The Bobcats rolled up over 600 yards of offense, including 392 total rushing yards, as Texas State defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles 52-27.
Head Coach G.J. Kinne and the Bobcats improved to 1-0 for the season, having won their third consecutive season and home opener since taking over the program in 2023.
“That's a good way to start the season,” Kinne said. “We had some ups and downs, especially that first half. You saw some of the inexperience show up but I thought we came out to play. The coaches put together a really good game plan, went out there and executed, man.”
It was the first start for freshman quarterback Brad Jackson who passed for 214 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Senior running back Lincoln Pare rushed for 167 yards on 12 carries and scored one touchdown while running back Greg Burrell rushed for 79 yards on seven carries and one touchdown.
“I thought Brad played really well,” Kinne said. ”I felt like a vet out there. Besides probably one play, he did everything he was asked to do. We were explosive, we were able to run the ball. It was good to see.”
Texas State struck first on their opening possession as Jackson hit Beau Sparks on the 16-yard slant pass before scoring, giving the Bobcats a 7-0 lead.
Eastern Michigan responded by driving inside the Bobcat 10-yard line only for the Texas State defense to hold the Eagles to just a field goal.
The Bobcats immadietly answered back as Jackson hit Sparks again for a 15-yard touchdown pass, extending their lead 14-3.
Eastern Michigan attempted to answer back on their next drive but a sack by cornerback Jaden Rio on the blitz attempt put the Eagles behind the chains and forced the punt.
The Bobcats fumbled the ball on their next drive but were able to recover the ball as Texas State was forced to punt.
The Eagles answered back with a touchdown drive, ending with a two-yard score. The Bobcats responded with another drive into EMU territory, ending with a 24-yard field goal from Tyler Robles.
The Bobcat defense came up with a three-out on the Eagles next possesion to give the ball back to the offense.
Starting at their own eight yard run, Pare broke free for a 53-yard run to move the Bobcats into Eastern Michigan territory. Pare capped off the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run, extending the Bobcat lead to 24-10.
Eastern Michigan scored with 12 seconds before halftime, scoring on a 16-yard touchdown pass to make the game one-possesion at 24-17.
The Bobcat defense stopped the Eastern Michigan offense on their first drive of the second half, giving the ball back to the Texas State offense.
The Bobcats went on an 80-yard drive, ending with Jackson hitting Sparks for the third time in the endzone on a three-yard touchdown pass to put Texas State up 31-17.
Linebacker Terrence Cooks II gave the Bobcat defense one of the biggest plays of the game, sacking the quarterback on third down to force a second consecutive Eagle punt.
The next Texas State offensive drive ended with another touchdown as Jackson hit Sparks for the fourth time in the game on a five-yard touchdown pass to put Texas State up 38-17. Sparks tied a program record for most touchdown catches in a single game, set by Cameron Luke in 2007 against Stephen F. Austin.
“I just think it starts with just coming together every day and just working,” Sparks said. “We put a lot of work in from spring to fall camp, and it just all came together, which was really good to see.”
The Bobcat defense forced another three and out on the Eastern Michigan offense as the Eagles punted for the third consecutive time.
The drive ended in another touchdown for Texas State as running back Greg Burrell scored on a 15-yard touchdown run, putting the Bobcats up 45-17.
Eastern Michigan tacked on a field goal on their next drive before the Bobcats put in their second team offense. Running back Jaylon Jenkins added the final touchdown for Texas State, rushing for a 58-yard touchdown run.
Eastern Michigan scored a touchdown on their final drive to end the game at 52-27.
Texas State returns to play this Saturday for the I-35 Rivalry as the Bobcats battle the UTSA Roadrunners. The Roadrunners are coming off a 42-24 loss to Texas A&M in the season opener.
Kickoff for Texas State-UTSA is set for this Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Alamodome.
