Sept. 27, 2008

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SAN MARCOS - Southern Utah took advantage of a sluggish start and some costly turnovers by Texas State as the Thunderbirds soared to a 34-20 victory over the Bobcats Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium.

The Bobcats began the game in precarious fashion when Bush muffed the opening kickoff and Southern Utah recovered at Texas State's 18-yard line. The Thunderbirds took advantage three plays later when Deckar Alexander scored on an eight-yard run to give Southern Utah a 7-0 lead. Alexander ended the night with 114 yards rushing.

On Texas State's next possession, the Bobcats advanced the ball to midfield before Southern Utah stopped Stan Zwinggi for no gain on a fourth down and one play. The Thunderbirds took advantage again when they added a 38-yard field goal by Steve Pulver. Southern Utah scored another touchdown on its next possession to take a 17-0 lead after Kenny Apilli capped a 70-yard drive with a 25-yard run for another touchdown.

Texas State scored its first points in the game after defensive back Kenneth Hampton intercepted a pass with 14:43 to go in the second quarter to give the Bobcats the ball at the Southern Utah 30-yard line. After Clint Toon completed a pair of passes for 22 yards and Stan Zwinggi gained another nine yards to Texas State's 48-yard-line, Bush raced around the right end for a 52-yard touchdown run to pull the Bobcats to within 17-7. Bush's 52-yard jaunt was the longest run by a Bobcat this year and the longest touchdown run by a Bobcat since Bush ran for an 80-yard touchdown on Nov. 3, 2007 against Southeastern Louisiana.

Bush ended the night gaining 239 all-purpose yards and recording his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, gaining 100 yards on eight carries.

Following Bush's touchdown run, Southern Utah added three more points to its lead when Pulver kicked a 51-yard field goal with 6:22 left in the half to make the score 20-7. That is how the scoring ended itn the first half as both teams missed field goal attempts in the final seconds of the first half.

First, Pulver missed from 43 yards with 42 seconds remaining and Texas State's Andrew Ireland's 47-yard attempt was wide to the right side with seven seconds left to make the halftime score 17-7.

The Thunderbirds received the second-half kickoff and drove down to Texas State's 28-yard line before Pulver missed a 45-yard field goal. But the Bobcats gave the ball right back when Cameron Luke fumbled the ball after catching a 14-yard pass from Toon. Southern Utah recovered and took over at the Texas State 30-yard line. The Thunderbirds scored on their first play when Cody Stone hit Nick Miller for a 30-yard touchdown pass.

Southern Utah increased its lead to 34-7 when Stone hit Tysson Poots for a 18-yard pass on its next possession. Texas State scored its first points in the second half with 13:20 left to play in the second half when Darren Dillard caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Texas State quarterback Clint Toon to pull Southern Utah to within 34-13. It was Dillard's first TD of his career. The Bobcats attempt at a two point conversion failed as Toon's pass was incomplete. With six minutes to play, Bradley George replaced Toon at quarterback and led the Bobcats on an 81-yard drive down the field. Luke capped off the drive when he caught his fifth touchdown of the season as George hit him with a 20-yard strike to make the score 34-20 with 3:39 remaining to play.

That was as close as the Bobcats could get as their next drive stalled at Southern Utah's 32-yard line.

Clint Toon finished the game completing 20 of his 34 passes for 172 yards, a touchdown and one interception. In addition to Bush's 100 yards on eight carries, Zwinggi added 40 yards on 10 carries. Luke caught seven passes for 92 yards and one TD, while Mishak Rivas added seven catches for 59 yards.

Leading the defense was Strodtman and Courtney Smith. Strodtman had six solo stops and three assisted tackles; including his interception early in the fourth quarter. Smith had five solo tackles and four assisted stops to back up his Southland Conference defensive player of the week nod for his performance last week.

Southern Utah was led by Alexander who rushed for 114 yards and one touchdown. Texas State football returns to the field next Saturday, Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. as they will host Texas Southern at Jim Wacker Field.