MOBILE, Ala. – Texas State fell behind 17-0 after the first half and saw South Alabama go 6-for-6 on fourth down conversions as the Bobcats lost 38-21 to the Jaguars at Hancock Whitney Stadium on Saturday for their fourth straight loss.
 
Despite the Bobcats (3-7, 1-5 Sun Belt) totaling 18 first downs and outgaining South Alabama (8-2, 5-1 Sun Belt) 203-149 in the second half, it was not enough for the Bobcats to overcome its halftime deficit. Texas State had two first downs and 27 total yards in the first half.
 
The loss dropped Texas State to winless on the road for the season (0-6).
 
The win, meanwhile, moved South Alabama into a tie with Troy for first place in the Sun Belt West Division.
 
South Alabama staked itself the three-score lead in the first half by scoring on three of its first five drives. A 41-yard touchdown reception by Devin Voisin put the Jaguars on the scoreboard just under two minutes into the game. After a 35-yard field goal by Diego Guajardo made it 10-0 in the first quarter, DJ Thomas-Jones helped make it 17-0 with a two-yard touchdown catch on a fourth-and-goal halfway through the second quarter.
 
The Bobcats held South Alabama without a score on its final drive of the second half as Guajardo missed a 37-yard field goal as time expired to keep it at 17-0. It was Guajardo's first miss of the season.
 
Offensively, Texas State ran 17 plays to South Alabama's 49 in the first half.
 
In the second half, Texas State's Josh Berry ignited the offense by rushing for all 87 of his yards, which were a career-high. The redshirt sophomore had 15 rushing attempts and averaged 5.8 yards per carry.
 
After punting on its first six drives and not having a drive longer than four plays, Texas State's offense broke through early in the third quarter with a 10-play, 80-play drive capped by a Rontavius Groves touchdown catch from four yards out to help make it 17-7. Layne Hatcher was 5-of-6 on the drive, including two receptions to Groves as well as a 14-yard pass to Lincoln Pare on a broken play that put the ball inside the South Alabama five-yard line. Three plays later, Hatcher found Groves for the first Bobcat touchdown of the night.
 
South Alabama responded five minutes later with another 41-yard touchdown pass, this time from Carter Bradley to Caullin Lacy to make it 24-7.
 
Early in the fourth quarter, Berry rushed for his first career touchdown to cap an eight-play, 69-yard drive and make it 24-14.
The Jaguars once again answered with their next drive with a 28-yard touchdown catch by Voisin to restore South Alabama's 17-point lead.
 
The Bobcats punched in their last touchdown of the night with a three-yard rush by Hatcher late in the fourth quarter that made it 31-21 Jaguars, but a pick-six by South Alabama with the Bobcats deep in their territory with under three minutes to go closed out the victory for the Jaguars.
 
Texas State will return home for its final two games of the season, starting with a November 19 matchup against Arkansas State at Bobcat Stadium. Kickoff against the Red Wolves is set for 4 p.m.
 
 
Postgame Notes
Texas State was held scoreless in the first half for the second time this season. The last time was on Oct. 1 at James Madison.
 
The last time a Texas State opponent had five or more fourth down conversions a game was October 4, 2014 when Idaho went 5-of-5.
 
Three of the four South Alabama offensive touchdowns were on plays of 28 yards or further.
 
Josh Berry's season-high in rushing yards before Saturday was 36 against Baylor on Sept. 17.
 
This is the first time Texas State has gone winless on the road in a season since 2019.
 
Texas State is 0-4 all-time in Mobile.
 
The Bobcats finished with two sacks and has their most sacks in a season (24.0) since 2014 (29.0).
 
South Alabama finished with 11 penalties for 121 yards. Texas State had five penalties for 45 yards.