SAN MARCOS, Texas  – What began as an offensive shootout turned into a defensive battle when Texas State (3-6, 2-3)  defeated ULM (4-5, 2-4) 27-19 on Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.
 
A crowd of 16,237 watched the two teams exchange leads in the first half, then struggle to score throughout the second half.
 
Texas State began the scoring on its second possession in the game when Seth Keller kicked a 42-yard field goal midway in the first quarter to give the Bobcats a 3-0 advantage.
 
ULM regained a 6-3 lead on their second possession when Andrew Henry scored a touchdown on a one-yard run up the middle before Calum Sutherland missed the extra-point attempt.
 
The Bobcats came right back with a touchdown drive of their own on their next possession when Tyler Vitt threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Javen Banks, and Keller kicked the extra point. That gave  Texas State a 10-6 advantage with 1:11 left to play in the first quarter, and the Bobcats never trailed again in the game.
 
ULM pulled to within 10-9 when Sutherland kicked a 52-yard field goal, but Texas State answered with another touchdown drive. Caleb Twyford scored on a one-yard run this time, and Keller booted the extra point to give the Bobcats a 17-9 lead.
 
The Warhawks closed to within 17-16 on a 10-yard run by quarterback Chandler Rogers and Sutherland's extra-point.
 
However, Texas State closed out the scoring in the first half when Keller kicked a 43-yard field goal to give the Bobcats a 20-16 lead at halftime.
 
In the second half, Sutherland added a 45-yard field goal on ULM's opening drive to pull the Warhawks to within 20-19.
 
That is when the game's complexion changed as both defenses didn't allow another score until the final two minutes of the game.
 
Texas State sealed its victory after the Bobcat defense held the Warhawks on downs at ULM's 40-yard line with 2:42 left to play. The Bobcats took advantage when Jahmyl Jeter broke to the left side for a 26-yard touchdown run, and Keller added the extra point to give Texas State a 27-19 lead with 1:43 left to play.
 
The Warhawks advanced the ball to Texas State's 44-yard line before Zion Childress broke up a pass attempt from Rogers to Coby Cavil on another fourth-down attempt, clinching the win for the Bobcats.
 
THE BOXSCORE
In his second start of the season,  Tyler Vitt completed 16-of-31 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown. His passing yards were his highest total since he threw for 346 yards against UTSA in 2020.
 
 Marcell Barbee caught five passes for a career-high 102 yards, while Javen Banks added two catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. The TD reception was the 16th for Banks in his career and fifth this season.
 
The Bobcat offensive line didn't surrender a sack for the for the first time this season, and the Bobcats had 172 yards rushing. Jahmyl Jeter led Texas State with a season-high 92 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Vitt ran for 37 yards, Calvin Hill added 36 yards,  and Caleb Twyford netted 11 yards and another TD on the ground.
 
Three Bobcats recorded double-digit tackles, and Texas State's defense had five sacks in the game. Markeveon Coleman led the team with 14 tackles. He had five solo stops, 1.0 tackles for a loss of seven yards, and two quarterback hurries.
 
DeJordan Mask and Childress tallied 11 total tackles. Mask had nine solo stops and broke up a pass. Zion Childress recorded four solo tackles and broke up the pass on ULM's final offensive play in the game.
 
Issiah Nixon finished the game with nine tackles, a team-high 2.0 tackles for loss, and one sack. Nico Ezidore added eight stops and a sack. Both Nick McCann and Kordell Rodgers sacked Rogers, and Caeveon Patton and Jordan Revels combined for another sack.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Texas State plays its final home game of the 2021 season against Georgia Southern next Saturday, Nov. 13, at Bobcat Stadium. ESPN+ will televise the game that kicks off at 2 p.m. Fans can listen to the game on KTSW (89.9 FM) and the Varsity Network App.