Texas State Bobcats Secure Season-Opening Victory Against Lamar

By Audrey Pasillas

KTSW Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State Bobcats claimed their season opener 34-27 victory against the Lamar Cardinals on Saturday night. With 19,637 in attendance, Texas State did not fail to put on a show for all in UFCU Stadium.

The Bobcats kicked off the 2024 season with new quarterback Jordan McCloud, connecting with wide receiver Jaden Williams for a 34-yard pass on their first drive. This steered the Bobcats to a 15-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, followed by a field goal boosting them to 18 points. McCloud threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns in his first game as a Texas State Bobcat while the Cardinals struggled to get in the red zone in the first half.

A notable aspect of Texas State football games is Joey Hobert’s fourth-quarter touchdowns, Hobert received a 37-yard pass from McCloud and in ‘Joe Dirt’ fashion, merely stepping out of bounds, launched himself into the end zone. With only five minutes left in the second half, McCloud threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to his receiver as he hurdled over Lamar’s defensive backs to put the Bobcats up 34-17.

“That was a lot more film review, you know we watched film for the past two weeks on these guys and when those [defensive backs] get in one-on-one situation they like to dive low,” Hobert said. “As soon as I ran clear and saw him, I was like well, I’m not going to slow down so he thinks I’m going to do it, so I just ran and went for it.”

Texas State wide receiver Joey Hobert goes airborne while attempting to break a tackle from Lamar defensive back DeJuan Lewis at UFCU Stadium. | Beau Kelly

Lamar quarterback Robert Coleman set up wide receiver Jayden Boyd for a 9-yard touchdown in the final minutes of the second half, giving the Cardinals a chance to close the gap with it being 34-24. As the Texas State defense tried to close out the game, kicker Chris Esqueda kicked a 27-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining to cap the score at 34-27.

Ismail Mahdi proved once again why he is one of the top running backs in the country, rushing for 156 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown at the end of the first quarter. Mahdi was named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, Maxwell Award Watch List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List, and Preseason All-Star Sun Belt First Team before the 2024 season started.

Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi is in mid-stride as he prowls down the field at UFCU Stadium. | Beau Kelly

“I feel like that’s the best thing that happened to us, the way they came out and played. Just to show us that we can’t get caught up on the expectations, there’s a lot of work we have to do,” Mahdi said. “I feel like that’s the perfect thing that could have happened to us, is for them to come out and show us that we have to wake up.”

The Bobcats will host the highly anticipated matchup vs. I-35 rivalry, the UTSA Roadrunners, on Saturday, September 7th at 3 pm at UFCU Stadium. Be sure to watch and listen to Texas State Football on ESPNU and KTSW 89.9.