Game #9
Texas State (3-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) at ULM (2-6, 1-3 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022
Malone Stadium | Monroe, La.
Kickoff: 4 PM
TV: ESPN3
            Chris Harris (Play-by-play)
            Desmund Lighten (Analyst)
Radio: KTSW 89.9 & Varsity Network (free app)
            Clint Shields (Play-by-play)
            Geff Gandy (analyst)
Twitter Updates: @TXSTATEFOOTBALL
 
 
SETTING THE TABLE
Following its bye week, Texas State will return to action in a new month when it travels to Monroe, La. to take on ULM at Malone Stadium on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game can be watched on ESPN3 and heard on the Varsity Network and KTSW 89.9 FM.
 
The Bobcats are entering the game having lost their last two games – both by 6 points or less. In their last game, the Bobcats scored on a 74-yard touchdown connection between Layne Hatcher and Ashtyn Hawkins with less than a minute-and-a-half remaining to give them their first and only lead of the game. However, on fourth-and-four from its own territory, Southern Miss scored on a 53-yard pass play to score the game-winning touchdown and deal Texas State a 20-14 defeat – its first home loss of the season.
 
ULM also enters this weekend coming off a bye week. The Warhawks played their last game on Oct. 22, a nonconference game against Army (L, 24-48). In its 4 Sun Belt games this year, ULM has lost by 7 points or less 3 times. It is also 2-1 at home this year.
 
Texas State is 3-6 all-time at Monroe but 2-2 since it joined the Sun Belt in 2013. The Bobcats won the last meeting in Monroe on Sept. 19, 2020 (W, 38-17).
 
Texas State has also won 2 straight against ULM, including a 27-19 decision in San Marcos on Nov. 6, 2021.
 
Since 2013, five of the nine meetings between the Bobcats and Warhawks have been one-possession games. Also, three of the last four meetings in Monroe have been decided by 6 points or less.
 
REVVIN' UP YOUR ENGINE

• Texas State has lost by 3 and 6 points, respectively, in its last two games, making this the first time the Bobcats have lost back-to-back games by 6 points or less since 2018.
• In 2018, Texas State lost 15-13 at home against Georgia Southern on Oct. 11 and then dropped a 20-14 contest at ULM on Oct. 20.
• It is the third time overall Texas State has lost back-to-back games by 6 points or less as an FBS program (other: 2014, vs. Georgia Southern and at South Alabama).
• The Bobcats' two losses of a touchdown or less this year are their most in a season since 2020 when they lost 3 games in such a manner. In 2020, Texas State ended the year with 4 of its 8 losses by 7 points or less and 3 defeats by 3 points or less.

 
LISTEN TO HER HOWLIN' ROAR

• Texas State's defense has limited the last 2 opponents to 20 points or less, a first in conference play in 4 years.
• In 2018, Texas State held Georgia Southern (15) and ULM (20) to 20 points or less in back-to-back games.
• This season is the 4th time in Texas State's FBS history it has held 2 or more conference opponents to 20 points or less. Other seasons include 2018, 2017 and 2015.
• Texas State has held its opponents to 20.3 points in the last 3 games. For the season, opponents are averaging 24.1 points per game.

 
METAL UNDER TENSION

• Texas State's defense still ranks near the top-third of the country as it enters the week 48th in the nation in total defense.
• The Bobcats are one of 7 Sun Belt teams in the top-50 of total defense in the country.
• Texas State's highest finish in a season as an FBS team in total defense is 53rd in 2018.
• The Bobcats have finished top-60 in the country twice in its FBS history (2013, 2018).

 
Texas State Defense, National Rank
Top-50 or better
Stat                                     Rank              Total
Takeaways                          24th               15
Red Zone Defense              24th               76.9 percent
First Down Defense            24th               138 first downs
Third Down Defense           29th               33.3 percent
Rushing Defense                 40th               125.0 yds/game
Sacks                                   48th               2.38/game
 
BEGGIN' YOU TOUCH AND GO

• The Bobcats have 15 takeaways in 8 games this year, including 9 in 4 conference games.
• The 15 turnovers gained are the most by the Bobcats since 2020 when they also had 15.
• The last time Texas State had more than 15 takeaways in a season was 2018 (18).
• The Bobcats have forced 3+ turnovers in 3 games this year, including the last outing on Oct. 22 vs. Southern Miss. Texas State is 0-3 this season when it forces 3+ turnovers.
• Texas State has forced a turnover in 7 straight games, its longest such streak in a season since 2018 when it had 9 consecutive games with a takeaway.

 
HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE

• The Bobcats have 9 interceptions among their 15 takeaways this year.
• The 9 interceptions by the Texas State defense are its most in a campaign since 2014 when it had 13.
• Texas State is 22nd in the nation in interceptions and 5th in the Sun Belt.
• Five different Bobcats have an interception this year, led by 4 by Kordell Rodgers. Linebacker Sione Tupou is the only other Bobcat with multiple interceptions with 2.
• This year, the Bobcats have 2 interceptions returned for a touchdown, which is tied for the most in a season in program history.
• Last year, Texas State had 3 interceptions as a team.

 
Most Interceptions in a Season
Texas State, FBS Era (Since 2012)
1.   14                2012
2.   13                2014
3.   11                2013
4.   9                  2022
 
RIDE INTO THE DANGER ZONE

• Sione Tupou had an interception in the last game on Oct. 22 against Southern Miss, his second of his season and career.
• Tupou also had an interception at Baylor on Sept. 17.
• Tupou is the first Texas State linebacker with multiple interceptions in a season since David Mayo had a team-leading 4 in 2013.
• This season, Tupou has 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries along with 50 tackles, which are second-most on the team.

 
HEADIN' INTO TWILIGHT

• Jarron Morris also had an interception in the last game on Oct. 22 against Southern Miss, which was his first interception since 2020.
• Morris missed nearly all of 2021 due to injury.
• This year, Morris has 42 tackles (22 solo), 3 pass breakups, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception.
• In his career, Morris has 8 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.
• Morris needs one more interception to crack Texas State's all-time career list for most interceptions. If he gets one more pick, he would tie three others (last: Lee Lundin, 9, from 1983-86) for 9th on the list.
• Morris currently holds the Texas State FBS record for career interceptions with 8.

 
SPREADIN' OUT HER WINGS TONIGHT

• Texas State has 19.0 sacks this season, which are its most in a season since 2017 when it had 20.0.
• This season's 19.0 sacks are currently the 3rd-most by Texas State in an FBS season in program history.
• The Bobcats have 10.0 sacks in 4 Sun Belt games and at least 3.0 sacks in each of the last 3 games.
• The all-time record for Texas State in sacks in a single-season is 31.0 set in 2011.

 
Most Team Sacks
Texas State, FBS Era (Since 2012)
1.     29               2014
2.     20               2017
3.     19               2022
4.     18               2021
 
SHE GOT YOU JUMPIN'

• Nelson Mbanasor had his best statistical game of the season on Oct. 22 vs. Southern Miss as he had a season-high 6 tackles (4 solo), 4.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble.
• The 2.5 sacks were the most by a Bobcat since 2014 when Michael Odiari had 4.5 vs. Idaho on Oct. 4, 2014.
• Mbanasor's 4.5 TFLs were the most by a Bobcat in a game since Odiari also had 4.5 in the 2014 game vs. Idaho. Mbanasor is one of only 4 Bobcats with 4.5+ TFLs in a single game in Texas State's FBS history.
• Entering the game against Southern Miss, Mbanasor had 1.0 sack and 1.0 TFL in 7 games this season.
• In 4 seasons at Texas Tech (2018-21), Mbanasor had 5.0 TFLs and 1.0 sack in 31 games played.

 
Most Sacks in a Single Game
Texas State, FBS Era (Since 2012)
1.     4.5          Michael Odiari              Oct. 4, 2014                Idaho
2.     4.0          Joplo Bartu                   Dec. 1, 2012                New Mexico State
3.     2.5          Nelson Mbanasor        Oct. 22, 2022              Southern Miss
 
OFF THE DECK

• Levi Bell was a force on the defensive line once again in the last game on Oct. 22 vs. Southern Miss as he had 8 tackles and 1.0 TFL.
• It was Bell's most tackles in a game since the season opener at Nevada when he had 10.
• Bell has a TFL in 7 of the 8 games this year, leading the team with 10.0.
• He is 3.0 TFLs shy of cracking Texas State's all-time top-10 for most TFLs in a single season. The last player to have 13.0 TFLs in a season was his current teammate Nico Ezidore who had 13.0 in 2020 to tie 5 others for the 9th most in program history.
• Bell is 23rd in the nation and 2nd in the Sun Belt in TFLs per game with 1.2.
• Bell also has 5.0 sacks this year, which are tied for 43rd in the country.
• Bell remains one of the top-rated players in PFF grades this season. He enters this weekend 5th in defensive grades among defensive linemen (7th among all positions).

 
SHOVIN' INTO OVERDRIVE

• Ashtyn Hawkins remains one of the top wide receivers in the country with his receptions and receiving touchdowns.
• Hawkins is tied for 13th in the nation in total receptions (54) and receptions per game (6.8).
• He is also 11th in the country in receiving touchdowns with 7.
• In the Sun Belt, Hawkins leads the conference in receptions and receptions per game.
• He is also 2nd in the conference in receiving touchdowns.
• A Texas State player has never led the Sun Belt in receptions per game for an entire season and the last receiver to be in the top-five was Hutch White in 2019 (5.6).
• Hawkins is 9th in the Sun Belt in receiving yards (581), but he has 4 100-yard receiving games this year. That is the most 100-yard receiving games by a Bobcat in the school's FBS history, matching Elijah King who had 4 such games in 2017.

 
HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE

• In addition to putting together one of the best seasons by a receiver this season, Ashtyn Hawkins is etching his name into the Texas State record books as well.
• Hawkins' 54 receptions this season are the most by a Bobcat since Hutch White had 67 in 2019.
• Hawkins needs 2 more catches to enter the program's all-time top-10 for receptions in a single season.
• Hawkins is 13 catches away from Texas State's FBS single-season record for receptions in a single season. That record is held by Hutch White, who had 67 receptions in 2019.
• Hawkins' 54 receptions are 3rd-most by a Bobcat in the school's FBS history. He trails C.J. Best for 2nd on the program FBS list. Best had 58 receptions in 2015.

 
Most Receptions, Texas State Program History
1.      80          Da'Marcus Griggs      2009
…
5.      60          Cameron Luke           2007
         60          K.R. Carpenter           2003
7.      59          Johnny Parker           1970
8.      58          C.J. Best                     2015
         58          Johnny Parker           1969
10.    56          Markee White           2005
 
---     54          Ashtyn Hawkins        2022
 
I'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT

• Ashtyn Hawkins' team-leading 7 receiving touchdowns this year currently rank tied for 8th in program history for most in a single season.
• With one more receiving touchdown, Hawkins would move into a tie for 5th in program history for the most in a single-season. He needs 3 more receiving touchdowns to match the school's FBS program record.
• Hawkins has a touchdown catch in 6 of the 8 games this year. He does not have a touchdown catch in a Sun Belt road game, however, this season.

 
INTO THE DANGER ZONE

• In his first season as a Bobcat, Layne Hatcher is among the top statistical leaders in program history.
• The quarterback is 186-of-296 with 1,944 passing yards and 16 touchdowns. He has a completion percentage of 62.84 percent and is averaging 243.0 passing yards per game.
• His 186 completions are tied with David Williams (1995) for 10th most in program history. He is 6th in the school's FBS history in that category.
• With 14 more completions, Hatcher would become only the 7th quarterback in program history (4th in FBS history) with 200 completions in a season.
• With 26 more pass attempts, Hatcher would tie Spergon Wynn (1999) for the 10th-most in a single season in program history.
• Hatcher needs 155 more passing yards to tie Bradley George (2007) for 10th on the program's all-time single-season passing yards list.
• Hatcher's 16 touchdown passes are already in the school's all-time top-10, as he sits in a tie for 8th with Bradley George (2007).

 
Most Passing Yards, Single Season
Texas State Program History
1.     3,129          Barrick Nealy                     2003
…
7.     2,389          David Williams                  1995
8.     2,184          Tyler Jones                        2016
9.     2,137          Shaun Rutherford             2012
10.   2,099          Bradley George                 2007
 
---    1,944          Layne Hatcher                  2022
 
Most Passing Touchdowns, Single Season
Texas State Program History
1.     26               Bradley George                 2008
…
4.     21               Barrick Nealy                     2005
        21               Barrick Nealy                     2003
6.     18               David Williams                  1995
7.     17               Brady McBride                  2020
8.     16               Layne Hatcher                  2022
        16               Bradley George                 2007
 
YOU'LL NEVER SAY HELLO TO YOU

• While this may be his first season with Texas State, Hatcher is in his fourth season playing at the collegiate level (5th overall) – and he remains among the active leaders at the FBS level.
• Hatcher is currently 12th among active FBS quarterbacks in career passing yards.
• Hatcher needs 629 more career passing yards to have 10,000 in his career. Entering this weekend, there are 132 players in FBS/Division I-A college football history with 10,000+ career passing yards.
• There are 5 active FBS quarterbacks with 10,000+ career passing yards entering the weekend.

 
Career Passing Yards, Active FBS Players
1.      Holton Ahlers                             ECU                                     12,857
2.      Sam Hartman                             Wake Forest                       11,292
3.      Jarret Doege                              Troy                                    11,069
4.      Charlie Brewer                           Liberty                                10,202
5.      Clayton Tune                              Houston                              10,128
6.      Dillon Gabriel                             Oklahoma                           9,803
7.      Sean Clifford                              Penn State                          9,655
8.      Chris Reynolds                           Charlotte                            9,521
9.      Dorian Thompson-Robinson      UCLA                                   9,512
10.    Bo Nix                                         Oregon                                9,472
11.    Adrian Martinez                         K-State                                9,398
12.    Layne Hatcher                           Texas State                         9,371
13.    Tanner Morgan                          Minnesota                          9,358
14.    Malik Cunningham                     Louisville                             9,346
15.    Will Rogers                                 Mississippi State                 9,270
 
UNTIL YOU GET IT ON THE RED LINE OVERLOAD

• In addition to passing yards, Layne Hatcher is among the active FBS leaders in career passing touchdowns.
• The Little Rock, Ark. native enters this weekend tied for 6th among active players with 81 career passing touchdowns.
• He trails the next closest players – Jarret Doege of Troy and Dillon Gabriel of Oklahoma – by 3 for 4th on the active list.
• Entering this weekend, there are only 58 players in FBS/Division I-A college football history to have 90+ career passing touchdowns.

 
Career Passing Touchdowns, Active FBS Players
1.     Sam Hartman                                 Wake Forest           94
2.     Holton Ahlers                                 ECU                         87
3.     Clayton Tune                                  Houston                  85
4.     Jarret Doege                                   Troy                        84
        Dillon Gabriel                                 Oklahoma               84
6.     Layne Hatcher                                Texas State             81
        Chris Reynolds                                Charlotte                81
8.     Sean Clifford                                   Penn State              78
        Dorian Thompson-Robinson          UCLA                       78
10.   Hendon Hooker                              Tennessee              74
 
YOU'LL NEVER KNOW

• Texas State is looking for its first road win of the season, as it is 0-4 away from San Marcos this year.
• The Bobcats have not won a road game since the 2021 season finale at Arkansas State, a 24-22 decision over the Red Wolves on Nov. 27, 2021.
• Last year, Texas State was 2-4 on the road.
• Texas State is one of 26 FBS teams this year without a road win so far. Other Sun Belt teams in the same category as the Bobcats are ULM (0-5) and Arkansas State (0-5).

 
WHAT YOU CAN DO

• As the calendar turns to November, Texas State will aim to have a winning month.
• The Bobcats were 2-2 last year in November, helping it finish with its most wins in a season since 2014.
• In their last 9 games in the month of November – dating back to the 2019 season finale at Coastal Carolina – 6 have been decided by 8 points or less.

 
UNTIL YOU GET IT UP AS HIGH AS YOU CAN GO

• Tight end Tyler Huff, who served in the Navy from 2013 to 2017, was named a finalist for the 2022 Armed Forces Merit Award on Oct. 17.
• The award, presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), was created in 2012 to honor an individual and/or group with a military background and/or involvement that has an impact within the realm of college football.
• Huff has played in 285 snaps this year, with a majority of those on offense, and has 3 catches for 5 yards.
• Huff was one of 4 players among the seven total finalists for this year's award. Dominic DiNunzio of TCU, Ray Ruschel of North Dakota State College of Science, and Wil Schoonover of West Virginia were other the players as finalists.