Oct. 15, 2005

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SAN MARCOS - Texas State scored 28 first-quarter points and held Oklahoma Panhandle State (1-7) to 95 yards of total offense in a 75-7 win Saturday.

The `Cats notched the win in front of the seventh-best crowd in Bobcat Stadium history, as 13,787 saw the `Cats roll to the 68-point victory. In addition to the record crowd, the Bobcats recorded their first interception return for a touchdown since the 2000 season and their first score on a punt block since the 1998 campaign.

With the win, Texas State improved to 5-1 which marks the best start by a Bobcat team since the school moved from NCAA Division II to Division I-AA prior to the 1984 season. The `Cats are ranked No. 10 in this week's Sports Network Division I-AA Poll and ninth according to the ESPN/USA Today poll.

Texas State plays host to preseason Southland Conference favorite Northwestern State next week in Bobcat Stadium. The Demons (3-2, 2-0) are the preseason Southland Conference favorite to repeat as league champions and are coming off a 31-10 win over Southeastern Louisiana.

Single game tickets for the Northwestern State game go on sale at the Texas State athletic ticket office beginning Monday at 8 a.m.

Saturday in San Marcos, Texas State amassed 355 yards against Division II OPSU and focused on running the ball after the game was well in hand. The Bobcats attempted just 10 passes on the night.

Red-shirt freshman fullback Ryan Odell was used in a one-back set and rolled up 118 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries. Red-shirt freshman wide receiver Stan Zwinggi was also used Saturday as a running back and finished with 87 yards on six carries. The Fredericksburg native had a 54-yard touchdown run after OPSU's lone score of the game in the fourth quarter.

"We had five offensive starters missing that didn't play," said Texas State coach David Bailiff. "Hopefully some will be back next week because we're hitting the meat of our schedule starting with Northwestern State. We needed a football team that was healed and we needed a football team that was going to let some of the second- and third-string guys get experience in case starters go down.

"The kids that you saw tonight are the future of this program and fortunately we were able to get them game reps."

"Texas State is just such an overwhelming team. It's tough to handle them all," said first-year Oklahoma Panhandle State coach Kyle Davis. "They've got a good system in place, and it's impressive to see them play. "

The Aggies opened the game with the ball, and were forced to punt after gaining five yards on their opening drive. Texas State took over and started its first drive at its own 49.

Texas State was stuffed on the first two plays and faced a third-and-14, but the `Cats moved the chains on a 24-yard completion from Barrick Nealy to Dameon Williams. Nealy then found Tyrone Scott on a 14-yard pass for a first down and one play later, Nealy again hooked up with Scott for a 17-yard touchdown strike that capped a five-play, 51-yard scoring drive and put Texas State on top 7-0.

Texas State forced the Aggies into another three-and-out, and after a 24-yard punt return by Walter Musgrove put the `Cats at the 33 yard line, Nealy found Williams on an 11-yard strike for a first down at the 22.

Consecutive Daniel Jolly runs put the football at the six-yard line, and after missing on second-and-goal, Nealy found the left-corner pylon on a six-yard scamper that finished a five-play, 33-yard drive and extended the lead to 14-0.

On its third drive of the game, Panhandle State was able to move the chains for the first time, but the Aggies were stuffed on the next three plays from scrimmage. Panhandle State went for it on fourth down but gained only two yards, giving Texas State possession at the 38-yard line.

Texas State used five plays to score following the turnover on downs, finding the end zone on a five-yard Nick Session touchdown punch that made the score 21-0 with 4:30 to play in the first quarter.

Texas State notched its first takeaway of the game on the Aggies' next play from scrimmage when Dallas Coleman picked off Panhandle State quarterback Brandon Warner at the Aggie 24.

Chase Wasson came on to quarterback the `Cats, and after three plays netted a Texas State first down, a Bobcat penalty made it first-and-goal from the 14. Morris Brothers powered for 13 yards to set up second-and-goal from the one, and Session found the end zone for the second time, plunging in to give the `Cats a 28-0 lead.

Brothers got the second quarter rolling with a blocked punt that was picked up by Melvin Webber and returned for the `Cats fifth touchdown of the night, running the score to 35-0 with just over 14:00 to play in the second quarter.

Webber made it two touchdowns in a row on the next Aggie series, picking off Warner at the 22 and sprinting for the end zone to make the score 41-0 with 12:40 to play in the half.

Texas State got back on the board with its first field goal of the game at the 8:01 mark when reserve place kicker Scott Schwarzlose split the uprights from 32 yards out, and Schwarzlose later made it two scores in the first half when he knocked in a 19-yard attempt to make the count 47-0 at the halftime buzzer.

Texas State opened the second half with the football at its own 47, and on the first play from scrimmage, Odell rumbled for 24 yards down to the Aggie 29. Six plays later, Odell crashed through the Panhandle defense for a 3-yard touchdown that capped the seven-play, 53-yard scoring drive and put the `Cats up 54-0 with 10:40 to play in the third.

Texas State's next score came with 38 seconds to play in the third when the OPSU quarterback tossed the ball up for grabs and reserve defensive tackle Daniel Carillo picked off the pass for a five-yard touchdown return. The interception made the score 61-0 and closed the book on the third quarter.

Panhandle State got on the board for the first time with 12:07 to go in the game, scoring on a 1-yard David Daniels run. Texas State answered the Aggie score with a 54-yard Stan Zwinggi touchdown scamper, and the Bobcats tacked on one more score on a 1-yard Odell touchdown that put the `Cats up 75-7 with 6:32 to play in the game.

Texas State put the clamps on the clock from that point, securing its fourth win at Bobcat Stadium and fifth overall this season. The `Cats are 8-1 at home under Bailiff and his staff which begin their second year.