Bobcats blown out at home against James Madison

TXST FOOTBALL

James Madison scored 24 points in the second half while the Bobcats were shut out in the same half as Texas State fell 52-20.

Texas State drops their fourth game in row, falling to 3-5 overall and 04 in conference play while James Madison improves to 7-1 and 5-0 in conference play.

“[We] didn’t play well enough and didn’t coach well enough to win versus a really good team,” Kinne said. ”We knew we’re going to have to play a really good game and the first drive we came out and then didn’t execute. We just didn’t start off the right way. The defense responded well early, and then we couldn’t stop them when it mattered.”

The Dukes struck first, scoring on a six-yard touchdown pass from Alonza Barnett III to Nick DeGennaro to put James Madison up 7-0.

After Texas State failed to convert on fourth down, the Dukes struck again. Barnett hit Wayne Knight for a 57-yard pass before running back Jordan Fuller scored on an eight-yard run, putting the Dukes up 14-0.

Following a Bobcat punt, James Madison looked to put their stamp on the game. However, the Texas State defense came up tall. Defensive back Jaden Rios made the interception at the Dukes 24-yard line.

The Bobcats captilzed on the turnover as quarterback Brad Jackson hit Mavin Anderson, while hurdling a defender, for the 14-yard touchdown pass, cutting the Dukes lead down to 14-7.

James Madison answered back with a nineplay 75-yard drive, ending with a three-yard touchdown run from Fuller to extend the Dukes lead to 21-7.

Jackson hit Anderson again for a 48-yard pass to put the Bobcats at the JMU 32-yard line. Texas State later kicked the field goal as Tyler Robles made a 35-yard kick, making it a 21-10 lead.

James Madison answered back with a 14yard touchdown pass from Barnett to Josh Phifer to go up 28-10.

Texas State answered back with a 10-play 75-- yard drive, ending with a Jackson four-yard touchdown run, cutting the deficit down to 28-17.

The Bobcat defense made the stop on the Dukes next possession, giving the ball back to Texas State at the Dukes 18-yard line. The Bobcats then drove down the field 55 yards before Robles kicked a 36-yard field to make it a 28-20 game at halftime.

James Madison scored on the first drive of the second half as Barnett hit DeGennaro for a 76yard touchdown pass, putting the Bobcats behind 35-20. The Bobcats looked to answer back but the Dukes came up with an interception and returned it back to the Bobcat 25-yard line.

James Madison scored again on a five-yard touchdown pass from Barnett from Logan Kyle, extending their lead to 42-20.

James Madison made their third interception of the game, ending with a two-yard touchdown run by Barnett to make it a 49-20 game.

In the fourth quarter, the Dukes tacked on a 31-yard field goal to extend the lead 52-20.

James Madison finished the game with over 500 yards of total offense compared to the Bobcats 352. Jackson finished the game passing for 230 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 43 yards and one touchdown along with throwing a career high three interceptions. Anderson had a career night, catching five passes for 96 yards and one touchdown.

“We have a little bit of time to figure it out, find our swagger back, our confidence, and go on the road to finish for these seniors,” Kinne said. “We still have an opportunity to go to a bowl and so we got to go out there and play well for [the seniors]. This is a great learning moment for the coaches, myself, for these players.

“We won’t quit. I know that. We’re going to come out, go to work and compete these last four games. But we have to get better. We need some things to change and something has to give. We have to play better so that’s all me and I’ll get it figured out.”

The Bobcats will be on the road next week against the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns