Oct. 1, 2005

Final Stats |  Quotes

SAN MARCOS - Barrick Nealy totaled 286 yards of total offense and K.R. Carpenter hauled in five balls for 118 yards as Texas State beat South Dakota State 42-12 in its final tune-up before Southland Conference play.

The win marked the first 100-yard rushing, 100-yard receiving combination for the Bobcats since the 2003 season. For South Dakota State (2-3) the loss represented the third against a top-25 opponent this season.

Nealy's 129 yards rushing led the Bobcat offense and Douglas Sherman accounted for 98 more in the `Cats 328-yard rushing day. In all, the Bobcats gained 473 yards of total offense, while South Dakota State managed just 246 yards (123 rushing, 123 passing) led by Cory Koenig's 121 yards on the ground.

Texas State (3-1) opened with the ball and immediately marched down the field on an 11-play, 80-yard drive that included 10 runs and only one pass. That pass was a five-yard completion from Barrick Nealy to Tyrone Scott, and Nealy followed the completion with a 20-yard scamper that put the ball at the Jackrabbit four. The `Cats capped the drive on a four-yard reverse to Carpenter, making the score 7-0 with 9:07 to play in the first.

On the play, Carpenter appeared as if he would lose yards, but the senior receiver found a crease and eventually dove over a pile of Jackrabbit defenders for the score.

On the ensuing kickoff, South Dakota State's Jaron Harris brought the ball out to the 50-yard-line on a 47-yard return, and after having a pair of runs stuffed, SDSU's Josh Davis hauled in a 35-yard pass from Andy Kredoes that put the ball at the Bobcat ten yard line.

After two rushes that put the ball at the one, the Bobcat defense stuffed South Dakota State running back Trevor Hohn, but the Jackrabbits managed to save the drive getting an 18-yard field goal to cut the Bobcat lead to 7-3.

Nealy opened the next Bobcat drive with a 35-yard scamper into Jackrabbit territory. Two plays later, Sherman sprinted through the South Dakota State defense with a 38-yard carry that put the ball at the Jackrabbit four. Nick Session capped the 5-play, 80-yard drive with a pair of runs, one for four yards followed by a one-yard touchdown punch that made the score 14-3 with 2:52 to play in the opening quarter.

South Dakota State's second scoring drive again went deep into Bobcat territory, sparked by a pair of nine-yard gains, but for the second straight trip, the Jackrabbits were held to a field goal by the Texas State defense. Douglas connected on the 39-yard field goal try, bringing the Jackrabbits within eight at 14-6 with 12:52 to play in the second quarter.

The Bobcats opened their next drive with a 20-yard completion from Nealy to Carpenter, and after two more first downs, Morris Brothers slammed through the Jackrabbit defense for a seven-yard touchdown strike that capped a six-play, 72-yard drive. The score put the Bobcats on top 21-6 with 10:54 to play in the quarter, and also marked the first time this season that the `Cats went for touchdowns in their first three drives of the game.

Two plays into South Dakota State's third drive of the game, Bobcat strong-side linebacker Shola Obafemi picked off Kredoes' pass at the 26-yard line and returned it to the Jackrabbit 20.

Four plays and 25 seconds later, Session plunged through for his second one-yard score of the game, putting the `Cats on top 28-6 with 9:36 to play in the half.

After a South Dakota State first down on its next drive of the second quarter, the Jackrabbits drew a forth-and-inches, and after failing to draw the `Cats offside on a hard count, a quarterback sneak gave SDSU a first down at the Bobcat 47 yard line. A pass interference penalty put the put the ball at the Bobcat 32, and the Jackrabbits moved the ball to the Bobcat two yard line to set up a two-yard Koening run. The Jackrabbits were stuffed on the two-point try, making the score 28-12 with 1:14 to play in the half.

South Dakota State started with the ball in the second half, and after a pair of runs advanced the ball four yards, Fred Evans busted through the Jackrabbit offensive front and brought down the SDSU quarterback for an eight-yard loss to force a punting situation.

Texas State took over at the South Dakota State 41 following a short punt, and after picking up a first down on a pair of runs, South Dakota State recorded a quarterback sack to force a third and long. Nealy took the third-down snap and ran an option play to the right side of the field. The senior quarterback kept the ball, cutting back to the inside midway through the run and crossing the goal line to complete the 36-yard touchdown scramble that put the `Cats up 35-12.

South Dakota State got good field position after the Bobcat score when Texas State's kickoff sailed out of bounds, and the Jackrabbits opened the drive with a 24-yard pass that moved the ball to the Texas State 41.

South Dakota State was able to get the ball to the Bobcat 26, but was forced into their third field-goal attempt of the game when Texas State held on the next three downs. This time the kick sailed wide of the goalpost and the Bobcats took over at their own 26, leading 35-12 with just over seven minutes to play in the third quarter.

Texas State got the ball to its own 49 but the drive stalled and the `Cats were forced into their first punt of the game. South Dakota State return man Paul Aanonson took the ball at his own 26 and returned the 38-yard punt 49 yards to the Bobcat 37.

Two plays after the big return, Texas State's Jamarqus O'Neal stepped in front of a South Dakota State pass at the five yard line and returned it 51 yards to the Jackrabbit 44. Following the pick, the Bobcat drive stalled, but Cory Elolf's second punt of the game landed inside the ten and was downed, setting up the Jackrabbit offense at their own seven.

Texas State picked off Kardoes three times. Senior linebacker David Simmons also had an interception in the game.

South Dakota State was forced into a three-and-out after gaining only one yard in three plays, and a 60-yard punt put the Bobcats at their own 31 to start their first drive of the fourth quarter.

The `Cats gained five on a run by Sherman and were knocked back on second down forcing a third-and-seven from the 34. On third down, Nealy again hooked up with Carpenter, this time for 64 yards moving the ball to the two yard line.

Session completed drive with his third touchdown of the game, scoring on a two-yard run that put the Bobcats up 42-12 as the clock neared the 12-minute mark in the fourth quarter.

Texas State did not score on its final drive but did knock nearly eight minutes off of the clock and left South Dakota State with the ball and just 1:53 remaining in the game.

The Bobcat win is Texas State's third in its opening four games, and leaves the Bobcats with a 3-1 record heading into next week's conference opener at Southeastern Louisiana, which is slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, La. The game will be SLU's first Southland Conference game.