Oct. 27, 2007

Final Stats

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Texas State place kicker Andrew Ireland drilled a 28-yard field goal with one second to play as the Bobcats defeated Northwestern State 20-17 and won for the first time at Turpin Stadium since 1995.

Texas State got great field position for its game-winning drive as Will Thompson fair caught a 25-yard punt at the Bobcat 41 but the series was sustained by a little trickery.

Texas State had gains of one yard on each of its first three plays and the Bobcats faced fourth-and-seven from their own 47. Bobcat punter Chris MacDonald took the snap on fourth down and found tight end Galen Dunk open for seven-yard pick up just beyond the first down marker.

"We actually ran two fake punts tonight. The first was called back," said Texas State first-year head coach Brad Wright. "It was something we have been working on for a couple weeks. Honestly, the kids did a great job working on it and getting it ready all week."

After the fake punt, Bobcat quarterback Bradley George completed a 10-yard pass to Morris Crosby for another first down. Two plays later with 14 seconds on the clock, George hooked up with Cameron Luke for a reception that covered 26 yards as the junior receiver dived for the sidelines and out of bounds with four seconds to plays.

With the ball resting on the Northwestern State 11, Ireland came on and connected on his second field goal of the game giving the Bobcats the win.

"I think our team wanted it a little more than their team and that we really had a better football team," Wright said. "I thought that all week. They really got after it.

"We came out like gang busters and cooled off a little bit. We came back at them when we needed it. Andrew Ireland did a great job getting the ball through on a good hold by Chris MacDonald and snap by Sam Pier. This was just a great, overall team effort."

Texas State won its second straight game to improve to 3-5 and 2-2 in the Southland Conference. The Bobcats spoiled homecoming for the Demons who dropped to 3-5 and 2-3.

Northwestern State had won nine of the last 11 meetings and the last five games played in Turpin Stadium.

Texas State forced a pair of fourth-quarter turnovers to keep the game tied at 17-17.

The Demons were able to march 60+ yards and into the red zone. With NSU facing third-and-goal from the 11, Germayn Edmond completed a pass near the sideline to Ben Bailey who stayed in bounds and looked for the corner of the end zone. But Phillip Alexander, who set up Texas State's first touchdown with an interception, stripped the ball at the one and linebacker Freddy Paige dropped onto the ball in the end zone.

Later, the Demons moved the ball back inside the 20 with another 60+ yard drive.

But this time, Edmond was intercepted at the goal line by Marcus Clark who returned the ball 24 yards. It was the true freshman's third pick of the season.

"We have adopted a little different attitude on defense," Wright said. "There is more confidence on the practice field. There was more confidence here today. And there is more confidence that hey, we are going to make a stop. Those were two big plays that could have been scoring drives. A lot of credit goes to our defense."

The Bobcats were able to move the ball out to near midfield after both turnovers. In fact, after the fumble into the end zone, Texas State running back Stan Zwinggi had a 34-yard run to the NSU 46. The Bobcats looked to convert on a fourth-down run by MacDonald on a fake punt but a holding call brought the play back.

Texas State jumped out to a 10-0, first quarter lead.

The Bobcats' first series covered 56 yards before stalling at the NSU 17. The Bobcats converted three straight third-down plays on the drive. But facing third-and-six from the 17, George's pass sailed just beyond the hands of Morris Crosby in the end zone. Texas State settled for a 34-yard Andrew Ireland field goal into the wind.

Following the ensuing kickoff, Northwestern State set up at its own 28. Edmond dropped back to pass and was picked off over the middle by Alexander who returned the interception 18 yards to the NSU 21.

On the Bobcats' only offensive play of its next series, George found Crosby open across the middle and the junior receiver went into the end zone untouched for a 21-yard touchdown reception.

Northwestern State got on the board with a 10-play, 65-yard touchdown drive late in the quarter.

Byron Lawrence opened the drive with runs of nine and seven yards. The Demons later faced third-and-one from the Texas State 40. Lawrence was stuffed by Nick Clark at the line and NSU elected to go for it on fourth time, this time Edmond broke free for a 13-yard pick up. Lawrence then carried for 17 yards to the Bobcat nine.

An eight yard Lawrence run was followed by a false start flag on the Demons but Edmond would roll left and score on a six-yard run. Robert Weeks' point after cut the Bobcat lead to 10-7 with 1:00 left in the opening quarter.

Lawrence rushed for 176 yards on the night.

Northwestern State tied the game with a field goal in the second quarter.

NSU drove 63 yards before a series stalled inside the 20 and the Demons tied the game with a 29-yard Weeks field goal with 1:47 left in the half. The scoring drive included a 13-yard Lawrence run early in the series and the junior running back converting a third-and-one with a two-yard run. Edmond also completed a 16-yard pass to Ben Bailey to move the ball into the red zone.

Texas State looked to use the final 1:47 to regain the lead.

Facing third down, Luke got tripped up by C.L. Grogan and the Demons were called for pass interference giving the Bobcats the ball at their own 40. George completed a 23-yard pass to Alvin Canady into Demon territory.

George would later run for a first down to the 25. But the drive stalled from there. The Bobcats lost three yards on a screen pass to Dunk. After two incompletions, Texas State brought in the field goal team for a 45-yard field goal but a false start forced Texas State to bring its offense back on the field. A completion to Luke and a hook and lateral to Crosby fell shy of a first down and NSU ran out the clock.

Northwestern State and Texas State traded scores in the third quarter to head into the final period tied at 17-17.

George was intercepted by Kasey Brown who returned the ball 37 yards to the Texas State 17. An illegal block on the play called against the Bobcats gave NSU the ball at the Texas State seven. Two plays later quarterback Edmond cut inside for a five-yard touchdown run.

Late in the third, a 58-yard run by Karrington Bush would set up a 15-yard touchdown pass from George to Crosby. It was Crosby's second touchdown reception of the game.

Texas State returns home next week to play host to Southeastern Louisiana. Northwestern State steps out of conference play next week and travels to Ole Miss.