Box Score MONROE, La. – The Texas State football team (1-6, 0-4 Sun Belt) fell just short against the ULM Warhawks (4-4, 2-2 Sun Belt) by a score of 20-14 on Saturday night at Malone Stadium.

TXST entered the contest sporting a 31.0 conversion rate on third down, which was 125th in the NCAA. Once again, the Texas State offense struggled all night on the money down. The Bobcats converted just 2-of-13 third down attempts in the contest.

Offensively, Texas State was able to muster only 242 total yards. Freshman quarterback Tyler Vitt led the Bobcats with 115 passing yards on 15-of-25 passing. Vitt also toted the rock 11 times for 29 yards and a rushing score. Sophomore running back Robert Brown, Jr. paced the Bobcat ground attack with 10 carries for 46 yards and a score. Senior tight end Keenen Brown hauled in four of his five targets for 50 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, junior linebacker Nikolas Daniels tallied double-digit tackles for the second-straight week. He notched a team-high 11 stops, including nine solo tackles.
 
The Texas State defense forced ULM into a pair of turnovers. The Bobcat offense capitalized on both fumble recoveries, turning the takeaways into 14 points.

The first takeaway came via a fumble forced and recovered by senior defensive lineman Ishmael Davis at the Warhawk 21-yard line at the 9:46 mark in the first quarter. The Cats churned out three consecutive running plays that each gained seven yards. The third run, an option keeper from Vitt, led to the game's first points.

Junior linebacker Clifton Lewis Jr. halted a ULM fourth-quarter drive with a strip and recover of his own. Following the takeaway, TXST called five rushes in a row to gain offensive momentum. The biggest play of the drive game on an 11-yard catch and run from senior tight end Elijah Rogers to bring the ball inside the ULM five-yard line. On the ensuing play, Vitt executed a perfect speed option look. He sprinted around the left end, drew the alley defender towards him and timed his pitch to Brown perfectly. Brown was able to scamper the remaining four yards untouched into the endzone to narrow the score to 20-14. Brown's rushing score was his first on the ground of his career.

Up next, Texas State will be back at home for Homecoming on Oct. 27 against former Sun Belt opponent New Mexico State. For the first time since Texas State underwent a name change in 2003, the Bobcats will wear throwback uniforms as part of a special tribute to the teams from the Southwest Texas State era. Kick time is scheduled for 6 p.m. CDT at Bobcat Stadium.

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