Game #6
Texas State (2-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) vs. App State (3-2, 1-1 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022
Bobcat Stadium | San Marcos, Texas
Kickoff: 6:02 PM
TV: ESPN+
            Brant Freeman (Play-by-Play)
            Keith Moreland (Analyst)
            Koral Riggs (Sideline)
Radio: KTSW 89.9 & Varsity Network (free app)
            Clint Shields (Play-by-play)
            Geff Gandy (analyst)
Twitter Updates: @TXSTATEFOOTBALL
 
 
SETTING THE TABLE
Texas State hosts App State for the Bobcats' conference home opener this Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. The 6 p.m. game will be a black out, as fans are encouraged to wear their black Texas State gear in support of the Bobcats wearing new black uniforms. For those not in attendance, the game can be seen on ESPN+ and heard on KTSW 89.9 and the Varsity Network.
 
The Bobcats enter Saturday having lost their conference opener at James Madison, 40-13. As the game was played in a state of constant rain, Texas State turned the ball over four times – allowing the Dukes to score 21 points off turnovers – while also allowing a safety and committing six penalties to JMU's none. The Bobcat defense forced the Dukes to turn the ball over 3 times, which matched Texas State's season-high for takeaways.
 
Texas State and App State have not faced one another since 2020 and it will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two schools in San Marcos.
 
The Bobcats enter Saturday with a top-40 defense in the country as they are 38th in total defense (fourth among Sun Belt teams). On the other side, App State's total offense is 35th in the nation and fourth in the Sun Belt.
 
App State bounced back from a conference loss to James Madison by shutting out The Citadel last weekend, 49-0. The Mountaineers totaled 545 yards and 11.6 yards per play despite losing the time of possession (20:09 to 39:51) against The Citadel's triple option offense.
 
Texas State is 2-0 at home this year and has won 3 of its last 4 home games dating back to last season.
 
THE GOOD GUYS DRESS IN BLACK

• Texas State generated 3 takeaways last week against James Madison, matching its most in a game this season. Texas State had 3 takeaways against No. 17 Baylor on Sept. 17.
• The Bobcats are tied for 29th in the country in takeaways with 9 this season.
• After having no takeaways in the season opener at Nevada, the Bobcats have generated multiple takeaways in 3 of the last 4 games.
• Last year, Texas State had 12 takeaways all season.
• This year the Bobcats are averaging nearly 2 takeaways a game (1.8), compared to last year when they averaged 1.0 per game.

 
REMEMBER THAT

• Of the 9 takeaways by the Bobcats, 4 have been netted by cornerback Kordell Rodgers, who has a career-high 4 interceptions.
• Rodgers is tied with 4 others for the most interceptions in the nation this year.
• Rodgers has interceptions in back-to-back games entering the contest against App State.
• The last time Rodgers had more than one interception in a season was as a sophomore in 2018 when he had 2.
• His 4 interceptions are the most by a Bobcat since current teammate Jarron Morris had 4 in 12 games during the 2020 campaign.
• The record for interceptions by a Bobcat in the school's FBS era (since 2012) is 5, set by David Mims II in 2014.
• Rodgers is one of 7 Bobcats in the school's FBS era to have 4 or more interceptions in a season – but only the second in the last 7 seven years (other: Jarron Morris, 2020).

 
Most Interceptions in 2022
Division I FBS
1. Kordell Rodgers         Texas State               4
     Bentlee Sanders        Nevada                     4
     Decorian Patterson   Middle Tennessee   4
     Clark Phillips III          Utah                         4
5. 13 tied with 3
 
JUST IN CASE WE EVER FACE TO FACE

• Texas State finished the game against James Madison with 106 team rushing yards, which were the most by a team against the Dukes this year.
• Entering last week, James Madison opponents were averaging 28.0 yards per game.
• The Bobcats are averaging 132.8 rushing yards per game in the last 4 contests. In the season opener at Nevada, the Bobcats finished with one rushing yard on 25 attempts.
• Texas State is averaging 37.3 rushing attempts in the last 4 games, compared to 33.5 pass attempts.

 
MAKE CONTACT

• Lincoln Pare has emerged as the leading rusher in each of the last 2 games. He had a season-high 84 rushing yards on Sept. 24 vs. HCU and then 81 yards last week at JMU.
• He is averaging 4.6 yards per carry in the last 2 games (165 yards, 36 att.).
• In the first 3 games of the season, Pare had 59 yards on 13 attempts (4.5 yards per carry).
• Pare also has 215 all-purpose yards in the last 2 games (107.5/game).
• He had 76 all-purpose yards in the first 3 games of the season.
• Pare is averaging 62.2 all-purpose yards in 25 career games, which includes 2 seasons at Arkansas State (2020-21).

 
THE TITLE HELD BY ME

• While the Bobcats matched their season-high in takeaways at James Madison, they also tied their season-high in turnovers with 4.
• Texas State also turned the ball over 4 times in the season opener at Nevada (L, 14-38).
• The Bobcats had turned the ball over a combined 4 times in the previous 3 games entering the contest at James Madison.
• Of the 12 turnovers this year, 6 are interceptions and 6 are fumbles.
• The Bobcats are last in the Sun Belt in turnovers while their 12 are tied for 7th most in the country.

 
M.I.B.

• It has been a stark difference between home and road this year for Texas State, as the Bobcats are 2-0 at home and 0-3 on the road.
• At home, Texas State is averaging 37.5 points per game and allowing 6.0 points.
• On the road, the Bobcats are averaging 11.3 points per game and allowing 40.0 points.
• Of the 12 points allowed by Texas at home, 3 are coming off turnovers. Of the 120 allowed on the road, 42 are off turnovers.

 
Home vs. Road Comparison
2022 Texas State
Home                                                        Away
37.5             Points                                    11.3
6.0               Points Against                       40.0
3                  Turnovers                              9
3                  Takeaways                             6
17                Points off Turnovers              3
3                  Opp. Points off Turnovers     42
4.2               Avg. Yards Per Rush              2.1
49                First Downs                           43
26                Opponent First Downs          58
 
MEANS WHAT YOU THINK YOU SAW

• Texas State is looking to go 3-0 at home this season with a win this weekend against App State, thanks to 29-point and 34-point wins over FIU and HCU, respectively, earlier this year.
• The last time Texas State started its home schedule with 3 straight wins was 2011.
• The Bobcats have not won 3 consecutive home games since 2012-13. The Bobcats won their season finale at home in 2012 (vs. New Mexico State) and then won the first 2 home games of the 2013 season (vs. Prairie View A&M and Wyoming).
• Last year, Texas State had 2 home wins all season. The last season with 3+ home victories was 2019.

 
YOU DID NOT SEE

• Texas State allowed a season-high 6 trips to the red zone by James Madison last week, but it still has one of the top red zone defenses in the country.
• The Bobcats are 32nd in the country in red zone defense, holding opponents to a 76.5 percent score rate inside the 20.
• Texas State opponents are 13-of-17 in red zone opportunities.
• All 11 touchdowns scored by Texas State opponents inside the red zone are rushing touchdowns.
• The Bobcats have not allowed a passing touchdown inside the red zone since Nov. 20, 2021 vs. Coastal Carolina. That is 20 straight red zone trips by Texas State opponents that have not ended in a passing touchdown.

 
SO DON'T BLINK

• Texas State's defense has been lifted by its pass defense, featuring a pass rush and strong secondary.
• The Bobcats are 34th in the country in passing yards allowed per game (192.6) and 15th in team passing efficiency defense. They are also first among Sun Belt teams in passing efficiency defense.
• Their 5 interceptions are tied for 40th-most in the nation.
• Texas State also has 10 sacks in 5 games so far this year. Last year, it had 18 sacks over the course of the season.
• The Bobcats' 10 sacks are the most by a Texas State team in the first 5 games of a season since 2017 when they had 12. The school's FBS record for sacks in the first 5 games of a season is 18 set by the 2014 team.
• In the first 6 games of a season, the 2017 team had 13 sacks while the 2014 squad had 20.

 
Most Sacks in First 5 Games of a Season
Texas State History (FBS Era)
1. 2014            18
2. 2017            12
3. 2022            10
4. 2013            9
 
BE WHAT WAS THERE IS NOW GONE

• Overall, Texas State is 38th in the country in total defense. It has allowed 336.8 yards per game.
• The Bobcats are 4th among Sun Belt teams in total defense.
• Texas State has allowed 315 yards or less in 3 of its 5 games this season, including a school FBS record of 142 against HCU on Sept. 24.
• The last time Texas State held a Sun Belt opponent under 400 yards was Nov. 13, 2021 vs. Georgia Southern (395 yards).
• The last time Texas State faced App State, it allowed 426 total yards on 71 plays in 2020.

 
BLACK SUIT WITH BLACK RAY BAN'S ON

• Texas State's offense was 2-of-2 on red zone opportunities last week at James Madison, helping it rank 28th in the country and 2nd in the Sun Belt in red zone offense.
• The Bobcats are 12-of-13 in scoring opportunities when in the red zone this year. They have scored 9 touchdowns, 8 of which are passing.
• Of the 109 points scored by Texas State this year, 71 have been in the red zone (65 percent).
• Texas State is averaging 2.6 trips to the red zone per game this year. Defensively, it is allowing 3.4 trips.

 
WALK IN SHADOW, MOVE IN SILENCE

• Javen Banks is among the most accomplished wide receivers in Texas State history, as he ranks in the school's top-10 in career receiving yards and career receiving touchdowns.
• Banks enters the App State game 7th in Texas State history in career receiving yards with 1,528. He needs 37 receiving yards to tie Billy Dunk for 6th on the all-time list.
• In career receiving touchdowns, Banks is tied for 3rd in Texas State history. He has 17, which ties him with David Vela on the all-time list.
• Banks needs 2 receiving touchdowns to tie Johnny Parker for 2nd on the list.

 
GUARD AGAINST EXTRA-TERRESTIAL VIOLENCE

• Marcell Barbee has been the team's leading receiver in the last 2 games after going the first 3 games of the year with only 2 catches.
• The senior has 10 receptions for 168 yards over the last 2 contests.
• He had the most receiving yards by a Bobcat in each of the last 2 games.
• Barbee needs 98 more receiving yards to crack Texas State's career top-10. He is looking to pass K.R. Carpenter (1,375 receiving yards from 2003-2005) for 10th on the all-time list.
• Barbee is already tied for 5th on Texas State's career receiving touchdowns list, one behind teammate Javen Banks for tied for 3rd.
• In 29 career games at Texas State, Barbee has 92 receptions, 1,277 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns.

 
Most Receiving Touchdowns
Texas State Career, All-Time
1.         32        Cameron Luke             2006-08
2.         19        Johnny Parker             1969-71
3.         17        David Vela                   1979-82
17        Javen Banks                2018-Current
5.         16        Marcell Barbee           2020-Current
16        Daren Dillard               2008-10
 
BUT YO WE AIN'T ON NO GOVERNMENT LIST

• The team's leading receiver for the entire season is Ashtyn Hawkins, who has 37 catches for 332 yards and 5 touchdowns.
• He is tied for 6th in the country in receptions.
• Hawkins is also tied for 14th in the nation in receiving touchdowns.
• Hawkins is averaging 7.4 receptions per game this year.
• The last Bobcat to have more than 40 receptions for an entire season was Hutch White, who had 67 in all of 2019.
• There have only been 8 receivers in Texas State's FBS history to have more than 40 receptions in a season.

 
WE STRAIGHT DON'T EXIST

• London Harris had a career game at James Madison as the middle linebacker had a career-high 15 tackles last week.
• His 15 tackles were the most in a game by a Bobcat since Brendon Luper had 16 on Nov. 21, 2020 vs. Arkansas State.
• The 11 solo tackles by Harris were the most by a Bobcat since Bryan London had 12 on Nov. 4, 2017 vs. New Mexico State.
• Harris also had 1.0 TFL and 1 quarterback hurry to go with his 15 total tackles.
• He became the first Sun Belt player to have 15 total tackles and 10 solo tackles in a game since Nick Mobley (South Alabama) did it on Nov. 21, 2020 vs. Georgia State.
• Harris is only the fourth Sun Belt player in the last 5 years to have 15+ tackles, 10+ solo tackles and 1.0+ TFL in the same game.

 
NO NAMES, NO FINGERPRINTS

• Levi Bell continued his breakout season with 5 tackles (4 solo) and 1.0 sack against James Madison last week.
• Bell's 31 tackles this season are already a career-high, bettering his previous best of 19 set in 2020 with Louisiana Tech. Bell entered the season with 27 career tackles in 11 games with the Bulldogs.
• Bell is tied for 1st in the Sun Belt in tackles for loss (7.5) and tied for 5th in sacks (3.5).
• Bell is tied for 37th in the country in sacks (3.5).
• The redshirt junior has 5+ tackles in 4 of the 5 games this year.
• Bell also has at least 0.5 sack in 4 of the 5 games this season.
• Based on PFF statistics, Bell is tied for 13th in the country in total pressures (21). He is tied for 3rd among defensive linemen.
• Also among PFF grades, Bell leads the country in defensive rating.

 
SAW SOMETHING STRANGE, WATCH YOUR BACK

• Jordan Revels had 2 quarterback hurries last weekend at James Madison, giving him 16 in his Texas State career.
• He is 9th in Texas State history in career quarterback hurries.
• His 16 career quarterback hurries are the most by a Bobcat in Texas State's FBS era.
• He has 6 hurries this season, one shy of his career-high of 7 which he set last year.
• Revels moved from defensive end to outside linebacker in the offseason. He has 27 tackles (14 solo), 5.5 TFLs and 6 quarterback hurries in 5 games.

 
CAUSE YOU NEVER QUITE KNOW

• Jarron Morris forced and recovered a fumble last weekend at James Madison.
• In 43 career games, Morris has 7 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries. He also has 25 passes defended to go with his 208 tackles.
• Morris is tied for 4th in career passes defended in Texas State history. He is tied with 2 others: Epsil Williams (2003-06) and Nicolas Jack (1994-96).
• He needs one more pass defended to tie Kendall Jones (1998-01) and Darryl Morris (2008-12) for 2nd on the school's all-time career list.

 
WHERE THE M.I.B'S ARE AT

• All 5 of Texas State's game this year have been decided by 24+ points, a first for the Bobcats since the 2016 season.
• In 2016, Texas State had 5 straight contests decided by an average of 31.0 points from Oct. 22 to Nov. 6.
• It is only the third time in program history that the Bobcats have played in 5 straight games decided by 24+ points. The first time was in 1981 when the Bobcats won the Division II national championship. They played in the 5 games from Oct. 10 to Nov. 7.

 
HERE COME THE MEN IN BLACK

• Kicker Seth Keller is 3-of-4 on field goals this year, helping him enter Saturday 5th in Texas State history with 26 career field goals made.
• Keller's lone miss this season was on a blocked kick at Baylor.
• Keller needs 3 more field goals made to tie Justin Martinez (1999-2002) for 4th on Texas State's all-time list for career makes.
• The Colleyville, Texas native is also 10th on Texas State's career list for field goals attempted. He needs one more attempt to tie Terry Whitman (1977-80) for 9th on the list.
• Keller is currently the program's best in career field goal percentage (83.9 percent;  26-31).