In the 40th all-time meeting and their first game since 1994, Texas State defeated the North Texas Mean Green 30-28 to capture their second consecutive First Responder Bowl win in front of a record crowd at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
With the win the Bobcats and Head Coach G.J. Kinne clinched their eighth win of the season as Kinne became the first Texas State Head Coach since Jim Wacker to have back to back eight or more win seasons.
“Super proud of the guys,” Kinne said. “Obviously we had to make it interesting for ESPN for the second time in a row., I had to put on a show for the people. Hats off to North Texas and Coach Eric Morris.
“They had those guys ready to go The back up quarterback, came out there, then played lights out. He is a really good player and I have a ton of respect for those guys over there. It was tough.”
Texas State forced a North Texas punt on the Mean Green’s first possesion of the game.
The Bobcats drove down the field following the punt before Mason Shipley kicked a 34-yard field goal to give the Bobcats their first lead at 3-0.
North Texas got their response on the next drive.
Driving down to the Texas State 46-yard line, North Texas quarterback Drew Mestermaker connects with Miles Coleman for a 46-yard touchdown pass to go up 7-3 over the Bobcats.
The Texas State offense responded back when quarterback Jordan McCloud hit wide receiver Jaden Williams on the 70 yard screen pass before North Texas made the tackle at the one yard line.
The Bobcats were stuffed at the goal line following two controversial plays that ruled Texas State down before reaching the endzone.
Shipley kicked a 21-yard field goal to cut the lead down to 7-6.
North Texas responded with a touchdown drive with Mestamaker hitting Landon Sides on a 16-yard touchdown pass.
In the second quarter, Texas State trailed 14-6.
Shipley added his third field goal of the game from 47-yards out on the next possession, cutting the lead down to 14-9.
The Bobcat defense forces the punt on North Texas’ next offensive for a much needed stop.
Texas State responded with a touchdown drive as McCloud hit Williams for a 24-yard touchdown pass, allowing the Bobcats to go back in front 16-14.
North Texas drove down the Bobcat 15 yard line looking to retake the lead with less than two minutes remaining in the game.
However the Bobcat defense came up with their first turnover of the game as defensive back Manny Nunnery intercepted the ball and returned it back to the Bobcat 34-yard line.
Texas State kept the ball away from the Mean Green and entered halftime still leading 23-14.
On the opening drive of the second half, Texas State drove down to the one yard line before running back Lincoln Pare dove for the touchdown, extending the lead 23-14.
Both teams traded punt before North Texas had the ball inside Bobcat territory. The Mean Green opted to go for it on fourth down only for the Bobcat defense to come up with the stop and turn the ball over on downs.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Bobcats looked to extend the lead. But the Mean Green defense came up with the interception deep into Bobcat territory to stop the scoring opportunity.
The Bobcat defense responded by forcing the fumble on the quarterback hit and recovering the ball to keep the Mean Green off the scoreboard.
Texas State once again drove down the field, looking to extend the lead only to get hit with another turnover. North Texas made the fumble recovery on the hit on the quarterback.
This time the Mean Green took advantage of the turnover, scoring from the one yard line.
With the lead down to 23-21, the Bobcats needed a response.
The response came in the form of Pare, scoring on a 78-yard touchdown run.
After the extra point, Texas State pushed their lead to 30-21.
North Texas answered back with Mestemaker scoring on a 70-yard touchdown run to cut the lead down to 30-28.
The Bobcats punted on their next drive as North Texas got the ball on the eight-yard line with 40 seconds remaining in the game.
Despite North Texas’ best efforts, the Bobcats got the stop they needed with Treylin Payne intercepting the pass on fourth down to seal the win.
Pare won the First Responder Bowl MVP award, rushing for 148 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns. McCloud passed for 304 yards and one touchdown, becoming the first Bobcat quarterback to throw 30 touchdown passes in a single season. Williams caught eight passes for 155 yards and one touchdown.
