Texas State quarterback Shaun Rutherford (17) threw for four touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Bobcats to a 35-26 victory at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night at Homer Bryce Stadium. The victory was Texas State’s second straight this season and improves its overall record to 2-2 heading into Saturday’s game against Nicholls State that kicks off at 6 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium. (Courtesy Texas State University)
STAFF REPORTS
Texas State quarterback Shaun Rutherford threw for four touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Bobcats to a 35-26 victory at Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogodoches. It was the fifth straight victory for the Bobcats in their series against the Lumberjacks, and the seventh win in the last eight games against SFA.
Rutherford’s four touchdown passes were the first touchdown passes for a Bobcat quarterback this season and the most TDs thrown by a Texas State quarterback since Tyler Arndt threw for four touchdowns against Nicholls in 2010.
He finished the game completing 10 of 17 passes for 241 yards and he ran for 82 yards. Marcus Curry led Texas State with 128 yards on 23 carries, while Isaiah Battle was the leading receiver with five catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns.
Battle’s two touchdowns were 50-yard and 27-yard receptions. Rutherford’s longest pass in the game was a 71-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chase Harper. Harper’s catch was the longest reception by a Bobcat since Bradley George hit Alvaro Garcia for a 71-yard strike against Angelo State in 2009.
Rutherford’s first touchdown pass was a 23-yard strike to tight end Kyle Doll that erased a 3-0 deficit in the first quarter and gave Texas State a 7-3 lead.
After the Lumberjacks answered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Fred Ford to give the Lumberjacks a 10-7 lead, Rutherford led Texas State on its second touchdown drive of the game. First, He completed a 17-yard pass to Andy Erickson for 18 yards before running for another 17 yards to midfield. Then, Rutherford threw a 50-yard pass for a touchdown to Isaiah Battle to give the Bobcats a 14-10 lead with 9:07 left in the first half.
The Bobcats added another touchdown in the final 32 seconds of the first half when Erickson returned a punt for 52 yards to Stephen F. Austin’s 27-yard line. On the next play, Rutherford hit Battle for another 27-yard touchdown with six seconds left in the opening half as the Bobcats took a 21-10 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Texas State extended its lead when Rutherford hit Harper for a 71-yard touchdown pass to give the Bobcats a 28-10 lead.
The Lumberjacks came storming back with 16 unanswered points.
With Texas State leading 28-26, the Bobcats answered with a 72-yard touchdown drive that was capped when Rutherford ran for a 22-yard TD.
The victory was Texas State’s second straight victory this season and improves its overall record to 2-2 heading into next Saturday’s home game against Nicholls that kicks off at 6 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium.
