By Tyler Mayforth
Travis Houston looked around Bobcat Stadium after practice ended Wednesday afternoon.
While Houston shivered due to the chill in the air, he said memories from the past four years were trying to keep him warm. Houston is one of 16 seniors at Texas State who will play their last games Saturday afternoon when the Bobcats host Sam Houston State.
“I’ve walked the same route every day since I was 18-years old,” Houston said. “I’m 22 now. Man, I feel old.”
If Houston is feeling his age, imagine how Bradley George feels.
George, who is one of seven four-year lettermen, started his collegiate career when he was 22. The 27-year-old quarterback played four seasons of professional baseball before returning to the gridiron.
He redshirted in 2005, but has developed every year as a quarterback since. George shattered two all-time school records this season (passing and total offensive yards) previously held by Barrick Nealy.
“This year has been something else,” George said. “I knew it was going to be my last, so I’ve held nothing back. My only regret is that we can’t get back to the playoffs.”
Texas State’s playoff hopes evaporated last week in its 30-27 loss to McNeese State. The Bobcats and Cowboys traded scoring drives and huge defensive stops for 59 minutes, 20 seconds.
After McNeese drilled the eventual game-winning field goal with 1:30 remaining in the fourth quarter, George led an inspired drive on the ensuing possession. Unfortunately, George didn’t put enough on a pass intended for Corey Scott and it was picked off by the Cowboys’ Malcolm Bronson with 40 seconds left.
“I sat in the locker room after that game, just thinking, ‘Man, we’re probably not going to win a ring again,’” George said. “I’m thankful that I have a couple rings and we won last year, but you always want to go out on top.”
While Texas State can’t make the FCS playoffs, it can still hold out hope to be co-conference champions. If the Bobcats handle business against the Bearkats, they just need Northwestern State (0-10) to beat Stephen F. Austin and Central Arkansas to stop McNeese.
“We some serious things to happen,” George said. “Maybe lightning will strike. We just have to come out to play to give ourselves that shot.”
Texas State and SHSU have turned in thrilling games in each of the last four years.
The Bobcats thumped the Bearkats at Bowers Stadium in 2006 and had the favored returned to them with a last-minute touchdown pass by SHSU in 2007. Those games pale in comparison to the excitement last year’s installment provided.
Texas State trailed by eight points at halftime, but stormed back to take a 42-35 lead with 1:08 left in regulation on an Alvin Canady 2-yard touchdown run.
“It was crazy, because we were on the sideline and Coach (Wright) got us prepared for overtime,” Canady, now a senior, said after the game. “I think it helped us to get our mindset right. Anything could happen and it did.”
The Bearkats answered with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Rhett Bomar to Jason Madkins with four seconds left to tie the game.
SHSU took the ball first in overtime, but the Bobcats got the last laugh. Texas State running back Karrington Bush waltzed in on a 5-yard touchdown run to send the Bobcats to the FCS playoffs.
“As soon as Karrington scored, that had to be my favorite memory here at Texas State,” Houston said. “We were so revved up for that game the whole week and for it to end that way was — I can’t even put it into words.”
If the Bobcats beat the Bearkats for the 49th time in school history, it won’t send them to the playoffs. It won’t even win Texas State a share of the SLC championship — unless something gets into the Demons’ water.
A win, though, would send one of the Bobcats’ most successful senior classes out winners.
“It’s always a tough game,” Canady said. “It’s an in-state game. We beat Stephen F. (Austin) and if we beat Sam, we’ll be Texas champs. If not just that, we (the seniors) can leave with the program continuing to head to the next level.”
