The Bobcats take win over ULM Warhawks

By Santos Gonzalez

KTSW Sports Reporter

SAN MARCOS, Texas– Texas State took a major step toward bowl eligibility on Saturday with a complete 31 to 14 win over ULM this past Saturday. This was the 23rd meeting between the Bobcats and the Warhawks and the best way to end your time as conference opponents is to bring an all out defensive war 

The game opened as a stalemate. Both teams struggled to find rhythm in the first half and the only points before the break came on a Texas State field goal from Tyler Robles. Even with the slow start, the Bobcats dominated field position and kept ULM from sustaining drives while waiting for their offense to settle in. 

That momentum finally arrived in the third quarter. Texas State opened the half with a five play drive that covered 34 yards and ended with a 19 yard touchdown run by quarterback Brad Jackson. ULM answered on the very next series with its first breakthrough of the afternoon. The Warhawks marched 75 yards in ten plays and a 14 yard rushing score by Zach Palmer Smith punctuated the drive. 

Texas State did not wait long to respond. Jackson led an eleven play drive that covered 72 yards and extended the lead for the Bobcats. He found running back Lincoln Pare on a six yard touchdown pass that pushed the advantage to 17 to 7 late in the third. 

Early in the fourth quarter the Bobcats delivered their longest and most important scoring series of the night. Jackson directed a methodical nine play 95 yard drive that ended with a 16 yard touchdown strike to Beau Sparks. That score pushed the lead to 24 to 7 and effectively broke the game open. 

ULM kept the contest alive with another long answer of its own. The Warhawks moved 75 yards once again, this time in ten plays, and cut the deficit to 24 to 14 with a twelve yard touchdown run from Aidan Armenta. 

Texas State closed the door for good on its next possession. Jackson and the offense drained nearly six minutes off the clock on an eleven play 72 yard drive. Jackson capped it with a seven yard touchdown run with under two minutes remaining. The score extended the Bobcats lead to 31 to 14 and sealed their second straight win. 

The victory also featured history for junior receiver Beau Sparks who became only the second Bobcat ever to reach 1000 receiving yards in a single season. He is now just 204 yards shy of breaking the program record with one regular season game remaining. Head coach GJ Kinne praised Sparks after the game and emphasized how much he means to the team. 

“We got to go 1 and 0 first but I am super proud of Beau and really everything he has accomplished. He is just very selfless and a team guy. It is another great accomplishment for Beau,” said Kinne. 

The Bobcats have now stacked two straight wins after a difficult mid season stretch. Sparks said the energy has changed in the locker room over the last two weeks. 

“I just think our backs are against the wall and it is win or go home for us and that is our mindset every game. DonTerry Russell actually has just been unbelievable with the juice he has brought to the locker room and I am grateful to have him on the team and just as a team we got to win,” said Sparks.

With bowl eligibility now within reach, Sparks said the goal has been clear ever since the team’s loss to Louisiana. 

“I mean that is the goal right now. After we had that loss to Louisiana it was just the vibe that we get to a bowl and we do everything in our power to do that,” said Sparks. 

Kinne echoed that message as the team prepares for its final chance to secure a postseason berth next week. 

“The team is super fired up. You can feel it and you can see it in the way the locker room was in there. It is great for everything, great for us, great for recruiting, and I am just proud of those guys like I said,” said Kinne. “We were in a funk like a twilight zone and for them to be able to climb out of that these past couple of weeks speaks to the players and the coaching staff.” 

Texas State now heads into the final week of the regular season against South Alabama with momentum, confidence, and a chance to close out a historic year with a bowl appearance on the line. Next week will also be the Bobcats last game in the Sun Belt Conference before making their way to the PAC-12. The question that remains now is simple: Will the Bobcats continue their hot streak and make a bowl game for the third straight year, or will disappointment be the last recollection of their time in the Sun Belt?