Nov. 26, 2005

Final Stats |  Notes

SAN MARCOS - Texas State quarterback Barrick Nealy completed four touchdown passes, accounted for a school-record 526 yards of total offense and became Texas State's all-time passing leader as the Bobcats came from behind to post a 50-35 win over tradition-rich Georgia Southern in the first round of the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs Saturday.

In throwing for a school-record 400 yards, a first against a Georgia Southern team in 109 games, Nealy surpassed David Williams for the career passing record. He now has 6,774 passing yards. Williams finished his career with 6,677 yards (1994-97). Nealy has also now accounted for the top two season totals, passing for 2,443 yards this year to rank second behind his sophomore-year performance.

With the win, Texas State improved to 10-2 and will play host to Cal Poly Dec. 3 in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs. Kickoff time for the game has yet to be determined. The Mustangs (9-3) advance to the quarterfinals after winning on the road at Montana, 35-21. Georgia Southern finishes its year at 8-4.

Georgia Southern led 35-16 with just over four minutes to play in the third quarter when the Bobcats began a furious comeback which saw the team score 34 unanswered points. Defensively, Texas State held the Eagles to 0 total yards on 12 plays in the fourth quarter after surrendering 499 yards through three quarters of play.

Starting with a five-yard touchdown pass from Nealy to Chase Wasson with 1:13 to play in the third, the `Cats would score on five straight series.

The Bobcats' defense actually got a head start to its fourth quarter shutout. Jayson Foster gained two then four yards on the final two plays of the third quarter. Jamarqus O'Neal then stopped Foster a yard shy of a first down to force the Eagles to punt from their 21. The defensive stand was the first time Texas State held the Eagles to a three-down series. After a 57-yard Dan Jordan punt, the Bobcats took over at their own 22.

Texas State's next offensive possession included an early fourth-down conversion. On fourth-and-one, Nealy would complete a three-yard pass to Markee White for a first down at the Bobcat 34. Nealy would carry for 11 and 15 yards, then on third-and-10, Tyrone Scott would make a diving grab for a 14-yard pickup. From there, Nealy found Dameon Williams open down the middle of the field for a 26-yard touchdown completion. With Stan Jones' point-after, the GSU lead was down to 35-30 with 10:29 left to play.

The Bobcats would hold Georgia Southern to three-downs and out again but a 42-yard Jordan punt pinned the `Cats at their own 16.

On first down, Nealy would gain two yards but was slow to get up. With the senior from Dallas being helped off the field with a knee injury, Texas State looked to go with Wasson moving back to the quarterback position. But after a timeout, Nealy returned. Douglas Sherman would run for two yards before Nealy completed a 58-yard pass to White down to the GSU 22. After a nine-yard Nealy run and a two-yard pickup by Sherman, Texas State's signal caller again found Williams open in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown pass and the `Cats led for the first time since the first quarter.

White finished with a career-high 10 receptions for 157 yards, Justin Williams caught three passes for 106 yards and Dameon Williams caught three passes, all touchdowns, for 68 yards. White and Justin Williams' 100-yard games marked the first time since 1988 the `Cats had two, 100-yard receivers in the same game.

After converting on a Division I-AA best 25th fourth-down play early in the game, the Eagles faced a similar situation on their ensuing drive and down 38-35.

The Eagles faced fourth-and-two from their own 31. Foster stepped back in the pocket, was pressured and sacked by Travis Upshaw and Jeremy Castillo.

With the Bobcats starting at the GSU 28, Douglas Sherman would pick up 25 yards on first down. Daniel Jolly would plug for gains of one yard on two straight plays before scoring on a one-yard plunge that put the Cats up 44-35 with 3:33 to play.

Georgia Southern would try some trickery on the ensuing kickoff but Daniel Varvel picked off a Teddy Craft lateral on the return and the `Cats had possession at the Eagle 12. It took two plays before Sherman found the corner of the end zone and the Bobcat lead was 50-35.

On the day, Nealy completed 23-of-32 passes. He also ran the ball 12 times for 126 yards, including a 76-yard run on the first play of the game. Nealy was tackled by A.J. Bryant at the Georgia Southern four. After two carries by Nick Session moved the ball to the one, Nealy would score and Texas State was quickly out in front.

But the Eagles answered on their first drive and actually scored on their first three possessions of the game to lead 21-7 after the first quarter.

Facing fourth down from the Texas State 38, Foster hooked up with Craft for a 38-yard touchdown pass to cap a 10-play, 85-yard drive.

On Georgia Southern's second drive, a 56-yard Foster run would help set up a six-yard touchdown run by Jermaine Austin. A 19-yard punt by Cory Elolf gave the Eagles the ball on their own 43. After a Texas State timeout, Foster would again hook up with Craft, this time for a 57-yard touchdown pass.

Foster completed three of five passes for 135 yards. He also carried the ball 21 times for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Austin carried the ball 23 times for 147 yards and a score.

Defensively for Texas State, David Simmons had 12 tackles including a quarterback sack. Jeremy Castillo finished with 11 tackles and had 1.5 sacks. Epsilon Williams and Melvin Webber both finished with nine tackles in the win.

Georgia Southern was making its 16th appearance in the playoffs which ties with Montana for the second-most Division I-AA playoff appearances. The loss marks the Eagles' second straight in a first-round game. Last year they lost at home to this year's No. 1 seed New Hampshire, 27-23.

Ticket Notes:
Paid attendance for the Bobcat's game against Georgia Southern was estimated at 10,000. The NCAA-audited, official paid attendance figure will be released at a later date.

Tickets for next' week's quarterfinal game will go on sale Monday at 8 a.m. at the Texas State athletic ticket office. Season ticket holders will have until Monday at 5 p.m. to reserve their seats. Ticket prices will remain the same - $12 for reserved, $10 for general admission and $5 for student and youth tickets. Both the student and youth tickets are available only for the east-side stands.

Tickets will be available for pickup at the athletic ticket office located at the corner of Aquarena Springs and Charles Austin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Fans are encouraged to pick up their tickets early to avoid will call lines on game day at Bobcat Stadium.

For additional ticket information contact the athletic ticket office at (512) 245-2272 or (877) 798-CATS.