TXST FOOTBALL
Bobcats clinch bowl eligibility with historic offensive performance
It was a historic night for Texas State as the Bobcats produced 703 total yards of offense en route to a 58-3 win over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
With the win, the Bobcats and Head Coach G.J. Kinne are bowl eligible for the second straight season, improving their record to 6-4 and celebrated by jumping into the San Marcos River.
“It was a fun and huge night for the university, football program and everyone involved,” Kinne said after the river jump. “Any time you can get bowl eligible for the second year in a row is special. You want to celebrate it and what better way to do that than jumping in [the river] with your guys.”
Going into the game, the Bobcats were not only playing for bowl eligibility but also on homecoming night with many alumni coming back to their alma mater. Kinne stressed the importance of homecoming and sending the fans home happy.
“I thought we played clean and executed really well,” Kinne said. “The message before the game was to play for each other, have fun and embrace the moment. It’s homecoming, so whether it’s little league, middle school or high school, it doesn’t matter. Homecoming is special.
“We wanted to put on a show for everyone tonight. and we were able to accomplish that.”
The Bobcats struck the first blow, driving down to the Southern MIss 11-yard line before quarterback Jordan McCloud hit running back Ismail Mahdi for the passing score to take the lead 7-0.
McCloud struck again for the Bobcats, finding tight end Konner Fox for the 23-yard touchdown pass, pushing their lead to 14-0.
The Bobcats drove down to the Southern Miss 10-yard line before freshman quarterback Brad Jackson scored his third rushing touchdown of the season to extend the lead 21-0.
After the field goal, the Bobcats struck again when McCloud hit Jaden Williams for a 29-yard touchdown to extend the lead 27-3 after a missed extra point.
Southern Miss stopped their first Bobcat offensive drive of the game when the Golden Eagles made an interception and returned the ball back to the Texas State 45-yard line.
However, the Bobcat defense came up with their first turnover of the game when defensive back Trez Moore came up with the interception.
The Bobcats capitalized on the interception by driving down to the Southern Miss 15-yard line before McCloud found Mahdi again for a 15-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead 34-3 with just 34 seconds left in the second quarter.
After stopping the Southern Miss offense on their first offensive drive of the season, Texas State continued their offensive dominance.
Running back Torrance Burgess Jr. broke free for a 63-yard rushing touchdown, making it a 41-3 game.
The Bobcats stopped Southern Miss on fourth down before Texas State drove down to inside the Golden Eagle seven-yard line with Jackson taking over at quarterback.
A penalty pushed the Bobcats back before settling for the 40-yard field goal kicked by Shipley to make it a 44-3 game.
The Bobcats struck again when Jackson hit wide receiver Drew Donley on the screen pass before Donley took off for a 60-yard touchdown pass, extending the lead 51-3.
Following another fourth down stop by the Bobcat defense, Texas State struck again. Running back Lincoln Pare carried the ball and delivered a couple of stiff arms before rushing for a 68yard touchdown to make it a 58-3 game.
Texas State will play their final home game next Saturday against the Georgia State Panthers.
cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc
