SAN MARCOS, Texas - For Texas State kicker Steven Dietz, the third field goal try was the charm.
After having a potential game-winning field goal blocked in the final minute of regulation and hitting the upright in overtime, Dietz booted a 23-yard field goal in the second overtime to lift Texas State to a 31-28 victory over No. 23-ranked Southeastern before a crowd of 13,114 Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium.
Dietz' game-winner helped Texas State (2-1) defeat Southeastern (2-1) for the eighth time in as many games after the Lions missed on a pair of chances to take the win in overtime.
Texas State, which rushed for 365 yards on 62 carries against the Lions, took the opening possession but gained three yards on the drive after Derrick Mincey tackled Chase Wesson at the Southeastern 22. Dietz then attempted a 39-yard field goal that bounced off the right upright, giving Southeastern the ball.
Ray Perkins gained nine yards to the Bobcat 16 on the Lions first play and Terry Robinson rumbled 14 yards to the Texas State 2, but on the next play, Robinson fumbled the ball on a bad handoff and Epilson Williams recovered in the end zone to give the Bobcats another opportunity.
The Lions got the ball to start the second overtime and drove to the Texas State 5 before a false start penalty and a bad snap pushed the ball back to the 11. After a Martin Hankins pass fell incomplete, another false start penalty moved the ball back to the Texas State 16 and on third-and-goal, Jeremy Castillio broke up Hankins' pass to Felton Huggins forcing the Lions to kick the field goal.
Jim Hall, who earlier booted field goals of 27 and 28 yards, missed from 33 yards as his attempt went wide right. That gave Texas State its final opportunity as it drove to the Southeastern 6 and Dietz split the uprights for the game-winner.
That was sweet redemption for Dietz, whose 18-yard chipshot was blocked by Southeastern's Romaliz Mayo with 49 seconds remaining in regulation. The Bobcats, who led 28-21 after three quarters, had an opportunity to put the Lions away after forcing the Lions to punt with 6:38 remaining.
Hall's punt was downed at the Texas State 2 and on third-and-4 at their own 8, Wasson's pitch was bobbled by Douglas Sherman and Damien Huren recovered in the end zone to tie the score at 28-28.
Sherman rushed for 124 yards and scored on a 34-yard run in the third quarter that gave Texas State a 28-13 lead with 3:24 remaining. Terrell Harris added 121 yards for the Bobcats as they gained 428 yards of total offense. Wasson, starting in place of regular Bobcat quarterback Barrick Nealy, who missed the game with a rib injury, added 54 yards and pair of scores.
Hankins, who entered the game with 1,027 yards through the air in the first two games, completed 31-of-56 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown as he was constantly harassed by a blitzing Bobcat defense. Hutch Gonzales led all receivers with nine catches for 73 yards while Felton Huggins was held to five catches.
Perkins led Southeastern on the ground with 65 yards on 13 attempts and scored the Lions' first touchdown on a 2-yard run in the second quarter that tied the score at 7-7.
Southeastern will return to Strawberry Stadium next Saturday as it plays host to Southland Conference member Sam Houston State in a 6 p.m. kickoff.
#23 Southeastern La. vs Texas State (Sep 18, 2004 at San Marcos, Texas)
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 OT OT Score
Southeastern La..... 0 13 8 7 0 0- 28 Record: (2-0)
Texas State......... 0 14 14 0 0 3 - 31 Record: (1-1)
Scoring Summary
TXST - Terrell Harris 15 run (Steven Dietz)
SLU - Ray Perkins 2 run (Jim Hall kick)
TXST - Chase Wasson 5 run (Dietz kick)
SLU - FG Jim Hall 27
SLU - FG Hall 28
TXST - Wasson 9 run (Dietz kick)
TXST - Douglas Sherman 34 run (Dietz kick)
SLU - Brooks Jordan 13 pass from Martin Hankins (Robbie Scates pass from Hankins)
SLU - Damien Huren 2 fumble recovery (Hall kick)
TXST - FG Dietz 23
SLU TXST
FIRST DOWNS................... 26 22
RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 30-107 63-363
PASSING YDS (NET)............. 322 63
Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 57-31-2 18-6-1
TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 87-429 81-426
Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 0-0
Punt Returns-Yards............ 0-0 0-0
Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 3-59 2-48
Interception Returns-Yards.... 1--1 2-0
Punts (Number-Avg)............ 4-41.5 5-40.8
Fumbles-Lost.................. 5-3 3-2
Penalties-Yards............... 8-50 6-51
Possession Time............... 29:30 30:30
RUSHING: Southeastern La. - Ray Perkins 13-65; Terry Robinson 6-38; Choni Francis 2-8; Martin Hankins 2-6; Marcus Thompson 1-3; Mario Gilbert 1-1; TEAM 5-minus 14. Texas State - Terrell Harris 24-136; Douglas Sherman 14-123; Chase Wasson 15-53; Morris Brothers 9-52; Team 1-minus 1.
PASSING: Southeastern La. - Martin Hankins 31-57-2-322. Texas State - Chase Wasson 6-18-1-63.
RECEIVING: Southeastern La. - Hutch Gonzales 9-75; Felton Huggins 5-67; Josh Taylor 4-75; Robbie Scates 4-57; Choni Francis 4-4; Brooks Jordan 2-17; Ray Perkins 2-14; Jeffrey Howard 1-13. Texas State - K.R. Carpenter 3-19; Randal Moshier 1-24; John Tyson 1-14; Devin Freeman 1-6.
