MOSCOW, Idaho – Texas State scored the most points on the road for the team this season, and quarterback Tyler Jones accounted for four touchdowns. In addition, the defense and special teams forced two turnovers while sophomore running back Tyler Siudzinski ran wild to set career highs in carries (24) and yards (174). But, unfortunately, it would not be enough in a back-and-forth game. As both teams traded shots, Idaho was the last to score in a 38-31 victory for the Vandals.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: The game swung late in the first half and to start the second half. The Bobcats scored on a C.J. Best touchdown with just 24 seconds left in the first half to make it a one-score game, 24-17. Then, to start the second half, Texas State used eight plays to drive 75 yards for a tying touchdown on the second rushing touchdown of the night for Tyler Jones.
 
After that, Texas State's defense kept the momentum rolling by forcing and recovering a fumble on the ensuing drive to give the Bobcat offense another shot. Jeff Banks forced the fumble and Javante O'Roy recovered it for Texas State, then the offense responded and opened the drive with a 62-yard run up the right sideline for Tyler Siudzinski. The Bobcats would continue the drive all the way to the Idaho 1-yard line where Texas State would face a crucial 4^th-and-goal.
 The Vandals dropped Siudzinski for a loss of four yards and then produced a methodical, 18-play, 95-yard drive for a touchdown to go up, 31-24. The Bobcats weren't done, though, as Idaho gave Texas State a chance with a muffed punt to give the Bobcats the ball at Idaho's 17-yard line.
 
Texas State didn't take long to capitalize with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Smith in the back of the end zone to tie the game, 31-31, with 8:27 left to play. After both teams traded punts, including one from Texas State with 2:51 left from the Idaho 45-yard line, the Vandals scored the go-ahead touchdown.
 
Idaho opened the drive with a 21-yard run from Elijhaa Penny and received an outstanding, one-handed catch from Deon Watson for 37 yards to get within striking distance at the Texas State 2-yard line. Two plays later, the Vandals punched it in on a four-yard run from Penny to go up 38-31.
 
With 1:02 left, the Bobcats tried to drive the 75 yards needed to tie the game and stay alive. Texas State was able to get to the team's own 45-yard line before taking a shot deep, but it fell into the hands of the Vandals for a game-clinching interception.
 
The Bobcat defense started the game strong, forcing a fumble on the first play from scrimmage. Karee Berry ripped the ball away from Idaho quarterback Matt Linehan, but Idaho was able to make the recovery and retain possession. Texas State's defense, though, forced a three-and-out.
 
Unfortunately, the Bobcat offense fumbled on the team's first offensive play from scrimmage and wasn't as lucky as Idaho. The Vandals scooped up the fumble and scored two plays later for an early 7-0 lead. The defense continued to hold strong on Idaho's third possession, forcing a field goal thanks to a big stop on 3^rd-and-7. It proved to be even bigger as the Vandals missed the field goal.
 
On the ensuing drive, Texas State found itself facing a 3^rd-and-12, but Jones found Jafus Gaines up the left seam for a 20-yard gain to keep the drive alive. Later in the drive, Tim Gay, playing tight end, made his first catch since 2012. It went for 17 yards to help set up a 41-yard field goal from Lumi Kaba to close the gap to 7-3.
 
Idaho was able to answer Texas State's field goal with a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive highlighted by a 30-yard pass play to Callen Hightower. Linehan capped the drive with a five-yard run up the middle to push the Vandal lead to 14-3 with 12:11 left to play in the first half.
 
Texas State would not lay down for Idaho though. The Bobcats made an impressive drive on the legs of Siudzinski. He ran for 45 yards on the next drive to help set up Texas State's first touchdown of the day. On a 4^th-and-4, Jones completed a pass to Smith for 11 yards for the first down. Two plays later, Jones kept it on a touchdown run around the right side to pull the Bobcats within four, 14-10.
 
After 10 unanswered points from Idaho, sparked by a 58-yard touchdown pass to Watson, Jones led Texas State on an impressive 75-yard touchdown drive to score with just 24 seconds left in the first half to begin the swing of momentum that would eventually lead to the Bobcats tying the game at 24-24.
 
Jones completed five passes of more than 10 yards on the drive, capped by the 14-yard touchdown pass to Best for his first receiving touchdown of the season to pull Texas State within a touchdown, 24-17, just before the half.
 
To start the second half, the Bobcats opened up the offense and wasted no time tying the game on the first drive. Jones found Smith down the left side for a big gainer that could have gone for more if not for a block in the back. After that, Texas State benefitted from a defensive holding call when Jones threw up the seam to Lawrence White. Then the Bobcats went back to the run with five straight rushes, including a 16-yarder from Siudzinski and a 3-yard touchdown run for Jones to tie the game on his 10^th rushing TD of the season.
 
Idaho, though, would outlast the Bobcats with 14 fourth-quarter points to hold off Texas State, 38-31.

WHO STOOD OUT: Sophomore running back Tyler Siudzinski set career highs in yards (174), rushing attempts (24) and the longest run of his career (62 yards) … Tyler Jones ran for his ninth and 10^th rushing touchdowns of the season and threw for his 13^th and 14^th passing touchdowns of the season … C.J. Best caught his first touchdown of the season. It was the third receiving TD of his career and the fourth overall touchdown of his career … Brandon Smith caught his second touchdown of the season and his third overall TD of the season … Smith led the team in receiving yards with 115 while Best led in catches with seven … Defensive end Karee Berry forced a fumble on the first play from scrimmage … Tim Gay, playing tight end, made a 17-yard catch, his first catch since 2012 … Jeff Banks forced a fumble in the second half recovered by Javante O'Roy.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Bobcats drop to 3-8 on the season and 2-5 in Sun Belt Conference action. Now Texas State will head to Arkansas State looking for the team's first road win of the season.

UP NEXT: Texas State sticks to the road for the team's final game of the season. The Bobcats will travel to Jonesboro, Ark., to face Arkansas State in another Sun Belt Conference matchup at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.