With the fifth largest home crowd in school history looking on, the Texas State football team won its third straight game in dominant fashion as Bobcats defeated Nicholls 38-12 last Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium in front of a crowd of 15,502 fans.
Junior quarterback Shaun Rutherford threw three touchdowns, while Terrence Franks ran for another TD and cornerback Darryl Morris became first Bobcat to return an interception for a touchdown since 2008.
Texas State (3-2) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on its first drive of the game when Rutherford hit sophomore tight end David Lewis with a 13-yard touchdown pass.
When the Colonels came right back to score a touchdown on a 19-yard run by quarterback LaQuinton Caston, the Bobcats maintained a 7-6 lead when Texas State blocked the extra point kick by Andrew Dolan.
The Bobcats added to their lead when Will Johnson kicked a 34-yard field goal to close out the first quarter with Texas State leading 10-6.
The Bobcats extended their lead with two more touchdowns in the second quarter. First, Rutherford hit Marcus Curry for a 20-yard touchdown and then, Terrence Franks ended the first half scoring with a 23-yard touchdown run to give Texas State a 24-6 lead at halftime.
Texas State opened the second half with another touchdown drive when Rutherford hit Isaiah Battle for a 13-yard touchdown pass to give the Bobcats a 31-6 lead.
Morris scored the final points for the Bobcats when he intercepted a pass by Beaux Hebert at the Colonels’ 23-yard line and returned it for the touchdown, marking the first time a Bobcat has returned an interception for a touchdown since Joe Bell accomplished the feat at Northern Colorado in 2008.
Rutherford finished the night completing eight of his 12 passes for 109 yards. Franks also led the Bobcats with 105 yards rushing on 15 carries to go along with his touchdown. It marked the second straight game a Texas State runner has rushed for 100 yards.
The Bobcats travel to McNeese State Saturday before returning home to play host to Lamar on Oct. 15.
The Texas State football team defeated Nicholls 38-12 last Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium with 15,502 fans looking on. Junior quarterback Shaun Rutherford threw three touchdowns to lead the Bobcats, who travel to Lake Charles to face McNeese State this weekend. (Photo courtesy Texas State University)
