Box Score

FINAL STATS  |  POSTGAME NOTES  |  QUOTE SHEET  |  PHOTO GALLERY

JONESBORO, Ark. – Arkansas State pounded the ball for 328 rushing yards, the most by any team against Texas State this season, en route to a 38-21 victory to drop the Bobcats to 6-4 on the season and 2-3 in Sun Belt Conference play Saturday night.
 
Texas State started strong, scoring on the team's first drive after holding the Red Wolves to just 20 yards in their first possession. After a Robert Lowe five-yard run, Tyler Jones found Terrence Franks on a wheel route for a 41-yard touchdown the second play of the drive.
 
The Bobcat offense traded punches with the Red Wolves throughout the first quarter combining for three touchdowns. Texas State led 14-7 after one quarter of play, but the teams continued to go back and forth until a 21-21 tie at halftime.
 
Unfortunately for Texas State, the Red Wolves kept scoring in the second half and held the Bobcats without a score in the final 35 minutes of the game.
 
Texas State struggled against the ASU rushing attack, led by Michael Gordon and his 184 yards on 19 carries for a 9.7 yard average. Gordon's night was the best by a running back against Texas State this season. In addition to his yards, he scored three rushing touchdowns, the most by an individual since Kenneth Dixon of Louisiana Tech scored four times Nov. 10, 2012.
 
Quarterback Adam Kennedy added 78 yards on the ground and 96 yards through the air, completing 14 of 18 passes.
 
Lowe led Texas State's effort on the ground with 86 yards and Tim Gay added 41. Jones completed 17 passes for 204 yards, passing for two touchdowns for the third consecutive game. He found Andy Erickson and Lowe four times each for 51 and 43 yards respectively. Most of Erickson's catches came late in the game. Ryan Carden added three receptions for 41 yards.
 
Third down efficiency hurt the Bobcats throughout most of the game. They converted 4-of-14 third downs on the night with two of those conversions coming late in the fourth quarter. Through three quarters, Texas State was just 2-of-9 on third down.
 
After Texas State's opening touchdown, Arkansas State wasted no time answering. The Red Wolves scored on a three-play drive on the ensuing possession when Gordon rushed for 40 yards to tie the game.
 
Early on the game resembled more of a track meet than a football game. Texas State scored the game's third touchdown with still 5:08 left to play in the first quarter. Franks and Lowe carried the ball a combined seven times on the drive. After Lowe rushed for seven yards and the officials tacked on four more yards on an Arkansas State horse collar call, Franks punched it in on a four-yard carry to regain the lead for the Bobcats.
 
While Texas State took a 14-7 lead to the second quarter, it was evident the Bobcats were struggling against the ASU rushing attack early on. Arkansas State put up 142 yards in the first quarter alone led by Gordon's 99 yards.
 
The Red Wolves started the second quarter with another Gordon touchdown to tie the game, but an ASU miscue would set up the Bobcats to take the lead again. David Mayo became the team leader in interceptions with his fourth of the season when Blake McColloch pressured ASU quarterback Adam Kennedy into an ill-advised throw.
 
The Bobcat offense turned the interception into points with a quick three-play 22-yard drive. Lowe started with a 12-yard run and Jones followed with a three-yard rush. As Arkansas State came up to stop the run, Jones found Carden on a seven-yard touchdown with 5:35 left in the first half.
 
That would be the last score of the game for Texas State as the Red Wolves tied it before the half. Arkansas State would add 17 more points in the second half for 24 unanswered points to close out the game.
 
Next week, the Bobcats will return to the friendly confines of Bobcat Statdium looking to rebound against a tough opponent in Western Kentucky. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday. After that, Texas State will finish the regular season at Troy at 1 p.m. the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 29.