Texas State Athletics

TROY, Alabama – Playing part of the game in a tropical storm, the Texas State football team showed some flashes, but it could not contain Troy's offense and fell 37-17 in a Sun Belt Conference game at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Bobcats jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after Texas State held Troy on a fourth-down play at the Trojans' 34-yard line on the game's opening drive. But Troy came back to score 23 consecutive points to take a 23-3 lead at halftime.
 
Texas State scored its first touchdown early in the second half and was looking to get back into contention when quarterback Brady McBride mishandled a handoff attempt, and the Trojans recovered the ball. Troy's offense took advantage of the excellent field position and broke the game back open with another touchdown.
 
The Bobcats scored the final points in the game when Jahmyl Jeter scored a touchdown on a six-yard run, and Seth Keller added an extra point to make the final score 37-17.
 
THE BOXSCORE
Texas State outgained Troy on the ground as the Bobcats rushed for 161 yards and a touchdown on 36 carries. Calvin Hill led the Bobcats with 57 yards on six carries, while Jeter added 44 yards and a TD on seven attempts. Brock Sturges ran for 38 yards on eight carries.
 
McBride completed 15 of 28 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown.
 
Jah'Marae Sheread had three catches for 12 yards and returned four kickoffs for 81 yards. Blake Aragon had two catches for 11 yards and his first career TD reception.
 
Defensively, DeJordan Mask had a game-high 12 tackles and broke up two passes to lead the Bobcats. London Harris also blocked an extra-point attempt.
 
Troy ran for 150 yards and a TD on 35 attempts. Gunnar Watson threw for 338 yards and four touchdowns while completing 33 of 46 passes for the Trojans.  Kaylon Geiger caught seven passes for 121 yards and a TD to lead Troy. Reggie Todd added seven receptions for 86 yards and two TDs.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After the defense held Troy on fourth down, Texas State drove down to Troy's 21-yard line to set up a 38-yard field goal by Keller to take a 3-0 lead.
 
However, the Trojans answered with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Watson to Reggie Todd to take a 6-3 lead with 2:08 left in the first quarter. Watson threw two more touchdown passes, and Evan Legassey added a 45-yard field goal in the second quarter for the 23-3 halftime lead.
 
Texas State scored its first touchdown midway through the third quarter when McBride threw a four-yard touchdown to Blake Aragon, and Keller added the extra point to pull the Bobcats to within 23-10.
 
After Texas State's defense held Troy on downs, the Bobcats drove the ball to the Trojans' 47-yard line following a 37-yard run by Calvin Hill. However, McBride fumbled the ball away on the next play.
 
Watson threw his fourth TD pass in the game on an 11-yard throw to Tray Eafford. Legassey added the extra point to give the Trojans a 30-10 lead with 3:19 left in the third quarter.
 
The Trojans scored their final points when B.J. Smith ran two yards for a touchdown with 9:17 left.
 
Texas State scored the final points when the Bobcats took over on their 20-yard line with 3:39 left to play. Jeter began the drive with a 40-yard run for Texas State's longest run of the season. Then, the Bobcats converted a fourth-down play when McBride threw a 16-yard pass to Chandler Speights on Troy's 17-yard line. Jeter capped off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run, and Keller added the extra point to make the final score 37-17.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Texas State returns to Alabama next week when the Bobcats travel to South Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 17. ESPNU will televise the game that kicks off at 11 a.m. (CT).