LAFAYETTE, La.- The Texas State football team could not overcome three costly turnovers and the Bobcats suffered a 45-0 loss at Louisiana in a nationally-televised game on Saturday afternoon.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Texas State came into the game looking to run the ball against Louisiana and stayed in the game early with that strategy despite a pair of first-half fumbles. The first fumble came on the game's first offensive play when Calvin Hill lost the ball after running for four yards. The Bobcats forced a field goal attempt, and Nate Snyder's kick sailed wide to the right.
 
The game was scoreless until the Ragin' Cajuns scored 17 points in the second quarter. The first points came on a two-yard touchdown pass from Levi Lewis to Chris Smith. Snyder added the extra point to give Louisiana a 7-0 lead.
 
The Bobcats looked to answer on their next drive when Tyler Vitt, making his first start of the season, ran for 10 yards for a first down and then 29 yards downfield  to Louisiana's 29-yard line. However, the Cajuns punched the ball loose from behind on a 23-yard run by Brock Sturges and recovered the fumble at their six-yard line.
 
Texas State forced the Ragin' Cajuns to punt from their end zone, and the Bobcats moved the ball into scoring position again. However, Tayland Humphries blocked Seth Keller's 49-yard field goal attempt.
 
Louisiana took advantage and drove the ball down the field for the second touchdown of the game. This time, Lewis hit a one-yard TD to tight end Hunter Bergeron, and Snyder kicked the extra point for a 14-0 lead.
 
Snyder added a 45-yard field goal to give Louisiana a 17-0 halftime lead on the second quarter's final play.   
 
After Snyder added a 32-yard field goal, Texas State drove the ball to Louisiana's 49-yard line. On a fourth-and-three play, the Bobcats  gambled and went for the first down. However, Vitt's pass to Hawkins was broken up by Erin Garror, giving Louisiana possession near midfield. The Ragin' Cajuns took advantage and scored a touchdown and two-point conversion. Smith ran for another score as Louisiana broke the game open, 35-0 at the end of three quarters.
 
Texas State's third turnover in the game came on the next possession when Garror intercepted Vitt's pass and returned to Texas State's 12-yard line to set up another field goal by Snyder early in the fourth quarter. The Ragin' Cajuns added another touchdown to make the final score 45-0.
 
STATISTICS
Texas State outgained Louisiana on the ground,  178-165, as Vitt rushed for a career-high 94 yards on 15 carries, and Sturges added 44 yards on seven attempts.
 
The difference came through the air as Vitt completed 6-of-13 passes for 42 yards and one interception while Lewis completed 24-of-35 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns for the Ragin' Cajuns.