Sports 10 - The University Star
’CAT COUNTER
Saturday’s attendance: 13,013 Home game attendance to date: 51,886 (10,377 average)
In order for Texas State to move to the Football Bowl Subdivision, there must be an average of 15,000 fans in attendance at each home game.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sports Contact, Lisa Carter – starsports@txstate.edu
BOBcats Fall 3 points short By Joseph O. Garcia Sports Reporter
Ben Rondeau /Star photo TACKLE THE COWBOY: Ron Jackson, junior defensive lineman, Marcus Clark, junior linebacker, and Brian Lilly, freshman linebacker, try to tackle McNeese State tailback Toddrick Pendland during Saturday’s football game.
Texas State’s Bradley George, senior quarterback, had a chance for the second consecutive week to lead the Bobcats to a comefrom-behind victory. George had not thrown an interception in 210 passing attempts. However, his final pass Saturday was caught by McNeese State safety Malcolm Bronson at the Cowboys’ 10-yard line with 22 seconds remaining. “I stepped up in the pocket and just tried to make a play,” George said. The Bobcats were down by three with 1:30 minutes left in the game when Texas State took over on offense. “We were just trying to get into field-goal range to give us a shot,” George said. “We just didn’t make a play like last week against UCA.” Texas State lost the game 3027 in front of 13,013 fans at Bobcat Stadium. “We went out there and played as hard as we could,” said Mishak Rivas, sophomore wide receiver. “At the end of the game, whether you win or lose, if you play hard, there is nothing to be mad about.”
The team is ready to move forward. “As far as everything else is concerned, we are already looking forward to Sam Houston State,” Rivas said. The defense allowed Toddrick Pendland, McNeese State running back, to rush for 187 yards and three touchdowns. However, Texas State held the Cowboys to a field goal attempt in the final minutes to give George and the offense a chance to tie or win. “I thought we had some pretty good play calling,” said Joe Bell, senior linebacker. “We were in the right defense and we did hold them to a field goal.” Coach Brad Wright told the players after the game they would watch film and see missed opportunities on offense, defense and special teams. “They (McNeese State) made a couple more plays than we did and they won the football game,” Wright said. Wright referred to the contest as “a typical Southland game.” “I’m proud of our team,” Wright said. “They played hard for four quarters and that’s all we could ask them to do.”
Cowboys final drive ends Bobcats’ playoff hopes By The Numbers
28— distance of winning field goal
187—Todd
Pendland’s rushing yards
892—Combined total offensive yards for both teams
By Keff Ciardello Sports Reporter The Texas State Bobcats had their four-game win streak snapped with a 30-27 loss to the McNeese Cowboys. “It was just another Southland Conference game for us,” said Coach Brad Wright. “It went the distance. It took four quarters, but this time it didn’t work out for us.” The Bobcats’ 6-4 record mathematically eliminates Texas State from playoff contention. Playoff teams have to beat at least seven Division I teams in the FCS during the season. Even if Texas State wins next week, the Bobcats would have only beaten six. After a firework-filled introduction, the Bobcat offense took the field and orchestrated an 80-yard drive that ended with a touchdown. Mishak Rivas,
sophomore wide receiver, opened the Bobcats’ scoring with his fourth touchdown of the season, a 17-yard pass by Bradley George, senior quarterback. Rivas finished the game with four catches for 50 yards. McNeese State answered, countering with an 82-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run by running back Toddrick Pendland. The Bobcat offense took possession of the ball and drove downfield, this time orchestrating a 79-yard drive with the teams tied at 7. Alvin Canady, senior running back, received an option-pitch from George around the right side and took it in for a fiveyard score. Ryan Batchelor, junior kicker, missed the ensuing extra-point, giving the Bobcats a 13-7 lead. The McNeese State offense regained
Successful Openers
possession and appeared prepared to answer the Bobcats’ score with one of its own, gaining 57 yards in three plays. It was the fourth play of the drive when Marcus Clark, senior linebacker, returned an interception 25 yards to give the Bobcats possession on the 34-yard line. The Bobcats found the end zone again off the same option-pitch around the right end to Canady for 12 yards seven minutes into the second quarter. The score gave the Bobcats a 20-7 lead. The Cowboys countered with two unanswered touchdowns, including a 33yard run by Pendland. McNeese State missed the extra-point attempt on its second touchdown to tie the game at 20 going into halftime. Pendland found the end zone for the third time in the third quarter off a five-yard run up the middle to give the
Cowboys a 27-20 lead. Da’Marcus Griggs, junior wide receiver, caught a 10-yard slant he turned into a 31-yard gain. Canady then took a hand-off around the left end and found the end zone for his third touchdown. The score tied the game at 27. McNeese State would drive the ball inside the Bobcats’ red zone and prepare for the game-winning 28-yard field goal. The Cowboys regained the lead 30-27. The Bobcats regained possession with a little more than one minute left. However, George threw an interception to secure a Cowboy victory. It was George’s first interception thrown in 210 attempts. George finished the game with 285 yards passing and a touchdown. Canady rushed for 60 yards off 18 carries for three touchdowns.
Men’s team routes Howard Payne
By Anthony Medina Sports Reporter The Texas State men’s basketball team began the 2009 to 2010 season with a rout of Howard Payne in a 35-point victory. The Yellow Jackets seemingly could not miss in the first half. Howard Payne shot more than 58 percent from the field, including 5-for-5 shooting from behind the arc. The Bobcats were ahead 5143 at the half because of the play from three returning lettermen starters. Cameron Johnson, junior forward, and John Rybak, senior forward, combined for 19 points and 10 rebounds on 7-for-11 shooting in the first half. Jonathan Sloan, junior forward, chipped in with six points in the first half on 60 percent shooting. “When I read (Howard Payne’s) stats (at halftime), they were all shaking their heads,” said Coach
Doug Davalos. “We weren’t defending the three line. We weren’t defending anywhere and then we made some adjustments.” Texas State increased the pressure defensively in the second half to hold Howard Payne to 24 points as the Bobcats cruised to a 102-67 victory. The Yellow Jackets turned the ball over 20 times and failed to continue the hot shooting from the field in the first half that kept them in the game. Texas State’s length over a smaller Howard Payne team helped it dominate the boards throughout the game, outrebounding the Yellow Jackets 48-34. Of those 48 boards, 21 came on the offensive glass, leading to 26 second-chance points for the Bobcats. Newcomer Uriel Segura, junior forward, led the Bobcats in scoring with 15 points on 5-for-12 shooting in his first game as a Bobcat. “I’m really comfortable with
this new team and this style of game,” said Segura, referring to Texas State’s up-tempo method. The Bobcats scored 10 fastbreak points in the game, despite the fast paced Texas State offense. Davalos attributed the low amount of fast-break points to good transitional defense from Howard Payne. The Yellow Jackets forced the Bobcats to become a jumpshooting team by clogging the paint with five guys on defense. The Bobcats shot 35-of-72 for the game, including 12-of-30 from 3-point range. The shooting from the free throw line for the Bobcats was a problem throughout the night. Texas State shot 20-for36 at the line. “You could tell it was a first game,” Davalos said. “The good thing about the first game is it’s over with. You take a 30-plus point win and try to get better for your next opponent.”
‘I’m really comfortable with this new team and this style of game.’
—Guard Uriel Segura
Lindsey Goldstein/Star photo TWO POINTS: Chika Ofoegbu (15), and Cameron Johnson (23), both junior forwards, score a basket Friday night during their respective home openers.
Women’s team sees triple digits in season opener By Lisa Carter Sports Editor Season-opening butterflies were not an issue for the Texas State women’s basketball team as it opened its season with a victory Friday over Texas College. The Bobcats defeated the Steers 100-42 in a game that featured scores from all but two Texas State players. “It was all about teamwork tonight,” said Kelsey Krupa, sophomore guard. “It wasn’t an individual effort at all.”
Krupa led all Bobcats in scoring with 16 points. Aimee Hilburn, senior forward, recorded 19 points while Tamarra Evans-Sluga, senior guard, Anna Brzozowski and Chika Ofoegbu, junior forwards, each had 12. Evans-Sluga said precision was a factor in the game. “I think the key to things was not overthinking,” EvansSluga said. Only one Texas College player, guard British Thomas, scored double digits for the Steers with 13 points. The Bob-
cats did not allow the Steers to lead at all in the game. Coach Suzanne Fox said teamwork was a vital part to the Bobcats’ first victory. “To win championships and be competitive with the people we’re going to play with, you can’t only count on one or two people,” Fox said. “There are one or two things we could have changed, but it’s a blessing if we can continue with this (way we’re playing).” Evans-Sluga said the win gave the Bobcats confidence
for the season. “The win feels really good,” Evans-Sluga said. “It’s great to have that exclamation point to start the season. We’re coming back from a year that wasn’t up to our standards and (the victory) gives us confidence going into our next game.” Texas State finished the game with 49 rebounds. Fox said rebounding is an area in which she wants the team to improve. “We didn’t really block out,” Fox said. “We really want to be good on rebounding.”
Texas State made 14-of-26 three-pointers, tying the record for most made in a single game. The Bobcats were 39for-77 (50.6 percent) shooting from the field and 8-for-15 (53.3 percent) from behind the arc. Texas College went 15for-61 (24.6 percent) shooting from the field and 11-for-16 (68.8 percent) from behind the arc. Texas State will look to continue its success Tuesday against Louisiana-Monroe. The game tips off at 7 p.m. in Strahan Coliseum.
Southland Standings West Division Women
A&M-CC
Texas State
UTA UTSA Lamar Sam Houston
2-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 0-1 0-1