Texas State Eliminates Cal Poly

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Douglas Sherman rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown and quarterback Barrick Nealy had 264 total yards and a score to lead Texas State to a 14-7 win over Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on Saturday in a Division I-AA quarterfinal playoff game.

Sherman’s five-yard touchdown late in the third quarter put Texas State (11-2) ahead, 14-0, and the Bobcats held on after the Mustangs (9-4) scored on James Noble’s eight-yard run with 4:11 left.

Texas State will play host to Northern Iowa, which beat New Hampshire, 24-21, in the semifinals next weekend.

Nealy, who put the Bobcats ahead to stay on a 17-yard run in the first quarter, threw an eight-yard pass to Markee White on fourth and five with under a minute left to clinch the victory.

Nealy completed 18 of 32 passes for 211 yards with two interceptions, and he had 18 carries for 53 yards to offset five sacks and 11 tackles for loss from the Cal Poly defense.

Noble led Cal Poly with 85 rushing yards.