Texas State Athletics

SAN MARCOS, Texas – In a game that saw both teams battle back and forth, the Texas State football team couldn't answer a late fourth-quarter touchdown as the Bobcats fell 33-30 in their final 2017 home game at Bobcat Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11.
 
The Bobcats received a record-setting performance from graduate transfer Damian Williams, who was playing in his final home game for the Bobcats. Williams threw for over 300 yards for the second straight week when he passed for a career-high three touchdowns to lead the Bobcats.
 
His first touchdown pass came on Texas State's opening drive of the game when Williams threw a 12-yard TD pass to Anthony D. Taylor and Foster Hilborn added the extra point to give Texas State an early 7-0 lead.
 
Georgia State answered with 10 straight points when Brandon Wright made a 48-yard field goal and Connor Manning threw a 34-yard pass to Devin Gentry. Wright added the extra point to give the Panthers a 10-7 lead.
 
Texas State regained the lead when the Bobcats drove 80 yards in 12 plays that culminated with Williams throwing his second TD pass in the first half. This time it was a nine-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Chris French. It was first touchdown catch since he opened his career with a six-yard TD reception against Florida State on Sept. 5, 2015.
 
The Panthers came back to add a 48-yard field goal by Wright and the first half ended with the Bobcats holding a precarious 14-13 lead.
 
Georgia State looked to regain the lead early in the third quarter when they took the second-half kickoff and drove down to Texas State's four yard line. However, their drive was stopped JaShon Waddy forced a fumble by GSU's Tamir Jones and Hal Vinson recovered to give the Bobcats possession.
 
Texas State scored again on their opening drive in the second half when the Bobcats went 80 yards down the field in 10 plays to set up a 33-yard field goal by Hilborn to increase their lead to 17-13.
 
Georgia State came right back to within one point again, as Wright kicked a 22-yard field goal with 6:05 left in the third quarter.
 
The Panthers took their first lead in the game on their next possession when Conner Manning threw a 71-yard touchdown pass to Devin Gentry and Wright added the extra point to give Georgia State a 23-17 lead with 44 seconds left in the third quarter.
 
The Bobcats came back to tie the game when Williams threw his third TD pass on Texas State's ensuing drive. This time, he completed a 34-yard pass to Elijah King for the touchdown, however, Hilborn's extra-point attempt was blocked by Georgia State's Julian Laurent, leaving the score tied at 23-23.
 
Georgia State regained the lead when Wright kicked a 29-yard field goal to give the Panthers a 26-23 lead with 11:52 left to play.
 
After both teams exchanged possessions, the Panthers were back to punt from their own 36-yard line when the ball was snapped over Oliver Holdenson's head and the Bobcats took over on Georgia State's one yard line.
 
Anthony Smith ran up the middle for the one-yard TD and Hilborn added an extra point to give the Bobcats their final lead, 30-26.
 
However, Georgia State scored the final points of the game when Kyler Neal ran for a 22-yard touchdown and Wright added the extra point.
 
The loss drops Texas State's record to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in Sun Belt Conference games, while Georgia State improves to 6-3 and 5-1 in league play.
 
The Bobcats will close out the 2017 season with a pair of road games at Arkansas State on Nov. 18 and at Troy on Nov. 24.