Game Statistics in PDF Format
Game Statistics
San Marcos, Texas- The Texas State football team couldn't overcome a pair of costly mistakes as Northwestern State spoiled the Bobcats' Homecoming with a 16-3 loss on Saturday afternoon on Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium.
The Bobcats looked like they might take control of the game on their opening drive when they drove down to Northwestern State's 22-yard line fighting a 20 mile per hour wind that gusted up to 27 mph throughout the game. However, the drive ended when Karrington Bush couldn't handle Tyler Arndt's pitch, fumbled and the Demons recovered.
Northwestern State took advantage of the momentum shift and drove down the field 72 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Sterling Endsley began the drive with a five-yard run and Demon quarterback Paul Harris gained 23 yards on the ground and threw for another 41 yards. His pass to Phillip Harvey for 27 yards gave the Demons a first-and-goal at Texas State's four-yard line. Endsley capped off the drive with a four-yard TD run.
The two teams didn't score again until Justin Garelick kicked a 42-yard field goal to pull the Bobcats to within 7-3 midway through the second quarter.
After going into the halftime locker room with the lead, Northwestern State scored the only points in the third quarter when John Shaughnessy took advantage of the wind and kicked a career-long 50-yard field goal to give the Demons a 10-3 lead.
Texas State's defense kept the Bobcats in contention throughout the game. The turning point for the Bobcats came with eight minutes to play when Northwestern State's Brashard Booker blocked a punt by Ben Follis and Kendon Franklin recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown to give the Demons a 16-3 lead. Texas State's Leon Woolsey blocked the extra point attempt.
The Bobcats had two more chances to score in the fourth quarter. The first opportunity came when Texas State's defense caused another a turnover as Sam Pier forced a fumble by Rumeall Morris on the Demons' 20-yard line and Brian Lilly recovered the ball.
Texas State drove the ball down to Northwestern State's six-yard line, but Arndt threw four straight incomplete passes.
After the Bobcats held the Demons on four downs, Texas State took over on Northwestern State's 39-yard line. However, Arndt suffered a sprained knee on a running play at Northwestern State's 22 yard line. Tim Hawkins entered the game and ran for two yards on the next play. On a fourth-and-three play, Hawkins' pass to DaMarcus Griggs was knocked away by Cashus Pollard to end Texas State's hopes for a comeback.
The loss drops Texas State to 3-4 overall this season and 0-3 in Southland Conference play. It marks the first time since the 2007 season that the Bobcats have lost three straight games, including back-to-back home contests. In addition, it is the first time since the 2002 season that Texas State has lost home games in consecutive weeks.
