Sept. 10, 2005

Final Stats |  Quotes

SAN MARCOS - Barrick Nealy ran for 140 yards and Texas State held Southern Utah to 60 yards rushing in a 34-0 win Saturday at Bobcat Stadium.

For Southern Utah (0-2, 0-0), Saturday's loss was its first time being shut out since a 38-0 setback to Mesa (Ariz.) State in 1985, and for Texas State, it was the first defensive shut out since a 10-0 win over Angelo State in 2001.

Texas State (2-0, 0-0 SLC) stormed out of the gates, scoring on its first possession for the second straight week, when Nick Session put the `Cats on top with a one-yard touchdown plunge that capped a seven-play, 72-yard drive.

Southern Utah fumbled on its first possession, resulting in a 22-yard Stan Jones field goal at the 10:28 mark to put the `Cats up 10-0, and with 2:43 to play in the first, Nealy finished a six-play, 91-yard touchdown drive with a 51-yard scamper to put the `Cats on top 17-0.

Texas State's defense held Southern Utah to four yards of offense in the first quarter, including -4 yards on the ground.

The Bobcats' lone second-quarter scoring drive went seven plays and 78 yards, completed by Session's second touchdown run of the day, this time a three-yard punch that put the Bobcats up 24-0 at the half. The drive was set up by a pair of Douglas Sherman rushes for first downs and a 20-yard pass from Nealy to Markee White.

Southern Utah's only first-half threat ended on a 27-yard field goal attempt that sailed wide right. The attempt was set up by a 27-yard completion from Zac Connors to Bobby Pond.

In the third, Nealy found the end zone for the second time, scoring on a 24-yard run that made the score 31-0. Texas State's only fourth-quarter score came on a 34-yard Jones field goal that made the score 34-0 with 2:10 to play.

Southern Utah crossed the midfield stripe just once in the final period, pushing the football to the Texas State 29 before back-up quarterback Wes Marshall was sacked to force a turnover on downs for the Bobcats.

In the game, Texas State went for 487 yards on offense, including 315 total yards for Nealy and 91 yards rushing for Douglas Sherman.

Session found the end zone twice on runs of one and three for his first scores of the year, and Nealy had the other two Bobcat rushing touchdowns, scoring on runs of 51 and 24 yards. Nealy's 140 yards on the ground made Saturday's game his second career 100-yard rushing performance.

Ronnie Miller pulled in four catches for 64 yards to lead the `Cats in receiving, and K.R. Carpenter saw his first action of the season for Texas State, grabbing four balls for 33 yards.

Texas State's defense held the Thunderbirds to 183 yards of total offense, and the Bobcats forced three SUU fumbles, recovering two.

For the second straight week, Texas State was penalized for more than 100 yards, committing 15 infractions for 138 yards, and the Thunderbird defense recovered a pair of Texas State fumbles.

The Thunderbird offense was paced by quarterback Zac Connors' 123 yards on 14-of-31 passing. Joey Hew Len was SUU's leading receiver, hauling in three passes for 61 yards receiving. Connors was the team's top rusher, carrying the ball eight times for 31 yards.

Texas State takes next Saturday off before traveling to College Station, Texas, on Sept. 24 to play Texas A&M at Kyle Field.