Oct. 20, 2007

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SAN MARCOS - Karrington Bush and Alvin Canady each ran for over 180 yards and scored, and Cameron Luke set new career highs with 152 yards and four touchdown catches as Texas State (2-5, 1-2 SLC) won its homecoming game for the fourth year in a row with a 52-29 rout of Stephen F. Austin (0-7, 0-3 SLC).

Bradley George finished 12-of-23 with 166 yards and three passing touchdowns while adding 50 rushing yards and another score, as the Bobcats outrushed SFA 447-to-0 and had a season-high 638 total yards of offense. Bush totaled a career-high 187 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown while Canady carried 22 times for 182 yards and a score.

SFA quarterback Jeremy Moses put up equally impressive numbers himself, setting Bobcat Stadium records for completions, pass attempts and passing yards. Moses finished the game 41-of-59 with 508 yards passing and three touchdowns, all of which came on plays of 50 yards or more.

After forcing SFA to punt on the game's opening possession, Bush's 27-yard run put Texas State inside the Lumberjack 20, but three incompletions forced the Bobcats to settle for a 33-yard Andrew Ireland field goal with 13:22 remaining in the opening quarter.

SFA appeared to take the lead when it got the ball back, but a 53-yard touchdown pass was called back because of a clipping penalty against the Lumberjacks. The play still resulted in a 32-yard gain, and SFA continued to move the ball thanks to a fourth-and-two conversion. Four plays later, Barlow Reed leaped in from one yard out as SFA took a 7-3 lead with 8:19 left in the quarter on the 12 play, 73-yard drive that consumed 5:03.

Texas State responded just before the end of the quarter with a quick-strike scoring drive, covering 74 yards in only four plays. Canady's 58-yard scamper set up a George touchdown pass to Luke in the back of the end zone from 15 yards out, giving the Bobcats a 10-7 lead with 1:40 still remaining in the opening quarter.

The Lumberjacks were in prime position to answer on their next possession, marching 70 yards to inside the Texas State 15, but pressure from Ramel Borner forced a throw that was intercepted by Jervoress Crenshaw at the 10-yard line to preserve the Bobcats' lead.

With the score still 10-7 two minutes later, Texas State took over near midfield and needed only five plays to find the end zone, as George hit Luke for a 25-yard touchdown reception. Luke's second touchdown reception extended Texas State's lead to 17-7 with 8:04 remaining in the first half.

Texas State would keep piling on before half time, scoring on its next two possessions via the ground game. Bush's 32-yard scamper up the middle capped a seven play, 80-yard drive that made it 24-7, and George scored from one yard out to cap a five play, 54-yard drive three seconds before half time as the Bobcats headed to the locker room up 31-7.

Three straight turnovers opened the second half, including an interception by SFA's Jerrel Barnett in the end zone to. The Lumberjacks made the most of the turnover, marching down the field on a six play, 97-yard drive and scoring on a 56-yard touchdown pass from Moses to Taylor with 5:15 left in the third quarter. Moses threw for 94 yards on the drive alone as SFA trimmed the lead to 31-14.

The Bobcats continued to grind the clock with eight straight running plays on their ensuing possession, gaining 53 yards. Canady had five carries for 40 yards on the drive, which ended with a 20-yard touchdown reception by Luke from Clint Toon on the only passing play of the drive. The entire drive consumed 4:28 of the third quarter clock and put Texas State up 38-14 with only 47 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Moses beat the third quarter clock to keep SFA within striking distance, needing only two plays to move 65 yards downfield for a score after Ireland's kickoff went out of bounds to give the `Jacks good field position. Moses found Rhea streaking down the middle for another 56-yard touchdown pass, bringing SFA within 17 at 38-21 with one quarter to play.

After Texas State punted on its next possession, the Lumberjacks tried to pull within 10 but were denied when Daniel Varvel intercepted Moses at the Bobcat 43. Five plays later, George scrambled right and threw downfield to Luke, who wrestled the ball away from the defender and walked in for a 42-yard score to extend the lead to 45-21.

The Lumberjacks managed another touchdown when Moses led another quick passing strike with another long touchdown pass, this time for 52 yards to Rhea. SFA went for two and converted to make it a two possession game with 7:06 left in the game at 45-29, but Texas State recovered the onside kick.

Bush and Canady then put the game out of reach, as Bush carried twice for 35 yards before Canady found paydirt from three yards out for the game's final score.

Texas State will look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season and even its SLC record when the Bobcats travel to Natchitoches, La., for a 2 p.m. kickoff at Northwestern State on Oct. 27.