an 11-yard pass from Garnett to Jones to give them a first down at the Texas State 29. After a 4-yard run by Adam Martinez, Garnett completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jason Holmes.

On Cal Poly's next drive, a 36-yard run by Jeremy Konaris set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Garnett.

Texas State would cut the lead to 14-7 after a wild series of plays on its next drive.

The Bobcats would start an offensive series with a 32-yard pass from Nealy to Markee White. Later, White bobbled another catch that Cal Poly linebacker Jordan Beck picked off the ground and ran back inside the Texas State 20. After a conference by the officials, the play was called an incompletion and the ball was brought back to the original line of scrimmage where the Bobcats faced third-and-2 from the 35.

On the next play, Douglas Sherman would take an option pitch and bobble the ball before it wound up in a scrum no one could claim. The ball landed on the turf and Bobcat center Ryne Miller pounced on it at the 28 to give Texas State a first down.

Tyson would then stretch out for a Nealy pass, diving into the end zone for a touchdown to cut Cal Poly's lead to 14-7 with 58 seconds left in the first half.

Nealy completed 13-of-28 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Tyson had three receptions for 95 yards. White, a native of Long Beach, Calif., had a career-high three receptions for 90 yards.

Cal Poly would answer Texas State's score with the first of its long touchdown passes.

Texas State came right back to make it 21-14.when Nealy tossed a 49-yard touchdown pass to Tyrone Scott but that was as close as the Bobcats would get.