SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State football team (2-6) toppled the New Mexico State Aggies (2-7) by a score of 27-20 on Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium. The contest served as the homecoming game and was also the inaugural throwback game.
 
New Mexico State entered the contest as the fourth-worst team in the country at stopping the run, allowing more than 200 yards to six-of-eight opponents prior to the Bobcats. Texas State's offense took full advantage of the Aggie deficiency, pounding the ground attack to the tune of 230 yards on 48 carries. Sophomore Willie Jones III led the rushing onslaught, toting the ball 19 times for a season-high 110 yards. For Jones III, he has eclipsed 100 yards rushing twice this season. Sophomore Robert Brown, Jr. nearly hit the century mark, rushing for 95 yards on 17 carries.
 
Defensively, the Cats were up to the task of slowing down a potent Aggie attack that had scored 31-plus points in three-consecutive contests. The defensive backfield stepped up in a big way, registering a season-high 11 pass defenses and a pair of interceptions.

Texas State took advantage of two early short fields to score the first 13 points of the contest and knock off any first half rust that had previously plagued the Bobcats. In two first-quarter touchdown drives, TXST traveled just 60 total yards.

The first scoring drive of the game was setup by a dazzling 45-yard punt return from junior Hutch White. The return was the longest of the season for the Bobcats and set the offense up on the Aggie 28-yard line. Three plays after the return, Jones III kept the ball on a zone read play and darted 19 yards for the score.

Junior Clifton Lewis Jr. left the offense just 32 yards to pay dirt after hauling in his first interception of the season. The linebacker read the eyes of New Mexico State's quarterback and dropped underneath a crossing route to secure the takeaway. Junior Anthony D. Taylor capped off the short drive with a three-yard plunge into the end zone to give the team rocking their SWT throwback helmets a 13-0 lead.

Right before the second quarter ended, Jones III led the offense 68 yards down the field for yet another score. He accounted for 21 yards rushing on three carries during the drive. Jones III threw an 18-yard touchdown to freshman Javen Banks in the corner of the end zone to help Texas State take a 20-13 lead into the halftime break. Banks made a beautiful double-move on the post-corner route to separate from the defender.

TXST opened the second half with the football, and the offense marched 75 yards down the field in seven plays. Jones III caught the Aggies defense in the neutral zone on the snap of the seventh play. Knowing he had a free play, Jones III launched a jump ball towards the front left corner of the end zone. Sophomore Jeremiah Haydel out-leaped the defender to haul in the 39-yard touchdown. Texas State pulled ahead 27-13 on the play and was able to hold on for its second triumph of the season.

Up next, Texas State will hit the road for a 1 p.m. CDT conference tilt on Nov. 3 against Georgia State.

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