Dec. 4, 2005

SAN MARCOS, Texas -- Senior quarterback Barrick Nealy passed for 211 yards while senior running back Sherman Douglas rushed for 125 yards as Texas State defeated Cal Poly 14-7 in a quarterfinal-round game of the NCAA Division I-AA football playoffs Saturday in Bobcat Stadium.

Texas State amassed 467 yards of total offense compared to 263 for Cal Poly. The Bobcats also had a 32-15 advantage in first downs and a 39:36 to 20:24 edge in time of possession in improving to 11-2 on the year.

Cal Poly, which ended its season 9-4, was still in the game to the end despite the lopsided offensive numbers posted by Texas State.

The Bobcats scored on a 17-yard run by Nealy with 1:30 to play in the first quarter and took a 14-0 lead on a five-yard run by Douglas with 2:23 to go in the third.

Cal Poly finally got on the scoreboard with 4:11 to play in the game on an eight-yard run by redshirt freshman running back James Noble, cutting Texas State's lead to 14-7.

But the Bobcats garnered three first downs on their final drive and were able to run oiut the clock.

Cal Poly missed on another golden scoring opportunity late in the first half, driving to the Texas State one-yard line before fumbling the ball away to the Bobcats.

Sherman averaged 6.9 yards per carry, gaining his 125 yards on 18 carries. Nealy added 53 yards on 18 trips and completed 18 of 33 passes for 211 yards. He was sacked five times, giving Cal Poly a school-record 62 sacks on the season.

Markee White notched eight catches for 76 yards for Texas State.

Noble, who recorded eight 100-yard games this season, including a pair of 200-yard performances, finished Saturday's game with 85 yards on 15 carries. Senior fullback Adam George added 55 yards on just five trips.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Matt Brennan completed nine of 20 passes or 120 yards. His favorite target was senior Jonah Russell with three catches for 44 yards.

Cal Poly's defensive leader was junior linebacker Kyle Shotwell with 20 tackles. Cornerback Randy Samuel added 13 tackles, junior free safety Kenny Chicoine 12 and senior defensive ends Chris Gocong and Matt Chachere 11 each.

Gocong and Chachere each notched 1.5 sacks while Chris White and Sean Lawyer added one sack each.

Jeremy Castillo had 13 tackles for Texas State.

Texas State ran 92 offensive plays to just 50 for Cal Poly. The Mustangs converted on just two of 10 third-down plays, compared to seven of 15 for Texas State.

Texas State will play Northern Iowa in the semifinal round next Friday or Saturday in Bobcat Stadium. Northern Iowa upset top-seeded New Hampshire 24-21 on Saturday. The NCAA will announce the day of the game Sunday.