Bearkats Bully Bobcats in Heartbreaking Fashion

By Daven Meredith 

 Houston TX- Sam Houston quarterback Hunter Watson ran for 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns, propelling the Bearkats past the Bobcats in the H-Town Showdown rivalry.  

Watson’s Saturday performance is his second consecutive game with over 100 rushing yards, the first time a Bearkat quarterback has done so in program history. Watson punched in two touchdowns while adding to the Bearkats dominant ground-and-pound offense that combined for 298 rushing yards compared to the Bobcats’ 91, leading to the Bearkats comeback victory. 

Texas State found themselves up 22 points in the first quarter after redshirt senior wide receiver Joey Hobert snagged two touchdown receptions and a Bearkat fumble forced by redshirt freshman defensive end Jason Landry that was scooped and scored by redshirt linebacker Kenney Haynes. The Bobcats would continue to play with the lead throughout the game but never trailing until the fourth quarter. 

The Bearkats comeback was spearheaded by Bobcat penalties, mishaps and the backfield of Watson and fifth-year senior running back Jay Ducker. The pair combined for 174 rushing yards and five touchdowns.  

The Bobcat’s penalties and mistakes piled up throughout the game. Texas State had 11 penalties for 88 yards compared to the Bearkats 40 yards. Junior Kole Wilsons muffed punt, and two failed 4th down conversions by the offense led to Bearkats scores, one occurring on the Bobcat’s own 19-yard line. Coach GJ Kinne spoke on the botched calls throughout the game. 

“We’re going to have to get back to work tomorrow,” Kinne said. “We have to come together, and we have to coach them a whole lot better than that if we’re going to win any more games.” 

Bobcats redshirt junior kicker Mason Shipley went 1-2, producing a career and program-high 60-yard field goal right before the end of the first half, putting the Bobcats up 32-21, but missed a costly 36-yard field goal that would have required the Bearkats offense to find the endzone to win the game.   

Watson and Ducker would drive the Bearkats down the field, leading to redshirt junior kicker Pavon, Christians’ made 21-yard field goal, giving the Bearkats their first lead of the game, 40-39, with nine seconds in the fourth quarter, eventually completing the 22-point comeback victory and the largest comeback victory in Bearkat football history eclipsing the 2021 FCS national championship comeback win at 21 points. 

The Bobcats have lost back-to-back games heading into conference play. Kinne spoke on the team’s discipline, and the difference between Maroon and Gold wins and losses. 

“We got to come together, coach better and be more disciplined,” Kinne said. “That’s the bottom line. We have to be more disciplined if you’re going to win the games.” 

The Bobcats look to bounce back from their two-game skid as they open Sun Belt Conference play on the road against the Troy Trojans at Veteran Memorial Stadium on Oct. 3 at 6:00 p.m.