Joe Knows: Bobcats try to Look Past Last Week

BY: JOE GARCIA, SPORTS COLUMNIST

@JoeGarcia

The Texas State Bobcats travel to Champaign, Ill. with sore feet this week – and not from practicing.

After their 35-21 loss to the U.S. Naval Academy last Saturday night, Coach Dennis Franchione, quarterback Tyler Jones and running back Robert Lowe all had the same thing to say: “We shot ourselves in the foot.”

Of course, the key stat to take away from that game is 11 penalties for 124 yards. Perhaps the ones that hurt the most took place on Texas State’s second drive.

After the Bobcats drove down to the Navy 2-yard line, an offensive facemask infraction set Texas State back to the 17-yard line. The very next play, the Bobcats were called for holding, in addition to Franchione drawing a flag for expressing his displeasure with the situation. That flag marked off another 15 yards, setting up a third down and 39 to go from the Navy 42. The drive ended with a missed field goal off the upright.

That series of plays and penalties summed up how the night would finish for the Bobcats, who downright played a tough, competitive game, coming up just short.

Now the Texas State football team turns its attention to the Big Ten’s Illinois Fighting Illini. Illinois enters the game 2-1, after taking down Youngstown State and the ex-Sun Belt Conference team, Western Kentucky. The Illini, however, come off a 44-19 beat down on the road against the 3-0 Washington Huskies.

Illinois players to watch:

Like the Bobcats, the Illini will also tout a sophomore quarterback in Wes Lunt. This season he’s passed for 971 yards with nine touchdowns, which is good for first in the Big Ten.

Junior receiver Geronimo Allison is expected to be an impact player. Allison is Lunt’s favorite target and through three games has 300 yards on 16 catches and two touchdowns. On the ground Illinois will utilize the duo of Josh Ferguson and Donovonn Young.

On defense the Illini are led by linebackers Earnest Thomas III, T.J. Near Jr and Mason Monheim (31 tackles). Free safety Taylor Barton returned an interception 77 yards for a touchdown and forced a fumble against Western Kentucky two weeks ago.

On special teams junior returner V’Angelo Bentley leads the FBS in combined kick returns with 349 total yards.

Texas State will certainly have a full plate come Saturday afternoon, but should be confident and ready for a very winnable game against a Big Ten foe after hanging tough with Navy last week. Saturday marks the first time the two schools have met on the gridiron, and will be the season’s initial road test for the ‘Cats, who will look for fewer yellow hankies on the field this time around. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. CST on ESPNews.