Oct. 3, 2009

Final Stats |  Notes

Complete Game Stats in PDF Format

Cedar City, Utah- - In a game that looked like it might be a shootout between two high-powered offense, the Texas State football team could not overcome a costly fumble at the goal line midway through the second quarter as the Bobcats suffered a 38-16 loss at Southern Utah Saturday afternoon.

The game began with both offenses marching down the field for touchdowns on each of their first offensive possessions in the game. After Southern Utah scored a touchdown on their second possession, Texas State appeared poised to match their effort when disaster struck.

Southern Utah's first touchdown came on Cade Cooper's 11-yard pass to Major Gray. The Thunderbirds added Ryan Griffith's extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Texas State answered when Alvin Canady scored on a 10-yard touchdown run and Justin Garelick kicked the extra point to tie the score at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

The Thunderbirds drove down the field a second time and took a 14-7 lead with 14:08 left in the first half when Cooper threw a three-yard pass to Tysson Poots and Griffith tacked on the extra point.

That is when the Bobcats had two critical turnovers that turned the game around.

Texas State appeared to be marching in for another touchdown when they drove down the field 61 yards to Southern Utah's 21 yard-line. But, Da'Marcus Griggs fumbled the ball after catching a five-yard pass from Bradley George.

After the Bobcat defense forced a turnover by the Thunderbirds when Joe Bell recovered a Cooper fumble to give Texas State the ball at Southern Utah's 44-yard line.

The Bobcats drove the ball down the field again and had a first-and-goal play from the two-yard line. However, Alvaro Garcia fumbled the ball when he tried to reach the ball across the goal line and Akeem Anifowoshe recovered the ball and returned it 99 yards for a touchdown that put Southern Utah ahead 21-7 following Griffith's extra point.

After Texas State was forced to punt when its next drive stalled at its own 46-yard line, Griffith closed out the scoring in the first half with a 42-yard field goal to make the score 24-7 at halftime.

Southern Utah scored another touchdown on its first possession in the second half when Cooper hit Fesi Sitake for a 16-yard touchdown pass. Griffith kicked the extra point to make the score 31-10.

Texas State closed out the scoring in the third quarter when Justin Garelick kicked a 24-yard field goal to cap off a 13-play, 49-yard drive to pull Texas State to within 31-10.

The Bobcats scored again with 5:46 left to play in the game when Frank Reddic scored on a one-yard touchdown run. Garelick missed the extra point attempt to make the score 31-16.

After a failed on-sides kickoff attempt by Texas State, the Thunderbirds took over at the Bobcat 24-yard line. The Thunderbirds capitalized and scored the final points of the game when Major Gray ran for a 13-yard touchdown. Griffith's extra point gave Southern Utah a 38-16 lead with 4:10 remaining in the game.

One bright spot for the Bobcats was that junior running back Karrington Bush returned to action and ran for 82 yards on nine carries. In addition, Alvin Canady rushed for 50 yards and one touchdown on nine carries, while Frank Reddic scored a touchdown for the fourth straight game and finished with 26 yards on six carries.

Texas State quarterback Bradley George completed 26 of his 41 passes for 197 yards. Canady was Texas State's receptions leader with catches for 34 yards and Griggs had six catches for a team-high 38 yards.

Gray led Southern Utah with 93 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Cooper completed 27 of his 42 passes 256 yards and three touchdowns. Tysson Poots led the Thunderbirds' in receiving with 120 yards on 11 catches. Southern Utah improves to 2-3 overall this season.

The loss drops Texas State's record to 2-2 this season as the Bobcats begin preparations for Southland Conference play next Saturday when they play host to Southeastern Louisiana at Bobcat Stadium with kickoff slated for 2:00 p.m.