Oct. 17, 2009

Final Stats

Thibodaux, La. - Looking to win their first game in Thibodaux in five tries, the Texas State football team used a balanced offensive attack and some timely defensive plays to beat Nicholls 34-28 Saturday afternoon John L. Guidry Stadium.

Junior running back Karrington Bush ran for a season-best 163 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries before he left the game in the fourth quarter as the Bobcats finished the game with 247 yards rushing as a team. In addition, senior quarterback Bradley George completed 20-of-his 31 passes for 233 yards and three touchdowns to lead Texas State.

"Our defense did what you have to do against an option offense. They had some players make big plays, but we made more plays than they did and we are going home with our first win here since 1999," said Texas State head coach Brad Wright. "We were able to get some turnovers and that is the key whenever you play an option offense. Offensively, we had several different players contribute with some big plays in the game."

The Bobcats scored the first points of the game when Justin Garelick kicked a 26-yard field goal to give Texas State a 3-0 lead.

Nicholls answered with a 10-play, 61-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-3 lead when LaQuinton Caston hit Brandon Johnson for a 27-yard touchdown pass and Ro Schexnayder kicked the extra point.

The Bobcats regained the lead again when Bradley George hit Da'Marcus Griggs with a 27-yard touchdown pass and Garelick added the extra point to make the score 10-7.

Texas State capitalized on a fumble by Caston on the Colonels' 24-yard line and scored its second touchdown of the game when Karrington Bush ran the ball into the end zone from four-yards. Garelick added the extra point to make the score 17-7.

Texas State increased its lead to 24-7 when George hit tight end Woody McClendon for a 10-yard touchdown pass and Garelick kicked the extra point.

Nicholls closed out the scoring in the first half when Caston ran for an 11-yard touchdown and Schexnayder kicked the extra point to make the halftime score 24-14.

The Colonels opened the third quarter with another touchdown drive to make things interesting when A.J. Williams ran for a 70-yard scamper down to Texas State's one-yard line. From there, Caston ran it into the end zone and Schexnayder added an extra point to pull Nicholls to within 24-21.

The Bobcats scored their first points in the second half with 7:31 left in the third quarter when Garelick kicked a 27-yard field goal to cap a 13-play, 67-yard drive.

The Bobcats opened the fourth quarter capping off a 12 play, 72-yard drive when George hit Daren Dillard on a crossing route in the end zone to give Texas State a 34-21 lead with 14:09 left to play.

Texas State appeared to have scored another touchdown with 6:44 left to play when Karrington Bush was bulling over a Colonel defender towards the end zone. But, officials ruled the Bush had fumbled before he reached the end zone and gave Nicholls possession at its 20-yard line after the touchback.

After Nicholls drove the ball to its 44-yard line, Brian Iwuji tipped Caston's pass into the air and Adley Eshraghipour dove to intercept the ball at Texas State's 48-yard line.

But, Bush reinjured his right knee and Dominic Daniels recovered the ball at the Bobcats' 48-yard line to set up the final scoring drive in the game.

"It certainly didn't look good when he came off the field," Wright said. "We will be saying our prayers, and hopefully, it's not as bad as we think, but if it is, we will have to get some people to step up, which Alvin Canady and Frank Reddic have done this season."

Nicholls drove down the field and scored seven more points when Williams rushed for a 10-yard touchdown and Schexnader kicked the extra point to close out the scoring and make the final score 34-28.

After Nicholls scored that touchdown, Texas State's offensive unit kept the ball the remaining 2:41 as Reddic carried the ball five times for 33 yards in the drive. The biggest play came at Texas State's 29-yard line and the Bobcats faced a third down and needed two yards for a first down after the Colonels had burned their first two timeouts in the half. George faked a handoff to Reddic and hit Alvaro Garcia for a 23-yard pass that went to Nicholls' 44 yard line.

"It was a play that was called from upstairs, if I gave the okay, which I did," Wright said. "It was good execution by our offense on that one."

From there, Reddic had a three-yard carry on first down and after Nicholls called its final timeout in the game, he gained 22 yards down to the Colonels' 19-yard line. George took a knee on the final two plays of the game.

The win improves Texas State's record to 3-3 overall this season and 1-1 in Southland Conference play. The Bobcats travel to Northwestern State next Saturday, Oct. 24, before returning home for their annual homecoming game against Stephen F. Austin. Then, Texas State travels to Central Arkansas on Nov. 6 before playing its final two games of the regular season against McNeese State and Sam Houston State at Bobcat Stadium.