Statesboro, Ga. —Texas State's second-half comeback attempt was two points short when the Bobcats suffered a 40-38 hard-fought loss at Georgia Southern Saturday afternoon at Paulson Stadium.
 
Texas State (1-9, 1-5 SBC) overcame a disastrous start that included a bad snap on a punt for a 36-yard loss on the game's first drive and an interception deep in their territory early in the first quarter.
 
Georgia Southern (6-2, 4-2) took possession on their first drive at Texas State's seven-yard line and scored a touchdown on a one-yard run around the right end by Shai Werts.  
 
The Bobcats tied the score when Jeremiah Haydel returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 7-7. It was the longest kickoff return by a Bobcat since Brandon Smith tied a school record with a 100-yard return against Louisiana on Oct. 5, 2013.
 
Georgia Southern scored another touchdown on its second possession when Werts ran for 29 yards into the end zone. Alex Raynor added the extra point to give the Eagles a 14-7 advantage.
 
On Texas State's next possession, Tyler Vitt's pass was intercepted by Richard Byrd at the Bobcats' 12-yard line. Texas State made a defensive stand when they sacked Werts for an eight-yard loss to force the Eagles to settle for Raynor's 34-yard field goal. The Eagles increased their lead to 20-7 when Raynor kicked a 41-yard field goal with 12:09 left to play in the first half.
 
Texas State came back with a 75-yard drive that led to Calvin Hill's 11-yard run up the middle for a touchdown.
 
Then, Jarron Morris grabbed his fourth interception of the season when he picked off a pass by Werts and returned it six yards to Georgia Southern's 43-yard line.
 
Texas State took advantage quickly when Vitt hit Marcell Barbee on a 43-yard touchdown pass, and Seth Keller kicked the extra point to give the Bobcats a 21-20 lead with 7:13 left to play in the first half. The touchdown catch was  Barbee's ninth of the season.
 
Georgia Southern regained the lead when Werts scored his third touchdown on a two-yard run around the left side. Raynor added the extra point to give the Eagles a 27-21 advantage with 1:08 left to play in the first half.
 
Georgia Southern increased its lead to 30-21 on Raynor's 39-yard field goal midway through the third quarter.
 
Texas State would not go away quietly as the Bobcats scored their fourth touchdown of the game when Brady McBride threw a career-long 59-yard pass to Javen Banks for a touchdown. Keller's extra point closed the margin to 30-28. It was the second straight game in which Banks has caught a touchdown pass.
 
Georgia Southern increased its lead to 37-28 when Wesley Kennedy III ran six yards for a touchdown, and Raynor kicked the extra point.
 
The Bobcats closed to within six points when Keller kicked a 37-yard field goal. However, Raynor's 20-yard field goal put the game out of reach when he extended Georgia Southern's lead to 40-31.
 
Texas State scored another touchdown when McBride threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jah'Marae Sheread, and Keller kicked the extra point to make the final score 40-38.
 
BOXSCORE
Tyler Vitt completed 12-of-18 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions. He left the game in the first half with an injury to his left arm. Brady McBride came in to complete 7-of-13 passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Marcell Barbee led Bobcat receivers with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Javen Banks had a 59-yard TD reception, and Jah'Marae Sheread had two catches for 32 yards and a TD. Trevis Graham, Jr. had four catches for 47 yards.
 
Brock Sturges led Texas State on the ground with 31 yards on six carries. Calvin Hill added 26 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
 
Shai Werts led Georgia Southern's triple-option offense with 120 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Larry Wright ran for 103 yards on 14 attempts, and William Kennedy III finished the game with one reception for 23 yards and rushed for 79 yards and a TD on 14 carries. Werts completed 6-of-9 passes for 51 yards and an interception.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Texas State returns to Bobcat Stadium on Nov. 21 when the Bobcats host Arkansas State in a Sun Belt Conference game at 2 p.m. ESPN3 will televise the game, and Bobcat fans can listen to the contest on KTSW (89.9 FM) in San Marcos and on the TuneIn App.