Live Blog: Texas State vs Illinois

By Warren Schorr
Sports Director

Today the Texas State Bobcats (1-1) travel to Champagne, Ill. and face the University of Illinois (2-1) in this non-conference match up in week four of the college football season.

Texas State looks to get back to their winning ways after losing to Navy last week 35-21. Last week Illinois lost to University of Washington 44-19.

According to Illinois injury report wide receiver Geronimo Allison who leads the team with 16 receptions and 300 yards receiving is out today. Illinois is a passing offense and losing their top receiver is a big loss for quarterback Wes Lunt.

Be sure to keep it here as their will be live updates throughout the game starting at 3:00 p.m.

1st Half: 

Illinois first play from scrimmage was a 75-yard run for a touchdown by Josh Ferguson. Bobcats answered on their next drive going 8 plays for 55 yards resulting in a 4-yard touchdown catch by Ben Ijah.

Bobcat defense forced four consecutive 3 and outs and the Bobcats extended their lead to 14-6 going 11 plays for 72 yards and the finishing touch was a 11-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Jones to Jafus Gaines.

Then at the 13:37 left in the first half their was a lightning delay that lasted 1:57.

Coming out of the delay the Bobcats had the ball and marched down the field but the drive ended in a 45-yard missed field goal by Jason Dann.

Illinois pins the Bobcats down at the 10-yard line but that’s not a problem for the offense as they march down 90-yards capped off by a Tyler Jones 1-yard touchdown run.

Illinois answers back with a 5 play 75-yard drive and Ferguson tallying his second touchdown of the day. Bobcats lead 21-13 at the half.

2nd Half:

Texas State’s offense starts with a 3 and out.

Illinois answers with a touchdown one play 33 yard pass that ends in a touchdown. Wes Lunt to Ferguson, who has three touchdown’s today (2 rushing, 1 receiving).

Illinois has now scored 19 unanswered points and leads 25-21 after Donovonn Young had a three-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion failed.

7:31 left in the third quarter and the momentum is clearly with Illinois as the Bobcat offense once again goes three and out. Defense needs to make a stop here before this one gets away from them.

Huge play by safety Colby Targun as he intercepts a Lunt pass and returns 23-yards to the Illinois 23-yard line. Bobcats take advantage of the turnover as Jones and Ijah hook-up again for the second time in the end zone. Bobcats lead 28-25 with 6:26 left in the third quarter.

Before the end of the third quarter, the Bobcats and Illinois have traded punts. Third quarter has ended and the Bobcats lead 28-25.

4th Quarter:

Illinois has a 3rd and 3 to start the quarter but fail to convert and are forced to punt, which ends up just trickling in the end zone for a touchback.

Penalties are issued on the first drive of the final quarter and are forced to punt.

Illinois starts the drive at their own 22 and three plays have it to midfield. Lunt is starting to get the passing game going. The drives continues and on third down in the red zone, Targun makes another huge play to force Illinois to attempt a 33-yard field. On the kick the Bobcats were called for running into the kicker extending the drive.

Illinois takes advantage of the penalty and scores a touchdown on an eight-yard pass from Lunt to Dudek. Illinois leads 32-28 with 7:42 left in the game.

Let’s see if the Bobcats can answer.

After a 38-yard kick off return by Brandon Smith the Bobcats move the ball to midfield but can’t convert a 3rd and 8 and are forced to punt with 6:02 left.

Illinois takes over at their own 27-yard line.

Bobcats have two timeouts remaining.

Illinois drives right down the field, but the defense comes up with a huge goal line stand forcing Illinois to kick a 19-yard field goal. Illinois leads 35-28 with 3:08 left in the game.

Bobcats drive ends with a 45-yard interception returned for a touchdown by Bently extending the lead to 42-28 with 2:41 left. Jones was targeting Ijah and Bently won the jump ball.

After the pick 6, Jones marches the Bobcats right down the field and scores a touchdown on an eight-yard pass to Brendan Smith to make things interesting at 42-35.

Bobcats can’t cover the onside kick and the game ends.

Illinois 42, Texas State 35.