TXST FOOTBALL
The Bobcats will look to break their two-game losing streak as Texas State goes on the road to face Louisiana Monroe in a battle with the Warhawks. Both Texas State and ULM enter their showdown on Saturday with two-game losing streaks with the Warhawks one win away from bowl eligibility.
“They have a good team,” Head Coach G.J. Kinne said. “It starts up front for them. They have recruited really well and play really hard. That Troy game, you look at the kind of energy they played with and knocked two quarterbacks out of the game.”
Kinne commented on the physical style of play the Warhawks have transitioned to under new Head Coach Bryan Vicent and how the Bobcats must match their physicality.
“They are tough,” Kinne said. “They pride themselves on being tough and physical, so we have to match that physicality.”
The ULM offense is led by running back Ahmad Hardy, who leads the team in rushing with 144 carries for 811 yards and seven touchdowns. Against Marshall, Hardy ran for 207 yards on 25 carries and one touchdown.
At the quarterback position, Aidan Armenta has taken over the position from starter General Booty. Armenta has passed for 779 yards and seven touchdowns for the Warhawks.
Helping Armenta in the passing game is wide receiver Jake Godfrey, who has caught 14 passes for 197 yards and one touchdown. Behind Godfrey in receiving yards is receiver Davon Wells. Wells has caught 21 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns.
The Warhawk defense has allowed 27.7 points per game through seven games.
The history of the Texas State-Louisiana Monroe series dates back to 1986. Both teams played at the FCS level of Division 1 football before the Bobcats joined the Southland Conference a year later.
Louisiana Monroe dominated the series from 1986 to 1993, winning seven of the eight games. Texas State’s lone win against the Warhawks came during the 1989 season when the Bobcats upset then No. 12 ULM 26-7.
ULM would make the transition to FBS in 1994, which meant that the series would not be played until 2000 when the Warhawks hosted the Bobcats. Texas State pulled off the upset again, beating the Warhawks 27-7.
The teams went on hiatus until the 2013 season when Texas State joined the Sun Belt Conference. The Bobcats and the Warhawks have remained conference rivals ever since.
ULM won the first meeting as Sun Belt Conference members before the Bobcats rattled off two straight wins. The Warhawks then won the next four meetings between the two teams before Texas State snapped the streak in 2020.
The Bobcats won their next meeting during the 2021 season before the Warhawks returned the favor in 2022.
In their last meeting, Texas State trailed 20-9 with less than five minutes remaining in the game before scoring two touchdowns to stun Louisiana Monroe 21-20.
Kickoff for Texas State-ULM is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday in Monroe, Louisiana. The game will also be broadcast on ESPNU.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
