Oct. 8, 2005

Final Stats

HAMMOND, La. - The Southland Conference opener for both Texas State and Southeastern Louisiana came with a lethargic start for the Bobcats offense. Still, despite some early struggles the `Cats finished with 393 yards of total offense, had a defense limit the Lions to 294 yards of total offense, including 62 on the ground, and went on the road to open SLC play with a 30-15 win.

With the victory, No. 14 Texas State equaled its best start since becoming a Division I-AA school, improving to 4-1 and 1-0 in Southland play. Southeastern Louisiana fell to 1-3 and begins its first season in the SLC at 0-1.

"I am just so excited to get a victory on the road but it wasn't a pretty one," said Texas State second-year coach David Bailiff. "I know when we grade this film it is not going to be as bad as what I think it is but it is not going to be as good as what we have seen.

"But to go and win on the road in the Southland Conference, I think we are taking steps as a program. That's what it is all about, getting better every time you play.

Texas State originally was slated to fly into New Orleans and stay less than an hour away from campus in Baton Rouge but with flights cancelled by Hurricane Katrina, the `Cats were forced to bus from San Marcos.

"We have to mature as a football team," Bailiff said. "Not matter if you fly or drive, we have got to get off a bus ready to go. That was a long bus ride here. I thought the guys handled it very well. You could tell we were a little lethargic at the start of the game. You could tell Barrick (Nealy) was a little indecisive for the first time this year. A lot of that was 11 hours on a bus yesterday but we are going to continue to improve. We're maturing as a football squad.

"I'm never going to be disappointed in a win, especially one on the road in the Southland Conference.

Texas State's first three series ended with a pair of turnovers and a missed 30-yard field goal attempt.

Nealy was intercepted by linebacker David Daniels after Texas State had drove inside the Lion 20 on the Bobcats' first drive. Daniels then recovered a Nealy fumble to stop Texas State's second offensive series at the SLU 23. Another Bobcat drive deep into SLU territory would stall and end in place kicker Stan Jones' missed field goal attempt.

But while the offense was struggling with putting points on the board, Texas State's defense was completely shutting down the Lions' offense early.

Southeastern Louisiana ran just six offensive plays in the first quarter as Texas State had possession for 12:59 of the opening period. SLU's first series of the second quarter lasted just two plays as Bobcat safety Daniel Varvel intercepted Lion quarterback Trey Willie at the Texas State 34. The fourth Southeastern series lasted three plays and the Lions were again forced to punt.

After the Bobcat defense held Southeastern to a total of 18 yards on its first four series, Texas State's offense finally came alive and generated some points. However, it began with a slow start.

Douglas Sherman started the Bobcats' fifth offensive series with an 11-yard run before the `Cats were penalized for a false start and an illegal shift on successive plays. Facing second-and-20, Barrick Nealy scrambled for 18 yards getting a stout block down field from Tyrone Scott. Sherman then ran for five yards to pick up the first down. He would run for six then seven yards before breaking through the middle for a 20-yard touchdown run with 7:55 to play in the second quarter.

The Bobcats' touchdown marked the latest Texas State had gone without scoring to open a game this season.

Southeastern Louisiana's next series again went three-and-out. Defensive lineman Ramel Borner sacked SLU starting quarterback Trey Willie for a six-yard loss. After an incomplete pass in which he was hurried by linebacker Jeremy Castillo, Willie was sacked for a six-yard loss by defensive end Nate Langford to force another punt.

An offsides penalty on SLU gave Texas State first and five at the Texas State 41. Nealy would find Ronnie Miller down the middle of the field for a 53-yard bomb to the Lion six. On the next play, Sherman bulled through the middle of the line for the score. Jones' point-after try was blocked by Eric Jackson, marking the ninth time this season the Lions had blocked a kick.

Texas State's lead was 13-0 with 4:47 left in the first half.

Southeastern would finally pick up its first, first down of the game with 4:01 to play in the second quarter when Willie ran for nine yards to spark a drive in which the Lions moved inside their own 20.

Facing first-and-10 from the 17, Willie was sacked for a seven-yard loss by Castillo then carried for a five-yard gain. Castillo along with Varvel combined to tackle Robby Scates after a 9-yard pass from Willie. Facing fourth down with 24 seconds to play in the half, Willie was stopped short of the first down by Donovan King and Travis Upshaw.

Southeastern Louisiana would pick up in the second half where they left off with its final drive of the first half.

Willie avoided pressure from Texas State's front and lofted a pass to Hutch Gonzales who split the Bobcats' secondary for a 54-yard gain to the two. Mario Gilbert would gain a yard on first down then be stopped at the one. Willie would again avoid the pressure by Castillo on a blitz and drill a pass into the end zone intended for Jamaal Jackson. Jackson would tip the ball to the back of the end zone and Gonzales snared it for the touchdown with 12:59 to play in the third.

A missed point-after attempt by Jim Hall would leave the Bobcats holding on to a 13-6 lead.

Texas State would answer the Lions' first score despite a holding call that backed the `Cats into a first-and-20 at the Texas State 36.

Nealy would complete a seven-yard pass to White on first down and following an incompletion, the same pair hooked up when White toed the near sideline for a 39-yard pickup that the SLU coaching staff argued was caught out of bounds. Later in the drive facing third-and-12, Nealy found Justin Williams for 15 yards and a first down. After a run was stuffed up the middle, Nealy stepped back on second down and lofted a five-yard touchdown pass to White in the corner of the end zone. Texas State's lead was back to 20-6 with 8:24 to play in the quarter.

A 22-yard Hall field goal cut Texas State's lead to 20-9 with 4:52 to play in the third.

Another long third-down pass play between Nealy and Williams would sustain another scoring drive on the Bobcats' next series.

The 27-yard drive began after the teams traded punts. A 67-yard Cory Elolf punt was downed inside the one. After three quick plays that went no where for the Lions, Hall shanked a punt that was ruled out of bounds at the 27. Facing third-and-13, Williams would snag a 15-yard catch from Nealy. Afterwards, Jolly cut through a hole on the left side of the line and raced the final 15 yards for a touchdown that gave the `Cats a 27-9 lead with 28 seconds to play in the third quarter.

On the night, Texas State was 8-of-16 on third-down conversions, including 5-of-9 on conversion attempts of nine or more yards.

Southeastern Louisiana would have its next drive sustained by a face mask call against the Bobcats. The penalty tagged on 15 yards to a 14-yard pass play from Willie to Gonzales. Willie would later find a wide open Scates for a 25-yard pickup to the one. After two unsuccessful runs up the middle, Willie sprinted out and completed a touchdown pass to Jeff Guidugli. The point-after attempt hit the upright and the Bobcats' lead was 27-15 with 12:17 to play.

The Bobcat offense would put together a fourth-quarter drive that lasted 7:27 culminating with a career-long 42-yard Jones field goal to help put the game away.

On the night, Nealy completed 13-of-30 passes for 216 yards and netted 13 yards on 10 carries. Sherman was the Bobcats' leading rusher with 10 carries for 63 yards and two scores. Willie completed 17-of-40 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns but was sacked for times by the Bobcats.

Texas State is now halfway through its road games and begins a two-game home stand next week when the Bobcats play host to Panhandle State. Southeastern Louisiana travels to Northwestern State next week.