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Texas State was unable to come away with a win on senior night, losing to the Georgia State Panthers 52-44.
The Bobcats and Head Coach G.J. Kinne fell to 6-5 for the season while the Panthers improved to 3-8 as Texas State was plagued with four turnovers and allowing over 500 yards of offense.
“We didn’t play well enough to win,” Kinne said. “You can’t turn the ball over like that and we didn’t have enough answers on defense. No excuses. We have to get back to work. … That’s all you can do.”
Despite the Bobcats coming back from a 45-21 deficit to make it a one possession game, Texas State could not overcome their mistakes.
“We didn’t execute well enough,” Kinne said. “We have to learn how to handle success and adversity. I thought we started out pretty well offensively and obviously not on defense. Then in the second half, I thought the defense played a little bit better but the offense couldn’t get it going.
“We had a lot of guys out there fighting and not giving up. I appreciate that from the guys that there is no quit but we just have to play better.”
The Bobcats fell behind early after the offense went three and out. Georgia State drove down the field before running back Michel Dukes scored a 23-yard touchdown run to take a 7-0 for the Panthers.
After the touchdown, the Bobcats answered back. Converting on fourth down on a 3-yard run by running back Deion Hankins, running back Torrance Burgess Jr. scored from 17-yards out on the direct snap to tie the game at 7-7.
The Texas State defense was able to bounce back and force a three and out on the Georgia State next possession. Wide receiver Beau Sparks then returned the punt 40 yards back to the Panther 16-yard line.
Using the good field position, quarterback Jordan McCloud hit wide receiver Chris Dawn Jr. on the 10-yard touchdown for the Bobcats to take their first lead at 14-7.
The Georgia State offense was able to rebound on their next offensive possession, driving down to inside the 10-yard line after converting on fourth down.
The Panthers scored on a 7-yard rushing touchdown from running back Freddie Brock, tying the game at 14-14.
Going into the second quarter, the Bobcats drove to inside the 10-yard line. McCloud hit Dawn Jr for the seven-yard touchdown pass to take back the lead at 21-14. On the touchdown pass, McCloud set a new school record for most passing touchdowns in a single season with 27, breaking Bradley George’s record of 26 set in 2008.
“He is a really good player,” Kinne said. “It’s one of those things he can look back on after the season and enjoy it. … It’s disappointing [about the loss] but I’m really happy for him for his individual success this year.”
Georgia State answered back on their next drive. Quarterback Christian Veilleux hit wide receiver Dorian Fleming on the 30-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 21-21.
The Panther defense got a critical stop on the Bobcat offense, stopping Texas State on third down from their own 44-yard line.
Georgia State continued to drive the ball on the Bobcat defense, going down to the Texas State 22-yard line.
The Panthers struck again, scoring on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Veilleux to Fleming, allowing Georgia State to take the lead 28-21.
Disaster struck for the Bobcats on their next offensive possession. The Panthers picked off the pass and returned it back to the Texas State eight-yard line.
Georgia State later scored on a 11-yard touchdown pass from Veilleux to Fleming, extending the lead to 35-21.
The turnover bug struck the Bobcats again who were trying to score before halftime. Texas State moved the ball down to the Georgia State 39-yard line but the Bobcats fumbled the ball as the Panthers recovered.
Georgia State capitalized on the turnover by kicking the field goal and extending their lead 38-21.
The Bobcat defense kicked off the second half with a three-and-out to force Georgia State to punt on their opening possession.
Texas State drove down to the Panther one-yard line but were ultimately stopped short of the goal line.
The Bobcat defense didn’t give up a yard to the Panther offense, forcing Georgia State to punt from their own one-yard line.
Texas State took over from the Georgia State 27-yard line but the turnover bug struck again.
The Bobcats fumbled the ball as the Panthers recovered. The Bobcat defense stopped the Panthers from scoring and forced the punt.
Texas State went three and out on their next possession, allowing the Panthers to strike. Brock scored from 57-yards out to extend their lead 45-21.
Texas State tried to answer back and drove down to the Panther 29-yard line but the Bobcats were picked off.
Forcing the Panthers to punt, Sparks broke free for a 80-yard punt return for a touchdown. McCloud found Dawn Jr on the two conversions, cutting the lead down to 45-29.
Georgia State answered back with a 16-yard touchdown run by Brock.
Texas State scored again as McCloud connected with Dawn Jr. for the third time in the game on a 18–yard touchdown pass, making it a 52-36 game.
The Bobcat defense forced the Georgia State punt, allowing Sparks to return another punt 80 yards back to the Panther 13-yard line.
“I thought Beau Sparks had one of the best individual performances I have ever seen in a long time,” Kinne said. “That guy played his butt off.”
Running back Lincoln Pare scored from three-yards out and later caught the two-point conversion on the pass from McCloud to make it a 52-44 game.
The Bobcats were unable to recover the onside kick but forced the Panthers in a third down situation. Texas State appeared to stop the Panthers on third down but were called for the facemask penalty, allowing Georgia State to retain possession and drain the clock out.
Texas State returns to play on Friday against on the road against South Alabama.
