Game #7
Texas State (3-3, 1-1 Sun Belt) at Troy (4-2, 2-1 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022
Veterans Memorial Stadium | Troy, Ala.
Kickoff: 2:30 PM
TV: ESPN3
            Will Kollmeyer (Play-by-Play)
            Ben Stanfield (Analyst)
Radio: KTSW 89.9 & Varsity Network (free app)
            Clint Shields (Play-by-play)
            Geff Gandy (analyst)
Twitter Updates: @TXSTATEFOOTBALL
 
 
SETTING THE TABLE
Coming off a double-digit victory over App State, Texas State will be aiming for a win that could put it in first place in the Sun Belt Conference West Division as the Bobcats will travel to Troy to take on the Trojans on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
 
The Bobcats beat App State, 36-24, last weekend thanks to a defensive effort that limited the Mountaineers to 10 points in the first 3 quarters and an all-around performance that saw the Bobcats lead by as much as 27 points early in third quarter. The Bobcats were up 24-3 at halftime and a 94-yard interception return for a touchdown by Tory Spears put them up 30-3 with 25 minutes remaining in the game.
 
Texas State and Troy have faced each other every year since 2016, with the Trojans winning each of those matchups and carrying a 10-game winning streak in the series into Saturday's contest.
 
Saturday features two defenses in the top-half of the Sun Belt in total defense. Texas State is averaging 353.3 yards against this season, good for 6th in the Sun Belt and 49th in the country. Troy, meanwhile, has surrendered 349.0 yards per game, which is 5th best in the Sun Belt and 43rd in the nation.
 
The Bobcats and Trojans are also third and second, respectively, in the Sun Belt Conference West Division as both are aiming to potentially move into first place with a win on Saturday and a loss by South Alabama.
 
WELL I MOVED INTO THIS ROOM

• Halfway through the season, Texas State has its best record to this point of a season since 2014.
• Prior to this year, the Bobcats have not been 3-3 since 2014. That year, they finished the season 7-5.
• The last time the Bobcats have been 4-3 in a season was also 2014. They went on to go 5-3 before splitting the final 4 games of the season.

 
IF YOU COULD CALL IT THAT, A WEEK AGO

• Texas State played in another double-digit game last weekend, making it all 6 games this season in which the Bobcats have either won or lost by 10+ points.
• The 12-point victory was Texas State's largest in a conference home game since Sept. 19, 2020 vs. ULM (38-17 in Monroe, La.).
• All 3 of Texas State's wins this season have been by double digits.

 
I NEVER DO WHAT I'M SUPPOSED TO DO

• Texas State led by as much as 27 points last Saturday against App State, which was its biggest lead in a Sun Belt game since 2014.
• The Bobcats led by as much as 34-3 in a 54-31 win over Georgia State on Nov. 29, 2014.
• Texas State was up by double-digits for 44:20 of the game against App State.

 
I HARDLY EVEN KNOW

• Texas State's 36 points against App State last weekend were its most in a conference game since Nov. 21, 2020 vs. Arkansas State (47).
• The Bobcats have scored 34 or more points in all 3 of their wins this year.
• Texas State is averaging 37.0 points per game in its 3 wins (11.3 in its 3 losses).
• In all games, the Bobcats are averaging 24.2 points per game.

 
MY NAME ANYMORE

• Last weekend, Texas State surrendered 395 passing yards, which marked only the 3rd time in the program's FBS history it had allowed 395+ passing yards and won.
• The last time it happened was Nov. 21, 2020 vs. Arkansas State. The Bobcats allowed 462 passing yards in a 47-45 win.
• The only other time Texas State allowed 395+ passing yards in a win was Nov. 1, 2014 at New Mexico State (404 passing yards; W, 37-29).

 
WHEN NO ONE CALLS IT OUT

• Texas State held App State to 41 rushing yards last weekend, which was the second-fewest allowed by the Bobcats this season and lowest against an FBS opponent.
• Texas State limited HCU to 33 rushing yards on Sept. 24 earlier this season, which was the fewest allowed by the Bobcats since 2013.
• The 41 rushing yards allowed were the fewest surrendered by Texas State in a Sun Belt game since Oct. 28, 2017 at Coastal Carolina (34 rushing yards allowed).
• Texas State is 45th in the country in rush defense and 7th in the Sun Belt.
• The Bobcats are 3-0 this year when they hold opponents to less than 100 yards rushing.

 
IT KINDA VANISHES AWAY

• Tory Spears registered his first career interception last week in the win against App State, returning it for a 94-yard touchdown.
• Spears' 94-yard return was the longest by a Bobcat on an interception since Jarron Morris returned one for a program-record 100 yards in 2020.
• Spears is only the 6th different Bobcat to return an interception for a touchdown in the program's FBS era. It was the 7th time overall as Kordell Rodgers has returned 2 interceptions for scores in his Texas State career.

 
I CAN'T GET TO SLEEP AT NIGHT

• To go with his interception returned for a touchdown, Tory Spears had a career-high 12 tackles (10 solo).
• It was the second-most tackles by a Bobcat in a game this year and most by a Texas State defensive back since November 2020.
• Spears became the first FBS player to have 12+ tackles and an interception returned for a touchdown in the same game since Sept. 18, 2021 (Chad Muma, Wyoming, vs. Ball State).
• He is the first Sun Belt player to do that since 2014 and only the 3rd Sun Belt player to do that in the last 13 years.
• He became the first Bobcat to turn the feat in Texas State's FBS history.

 
THE PARKING LOT'S SO LOUD AND BRIGHT

• This season is now the first in Texas State's FBS history in which it has 2 or more interceptions returned for a touchdown.
• Prior to this year, Texas State had 2 in the previous 5 seasons combined (2017-21).
• The 2 interception return touchdowns also matches Texas State's overall program record of 2 set in 2005.
• This year is the first time Texas State has scored 2 defensive touchdowns since 2018 (2).
• The Bobcats are tied for 6th in the country in defensive touchdowns.

 
THE A/C HASN'T WORKED IN 20 YEARS

• Texas State has 6 interceptions this season, which are tied for the 35th-most in the country this year.
• The 6 team interceptions are the most by a Texas State team since 2020 when it had 7.
• This year's total is currently tied for 6th most in Texas State's FBS history.
• The overall program record for interceptions in a season is 32 set in 1967.

 
Most Interceptions, Team
Texas State, FBS History
1.   14              2012
2.   13              2014
3.   11              2013
4.   7                2020
      7                2019
6.   6                2022
      6                2018
 
PROBABLY NEVER MADE

• For the 4th time this season, Texas State forced multiple turnovers in a game as it generated 2 takeaways last weekend against App State.
• The Bobcats have 11 takeaways this year – after not creating any takeaways in the season opener at Nevada.
• Texas State is tied for 28th in the country in takeaways this year.
• It has already matched its entire takeaways total from last year (11). In 2021, the Bobcats finished 118th in the country in takeaways.
• Last season, Texas State had 3 games of multiple takeaways and only one in Sun Belt play.
• The last time Texas State had 12 or more turnovers gained in a season was 2020 when it had 15.

 
A SINGLE PERSON COLD

• Levi Bell turned in another standout performance in the win against App State, totaling 5 tackles (3 solo) and 1.5 sacks.
• The redshirt junior has at least half a sack in 5 of the 6 games this year.
• Bell enters this week tied for 9th in the country in sacks with 5.0.
• Bell's 5.0 sacks are the most by a Bobcat since 2014 when Michael Odiari had a school FBS record 9.0 in 2014.
• Bell also has a team-best 9.0 TFLs so far this year, which are the most by a Bobcat since Nico Ezidore had 13.0 in 2020.
• Bell is 8th in the country in TFLs per game this year.

 
Levi Bell
National and Sun Belt Rank
                              Total                National Rank        Sun Belt Rank
Sacks                     5.0                   T-9th                       T-2nd
Sacks/game           0.83                 13th                        3rd    
TFLs                       9.0                   T-8th                       T-1st
TFLs/game            1.5                   8th                          1st
 
Most Sacks in Texas State History
FBS Era
1.   Michael Odiari        9.0              2014
2.   Joplo Bartu             5.5              2012
3.   Levi Bell                  5.0              2022
 
BUT I CAN'T SAY THE SAME FOR ME

• Layne Hatcher was 26-of-36 with 281 passing yards and 2 touchdowns last weekend at App State.
• Hatcher has 3 games this year of 280+ passing yards, which are the most by a Bobcat since Tyler Jones had 4 in 2015. Texas State is 2-1 this year when Hatcher throws for 280+ yards in a game.
• The completion percentage of 72.2 percent against the Mountaineers was Hatcher's best clip this season and best in his career since he completed all 12 of his passes in the 2021 season opener with Arkansas State against Central Arkansas.
• Hatcher became the first Texas State quarterback to complete 70 percent or higher of his passes in a game with a minimum of 30 attempts since Brady McBride against Arkansas State on Nov. 21, 2020.
• This season, Hatcher is currently 2nd in the Sun Belt in completions (139), 4th in passing yards (1,488), and 5th in passing touchdowns (13).
• Nationally, Hatcher is 25th in passing touchdowns and 37th in passing yards.

 
I'VE DONE IT MANY TIMES

• Saturday will be Layne Hatcher's third career game against Troy, with the first 2 being while he was at Arkansas State in 2019 and 2020.
• In his lone career game against Troy on the road, Hatcher made his first career start on Sept. 28, 2019 and led the Red Wolves to a 50-43 win over the Trojans. He was 25-of-35 with 440 passing yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The 440 passing yards are now 4 shy of his career-high.
• In his last game against Troy, Hatcher came off the bench and was 11-of-20 with 166 passing yards and a touchdown in a 38-10 loss on Oct. 31, 2020.

 
SOMEBODY TAKE ME HOME

• Ashtyn Hawkins is having a career year – and ranks among the nation's best wide receivers in a few statistical categories.
• The sophomore is tied for 10th in receiving touchdowns with 6.
• He has a receiving touchdown in 5 of the 6 games this year.
• Hawkins is tied for 6th in receptions with a career-high 43.
• He is the first Bobcat with more than 40 receptions in a season since 2019 when Hutch White set the program's FBS record with 67.
• The overall program record for receptions in a season is 80 set by Da'Marcus Griggs in 2009.
• Hawkins is also 12th in the nation in yards after catch with 266, according to PFF (min. 15 targets). He is averaging 6.2 yards after catch per reception.
• Hawkins is tied for 26th in the country in targets with 56.

 
Most Receptions in a Season by a Bobcat
Texas State FBS record (since 2012)
1. Hutch White             67        2019        12 games
2. C.J. Best                    58        2015        10 games
3. Elijah King                 52        2017        11 games
4. Keenen Brown         51        2018        12 games
5. Bradley Miller          44        2014        12 games
6. Ashtyn Hawkins       43        2022        6 games
     Tyler Watts              43        2016        12 games
 
THROUGH THOSE ALABAMA PINES

• After hauling in 30 passes last year as a junior college transfer in his freshman season, Hawkins has a team-best 43 receptions this year.
• Hawkins' 43 receptions in the first 6 games of a season are the most by a Bobcat in the program's FBS history (since 2012).
• Entering Saturday, he already owns the school record pace with the most receptions in the first 7 games of an FBS season.
• Hawkins' 43 receptions in the first 6 games of a season are the most by a Sun Belt player since Tez Johnson of Troy (45) and Jalen Tolbert of South Alabama (46) in the first half of the 2021 season.
• In his last 12 games – dating back to the final 6 games of the 2021 season – Hawkins has 69 receptions and 699 yards.

 
Ashtyn Hawkins in his last 12 career games
Dating back to Oct. 23, 2021 (at Georgia State)
Rec.                   69
Rec. Yds            699
Rec. TDs            6
Rec./Game        5.8
Yds/Catch         10.1
 
YOU CAN'T DRIVE THROUGH TALLADEGA

• Lincoln Pare has led the team in rushing in each of the last 3 games, totaling 229 yards on the ground on 56 carries (4.1 yards per attempt).
• Pare's 229 rushing yards are 167 more than the next closest Bobcat (Calvin Hill, 62 rushing yards).
• Pare is averaging 76.3 rushing yards per game in the last 3 weeks.
• He has also totaled 308 all-purpose yards in the last 3 games, adding 79 receiving yards to his 229 rushing yards.
• He is averaging 102.7 all-purpose yards in the last 3 weeks.
• In the first 3 games of the year, he averaged 19.7 rushing yards per game (59 yards, 13 attempts) and 25.3 all-purpose yards per game.
• Pare, a first-year transfer from Arkansas State, led the Red Wolves in rushing last year with 455 rushing yards in 12 games.
• Pare, who has played in 27 career games, has never rushed for 60+ yards in 3 straight games until his current stretch.
• He has also never attempted 17 or more rushes in a game in 3 straight weeks until his current stretch.
• In his collegiate career, he has 1,186 rushing yards on 248 attempts (4.8 yards per carry).
  In his only other career game against Troy, Pare ran for 90 yards on 12 carries on Oct. 31, 2020 with Arkansas State. He also had 17 receiving yards to finish with 107 all-purpose yards.

 
ON A WEEKEND IN OCTOBER

• Seth Keller matched his career-high with 3 field goals made last weekend against App State.
• With the 3 makes, Keller now sits in a tie for 4th in Texas State history with 29 career field goals made.
• His 29 career field goals made are the most by a Bobcat since Will Johnson made a program-record 36 from 2011-14.
• While one field goal will move Keller into sole possession of 4th place on Texas State's all-time list, he needs 5 more makes to match Andrew Ireland (2006-08) for 3rd all-time.
• Keller owns the FBS program record for field goals made with 29. Johnson, the program's all-time leader, had 23 of his 36 career field goals when the Bobcats are at the FBS level from 2012-14. He had 13 as a freshman when Texas State was an FCS independent and transitioning to the FBS level.

 
JUST HEAD UP NORTH TO JACKSONVILLE

• Texas State is playing at Troy for the 6th time in program history on Saturday.
• The Bobcats are 0-6 all-time at Troy.
• They lost the last meeting at Veterans Memorial Stadium, 37-17, on Oct. 10, 2020.
• The Bobcats have only scored more than 17 points at Troy once in the 6 all-time meetings (Nov. 29, 2013; L, 28-42).
• The 6-game road losing streak is Texas State's longest active streak against current Sun Belt schools.

 
CUT AROUND OVER AND OVER

• Saturday's matchup is a battle between two Sun Belt West Division teams – and has implications for the rest of the season.
• The winner of Saturday's matchup will at least sit in second place of the West Division.
• The winner could move into first place of the West Division with a loss by South Alabama against ULM.
• Texas State finished last season in second place of the West Division while Troy was fourth in the East Division.
• The first tiebreaker in the winner of Sun Belt divisions is head-to-head results between two tied teams.