TEXAS STATE VS. PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
Nov. 5, 2011 | 3:00 P.M. | Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium | San Marcos, Texas


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COVERAGE
Radio: ESPN Deportes (92.5 in Austin)
    Brant Freeman and Bill Culhane describing the Action
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Texas State Game Notes
Prairie View A&M Notes



San Marcos - The Texas State football team The Texas State football team looks to win its fourth home game and sixth game overall this season when the Bobcats play host to Prairie View A&M on Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium this Saturday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.  Texas State enters the game with a 5-4 overall record and the Bobcats are 3-1 in their first four home games in 2011. Prairie View A&M enters the contest with a 4-4 overall record and the Panthers are 2-1 this year in road games.
 
Both teams are looking to rebound from disappoint losses as the Bobcats suffered a 23-10 loss against Northwestern State after turning the ball over two times inside the Demons' 10-yard line and converting just one of its four field goal attempts last Saturday. Prairie View A&M suffered a 44-14 loss against Jackson State in the Shreveport Classic on Oct. 29.
 
Texas State won its three previous home games and the Bobcats have played in front of three of the top 10 largest crowds to attend a game at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats opened their home schedule defeating Tarleton State in front of the third largest home crowd in school history with an attendance of 15,800. Texas State also defeated Nicholls in front of 15,582 and Lamar with an attendance of 15,028. The Bobcats are looking to set another school attendance record this season with their fourth crowd above 15,000 against Prairie View A&M.
 
Series History
Saturday marks the 12th meeting between Texas State and Prairie View A&M in a series that dates back to 1976. This marks the first time since 1992 that the two schools have played one another and the Bobcats enter today's game with a 9-2 series record against the Panthers.
 
Scouting Prairie View A&M
Prairie View A&M enters Saturday's game under first-year head coach Heishma Northern, who was promoted last December after serving six seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Panthers. Northern's defensive unit produced an All-American for the fourth straight year in 2010 after cornerback Moses Ellis led the nation in interceptions with eight and he defended 22 passes. This season, Ellis has one interception, which he returned 48 yards for a touchdown against Southern.  Up front, senior defensive end Adrian Hamilton leads NCAA FCS schools with 14.5 quarterback sacks.
 
On offense, Fred Anderson leads the Panthers in rushing with 319 yards and three touchdowns on 75 carries. The Panthers have used all three of their quarterbacks in games this season. Jerry Lovelocke has started three games and completed 54 of his 97 passes for 622 yards and six touchdowns. Jonathan Troast has completed 62 of his 112 passes for 743 yards and six touchdowns. The third quarterback is De'Auntre Smiley, who has completed 18 of his 40 passes for 172 yards.  
 
Their favorite target is Spencer Nelson, who enters Saturday's game with 38 catches for 511 yards and four TD receptions. Deandre Cooper has 19 receptions for 186 yards and two TD's.
 
Scouting Texas State
Texas State head coach Dennis Franchione returned to Texas State this season after coaching at the school in 1990 and 1991. Franchione owns an 18-12 record in his three seasons with the Bobcats and has a 192-105-2 career record.
 
Junior quarterback Shaun Rutherford has completed 88 of 151 passes for 1,142 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. Redshirt freshman running back Terrence Franks and junior Marcus Curry have combined to gain 1,223 yards and score 10 touchdowns on the ground, while senior wide receiver Darius Bolden and Isaiah Battle have combined to catch 41 passes for 584 yards and five touchdowns. Junior tight end Chase Harper has caught 14 passes for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Senior offensive guard D.J. Hall is a returning All-American and a three-time all-conference selection.
 
 
Defensively, Texas State has recorded 19 quarterback sacks and 23 quarterback hurries in its last seven games. Michael Ebbitt has recorded 10.5 quarterback sacks to lead the Bobcats.  Darryl Morris recorded Texas State's first safety since 2005 against Lamar and returned an interception back for a touchdown to mark the first time since 2008 that a Bobcat has attained that feat.  Morris enters the Prairie View A&M game with 47 tackles in 2011 after earning All-Conference Second Team honors and recording 60 tackles in 2010.