TXST FOOTBALL
Texas State suffered their first loss of the season as the Bobcats fell to the Arizona State Sun Devils 34-15.
The loss drops Texas State’s overall record to 21 while the Sun Devils improve to 2-1 on the season.
“A lot of credit to Arizona State,” Kinne said. “That’s a really good football team. They outcoached and outplayed us tonight. All we can do is get back to work and get a better gameplan next week. I told the guys in the locker room when you play a really good team like that on the road, we have to start faster.
“It was a good learning moment and this game will make us better in the long run. We’ll go backto- back, fix the mistakes and have a better showing next week at home.”
The Bobcats punted on their first drive of the game as Arizona State started on their own 43yard line.
Driving down to the Texas State 35-yard line, the Sun Devils went for it on fourth down only for the Bobcats to force the incomplete pass.
Texas State was unable to do anything on their next drive, and was forced to punt again. Arizona State then went on a 5play, 39-yard drive as the Sun Devils kicked the 47yard field goal to go up 30.
Tight end Blake Smith celebrates getting the first down for the Bobcats. Photo submitted by Texas State Athletics
Texas State responded with a drive of their own, moving down to the Arizona State 21-yard line before kicker Tyler Robles booted a 39-yard field goal, tying the game at 33.
The Sun Devils answered the Bobcats field goal with a touchdown drive. Going down to the Bobcat 30-yard line, the Sun Devils scored on a touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to Jordan Tyson who made an acrobatic catch before tip-toeing down the sidelines to dive for the touchdown.
Disaster struck for the Bobcats on their next offensive possession as Texas State fumbled the ball to put Arizona State on the Bobcat 31-yard line.
The Sun Devils capitalized by scoring on a oneyard quarterback sneak by Leavitt, extending the lead to 17-3.
In desperation mode, the Bobcats went for it on fourth down from the Arizona State 35-yard line, only to come up short as the pass from Brad Jackson to Kylen Evans fell incomplete.
The Sun Devils tacked on another score on the next possession, kicking a 26-yard field goal, to push their lead 20-3.
The Bobcats looked to add on another score before halftime, kicking a 54-yard field goal but the ball hit the cross bar.
In the second half, Arizona State scored on their opening possession as Leavitt hit Chamon Metayer for a 27-yard touchdown pass, putting the Sun Devils up 27-3.
After struggling offensively in the first half, the Bobcats put together a touchdown drive. Driving down to the Arizona State seven-yard line, Texas State scored their first touchdown of the game as Jackson scored on a fourth down rush, cutting the Arizona State lead to 27-9 after the Bobcats failed to convert on the two-point conversion.
But the Sun Devils slammed the door on any slight Bobcat comeback hopes as running back Raleek Brown ran for a 75-yard touchdown run, putting Arizona State up 34-9.
The Bobcats added their final touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter as Jackson hit wide receiver Kylen Evans with a three-yard touchdown pass, making the final 3515.
Texas State will look to regroup Saturday when the Bobcats host Nicholls in the renewal of the Battle for the Paddle. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
