SAN MARCOS, Texas – The Texas State football team (3-9, 1-7 Sun Belt) ended the season with a loss against the Arkansas State Red Wolves (8-4, 5-3 Sun Belt), falling by a score of 33-7 on Saturday evening at Bobcat Stadium.

Freshman quarterback Tyler Vitt threw the ball 26 times. He completed 15 of those passes for 133 yards in his fifth start of the season. Freshman running back Alec Harris led the Bobcat ground attack, toting the ball five times for 72 yards and the lone TXST touchdown.

The Arkansas State offense was prolific in the game. Senior quarterback Justice Hansen posted 276 yards passing and a pair of touchdown tosses with 18 completions in 24 attempts. Senior running back Warren Ward had a huge game on the ground. He churned out a game-high 145 yards on 14 carries and one rushing score. Junior wide receiver Kirk Merritt led all pass catchers with six catches for 153 yards and both receiving touchdowns.

Both offenses were stymied in the first 30 minutes of play. The Red Wolves scored the lone touchdown of the first half, marching nine plays and 67 yards down the field late in the second quarter. Wand capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown plunge to give A-State a 7-0 lead at the break.

The third quarter began with a three-and-out from the visitors. Texas State injected a shot of energy into the game on the ensuing drive. Harris took full advantage of his first career carry as he scampered down the left sideline for a 57-yard touchdown run. The carry was the longest touchdown run by a Bobcat this season.

A-State responded in a hurry, scoring the next 26 points of the contest. Merritt hauled in a post route, split the two Bobcat safeties and sprinted into the endzone for a 60-yard score right after the Bobcats tied the game. The catch concluded a seven-play 92-yard scoring drive that used just 2:23 off the game clock. Merritt would find paydirt once more, the second coming on a shallow crossing route. He followed the catch with a series of nifty moves and missed tackles to waltz into the endzone from 39 yards out.

Sandwiched in between the two Merritt touchdowns, the Arkansas State special teams announced their presence in a big way. Senior wide receiver Justin McInnis squeezed down the right side of the Texas State punt protection and blocked an attempt from freshman Clayton Stewart. McInnis scooped up the loose ball and high-stepped his way into the endzone.

The Red Wolves tacked on five more points before game's end. The first two points came when sophomore linebacker Tajhea Chambers stacked up the Bobcat ballcarrier in the endzone for a safety. The score was the third safety surrendered by the Cats this season. A-St added a late 30-yard field goal from freshman placekicker Blake Grupe to bring the score to the final tally of 33-7.

The game marked the end of the 2018 Texas State football campaign.

-- TXSTATEBOBCATS.COM --