TXST FOOTBALL
The scoreboard read 31-14 in favor of the Bobcats over the Warhawks, but this game was bigger than that. This game was about keeping the season alive.
With six losses already on the season, including a five-game losing streak that was broken last week, Texas State came into the game knowing that a loss would end any chance of a third consecutive bowl game. Texas State Head Coach G.J. Kinne said that a stretch like that “makes you soul search.” The last two weeks, it seems the Bobcats might have found something.
The defense has been criticized throughout the year, but it has now performed well over the last two games. This week, it may have saved Texas State’s season.
The struggles on offense started after two successful punts from ULM pinned the TXST deep in their own territory. The Bobcats dodged disaster on their second possession, after Lincoln Pare narrowly exited the end zone before Texas State punted on a three-and-out.
The third possession of the game ended similarly, with the Bobcats punting from their own end zone once again.
However, the defense continued to hold strong. The Warhawks saw some success early on with a seven-play, 32yard drive on their first possession to take control of field position, but at the end of the first quarter, ULM had only gained 44 total yards.
After finally getting out of their own end zone, freshman quarterback Brad Jackson led Texas State on a 14-play, 71yard drive including connecting twice with tight end Blake Smith. But the offense stalled in the red zone. Kicker Tyler Robles hit a 30-yard field goal to put the first three points on the scoreboard.
The Bobcat defense continued to hold strong led by the center of the defensive line. Defensive tackle Devarrick Woods pushed into the backfield on first down to tackle running back Braylon McReynolds three yards behind the line of scrimmage eventually forcing a three-and-out.
It appeared the Texas State offense was beginning to wake up putting together a second consecutive long drive. Pare turned two passes in the backfield into big gains as the ‘Cats pushed deep into the red zone again. But on third down and 12, Jackson was picked off by ULM’s David Godsey Jr.
ULM couldn’t muster much against the Bobcat defense, only gaining 69 yards in the first half with 25 of that coming in the second quarter.
Texas State was able to gain 149 yards in the first half, largely through the air, but the interception kept them from putting many points on the board. With 28 yards receiving in the first half, Sparks became the first Bobcat wide receiver to cross the 1,000-yard receiving mark in a season since Cameron Luke in 2008. Luke accomplished the feat twice in 2007 and 2008. They are the only two receivers in program history to have 1,000 yards receiving in a single season.
Coming out in the second half, the Bobcats turned the game up on both ends. The defense continued to stifle the Warhawks. Receiving the kickoff to start the second half, ULM was quickly forced into a fourth-down and one at their own 35 yards. A run up the middle by McReynolds was met in the hole by senior edge Kenard Snyder for no gain to force the turnover on downs.
“Those guys really came together, and they’re practicing really hard,” Kinne said. “I thought that fourth down stop [at the beginning of the second half ] was maybe the play of the game.”
From there, the game belonged to Jackson.
After one first down run by Greg Burrell up the middle for 11 yards, Jackson took off on third down and scrambled for 19 yards to score the first touchdown of the game making it 10-0 with 11:10 left in the third quarter.
The Warhawk offense, which came into the game as one of the worst in the country averaging only 308 yards total per game this season, came alive. A 20-yard pass from quarterback Aidan Armenta to Jonathan Bibbs softened the Texas State defense. Alternating between gashing runs and solid passes, the Warhawks marched down the field before running back Zach Palmer-Smith ran it in for a 14-yard touchdown. The score was 107, with the Bobcats leading, with 7:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Head Coach G.J. Kinne said that freshman quarterback Brad Jackson is “going to go down as the best player that’s ever played” at Texas State. He threw for two touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns against ULM. Daily Record photos by Gerald Castillo
Back on offense, Jackson showed why he is one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in college football. He completed six of seven passes and ran for a 22-yard scramble to lead Texas State on a 11-play 72-yard drive that culminated in a sixyard touchdown pass to Pare to make the score 17-7 with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter.
Closing out the third quarter the Bobcat defense held once again. Palmer-Smith hit the ‘Cats with a 14-yard gain, but that was the only yardage gained on the drive. Another stellar punt from Warhawk punter Makenzie Ryan cornered the ‘Cats at the five-yard line once again, but Burrell took the ball 42 yards up the left sideline to clear the way as the quarter ended. Texas State offense gained 179 yards and scored two touchdowns in the quarter.
It didn’t take long for the Bobcats to bring it home with 11:30 left in the fourth quarter, Jackson found Sparks for a 16-yard touchdown to bring the score to 24-7.
Louisiana Monroe responded with a big drive themselves finding success on the ground as Texas State began to try to prevent the big play. Armenta ran it in himself from 12 yards out, but the drive took nearly four minutes off the clock.
The Bobcats still had a two-score lead with 7:37 left in the game.
Five straight runs to Pare got the Bobcats three first downs. Jackson added a 13-yard run himself to keep the clock rolling on the way to an 11-play, 72-yard drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock. Jackson would take the ball in for a score himself from seven yards out, his second rushing touchdown of the game, to make the score 31-14.
“”When we’re able to run the ball like we did in the second half, we’re really tough to beat,” Kinne said. “So a lot of credit to the offensive line as well and those running backs.“ Jackson led the way passing and rushing for Texas State. He was 2532 passing for 201 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also added 88 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
Pare had 76 yards on the ground and Burrell added 61. Sparks led the team in receiving with 10 receptions for 68 yards and one touchdown. Chris Dawn Jr. had seven receptions for 60 yards Pare had five receptions for 37 yards and a touchdown.
With bowl eligibility at stake and one more chance at home, Texas State now turns toward South Alabama. The game kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29 at UFCU Stadium.
“This is our Super Bowl,” Kinne said. “I know it’s Thanksgiving and all that, but man, don’t go home. Don’t go see your family. Go eat, but do all that on Sunday. We need everyone here supporting our guys, because this is an opportunity to go jump in that river and extend the season for these seniors.”
Greg Burrell has solidified himself as the second half of a one-two punch with running back Lincoln Pare. Burrell had 51 yards tonight including a game-long 42 yard run. Daily Record photos by Gerald Castillo
