Texas State one win away from bowl eligibility

By Keilani DeLuna

KTSW Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Bobcats are officially 5-2 for the first time in their FBS history and first time overall since 2011. In front of the greatest crowd in Bobcat history—27,537—the Bobcats defeated the Louisiana Warhawks 21–20 in a close game played at Bobcat Stadium. 

The Bobcats lost last season’s matchup against the Warhawks when Seth Keller of Texas State missed the game-winning field goal with seven seconds remaining after the Bobcats recovered the ball on a fumble with a minute and a half remaining. The Bobcats lost to ULM, 31-30 in Monroe. Texas State has won 2 of the last 3 meetings against ULM but trails 6-13 in the all-time series. 

The Louisiana Warhawks came into this game after a loss last weekend to the South Alabama Jaguars and the Bobcats suffered a close loss as well to the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. This matchup in the first quarter started off very slow for the Bobcats. Five minutes into the first quarter, Mason Shipley converted a 29-yard field goal. Nev

ertheless, the Warhawks did not let up. Isaiah Woullard was able to close out the first quarter by receiving a 10-yard pass from Jiya Wright. 

Mason Shipley’s field goals and the Bobcats’ strong defense, which forced the Warhawks to punt four times on their first seven possessions- gave them a 9–7 lead at the half. The Bobcat’s defense is what carried this game. Midway through the second quarter, the Texas State defense added another goal-line stop, stuffing the Warhawks on back-to-back plays on the Bobcat one-yard line, to preserve the two-point advantage. Head Coach G.J. Kinne said, “Defense came to play tonight, and felt like their backs were against the wall. Give a lot of credit to our defensive staff for having these guys prepared.” 

Halfway through the third quarter, a 47-yard field goal by ULM gave them the lead. After forcing Texas State to turn the ball over on downs, the Warhawks added another field goal to take a 13–9 lead. 

On the next play, Finley was intercepted by Ja’Terious Evans which Evans returned for a 76-yard touchdown- allowing the Bobcats to move the ball and get to the ULM 28-yard line. This was Finley’s third inception of the season, but he remained unfazed. 

In the final four minutes of play, TJ Finley’s two touchdown throws to Joey Hobert drove the Texas State Bobcats’ remarkable fourth-quarter comeback. When asked about Finley’s and Hobert’s relationship on the sideline, Hobert expressed, “When you find two people like Tj and I, it’s not just oh I can beat them, it’s okay I can beat them because I see this coverage, I see them rotating, if you do see it, I’ll be there.” 

On October 28, the Bobcats will return to action with their homecoming game against Troy at 2:00 p.m.