Game #10
Texas State (3-6, 1-4 Sun Belt) at South Alabama (7-2, 4-1 Sun Belt)
Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022
Hancock Whitney Stadium | Mobile, Ala.
Kickoff: 4 PM
TV: ESPN+
            J.D. Byars (Play-by-play)
            Pat Greenwood (analyst)
Radio: KTSW 89.9 & Varsity Network (free app)
            Clint Shields (Play-by-play)
            Geff Gandy (analyst)
Twitter Updates: @TXSTATEFOOTBALL
 
 
SETTING THE TABLE
After another narrow loss on the road, Texas State will look to rebound with its final road game of the 2022 season as it faces South Alabama in Mobile on Saturday at 4 p.m. The game can be watched on ESPN+ and heard on the Varsity Network and KTSW 89.9 FM.
 
The Bobcats are in the midst of a three-game losing streak and have lost all three games by a combined 10 points. Last week against ULM, Texas State got the ball back with a minute-and-a-half left after a fumble by the Warhawks in their own territory but fell 31-30 after missing the game-winning field goal with less than 10 seconds remaining.
 
Texas State is winless on the road this season, but it dropped its last two road games by a combined 4 points.
 
South Alabama enters the weekend a half-game behind Troy for first place in the Sun Belt's West Division. The Jaguars are 4-1 in conference play, trailing Troy's 5-1 record, and have two of their last three games this season at home.
 
Texas State is 4-3 all-time against South Alabama after winning last year's matchup: a four-overtime thriller in early October in San Marcos. In the series, neither team has won back-to-back games.
 
Two of the last three games between Texas State and South Alabama have been decided by two points or less.
 
A FIRST IN 52 YEARS

• Texas State enters this weekend against South Alabama having lost 3 in a row by 6 points or less.
• It is the first time the Bobcats have lost 3 straight games in a such a manner since 1970 when they were a member of the Lone Star Conference.
• After starting the season with 6 consecutive games decided by double digits (average margin: 26.8 points), the last 3 contests for Texas State have been decided by a touchdown or less (average margin: 3.3 points).

 
GAINING AN ADVANTAGE

• Texas State forced a season-high 4 turnovers in the game at ULM last weekend, including 3 fumbles and an interception, and it is having a season not seen in terms of takeaways in 8 years.
• It was the most takeaways by the Bobcats since Oct. 31, 2020 vs. Louisiana when it also forced 3 fumbles and one interception.
• The Bobcats have forced 4 turnovers in a game 6 times in their FBS era (since 2012) – but only 3 times in the last 8 years.
• Texas State, which has 7 takeaways in the last 2 games, has 19 turnovers gained this year, its most in a season since 2014.
• The Bobcats have only forced 20+ turnovers in a season once in their FBS history (26 in 2012).
• Texas State has forced a turnover in 8 straight games, its longest such streak since 2019 when it started the season with a takeaway in 9 consecutive games.
• Texas State has generated only 16 points off its last 10 takeaways, dating back to the App State game on Oct. 8.

 
Most Takeaways in a Season
Texas State, FBS History (Since 2012)
1.   26           2012
2.   19           2022
      19           2014
      19           2013
 
TAKING CARE OF IT

• While the Texas State defense has been a group of ball hawks, the Bobcat offense has taken care of the ball as of late.
• In the last 3 games, the Bobcats have turned the ball over once: an interception in the closing seconds of the game against Southern Miss.
• After turning it over a season-high-tying 4 times in the Sun Belt opener at James Madison, Texas State has 2 turnovers in the last 4 games.
• Texas State has one turnover in its last 258 offensive plays and 48 drives.
• The Bobcats have 14 turnovers so far this year. Last year, they had 20 in 12 games.

 
MARGIN CALL

• With the help of 14 turnovers and 19 takeaways, Texas State enters this weekend 30th in the country in turnover margin (+0.56/game).
• Over the last 4 games, the Bobcats have a +8 turnover margin.
• Texas State has not had a positive turnover margin for a season since 2014 (+7).

 
TOTAL RECALL

• Despite giving up 380 yards to ULM last weekend, Texas State's defense still ranks in the top-50 defenses this year.
• The Bobcats are 43rd in the country in total defense, averaging 358.2 yards allowed per game. They are 7th among Sun Belt teams.
• Texas State finished last season 103rd in the nation – and 7th in the Sun Belt – in total defense, surrendering 430.4 yards per game.
• As an FBS team, Texas State has never finished a season higher than 53rd in total defense. In 2018, it finished 53rd after allowing 383.9 yards per game.

 
POWER OF DISRUPTION

• Powering the top-45 defense is a defensive line that has helped the Bobcats rank even higher in other categories.
• Entering this weekend, Texas State is top-40 in the nation in tackles for loss (37th), sacks (32nd) and rush defense (26th).
• The Bobcats are averaging 6.4 TFLs per game and have 58 total this season.
• Texas State is also averaging 2.56 sacks per game and has 23.0 total.
• The Bobcats are averaging 118.6 rushing yards against this year. They have held opponents to less than 100 yards rushing 4 times this season, including the last game at ULM (67 yards on 29 carries).
• Texas State opponents are averaging 3.1 yards per carry over the last 4 games (346 yards, 113 attempts).

 
SACK PACK

• Texas State had 4.0 sacks against ULM, matching its season-high last set on Sept. 24 vs. HCU.
• The Bobcats have 3.0 or more sacks in 4 straight games entering this weekend. This is the first time in FBS history the Bobcats have turned that feat.
• Since going without a sack at Baylor on Sept. 17, Texas State is averaging 3.0 sacks per game in the last 6 contests and totaling 18.0 sacks over the stretch. The Bobcats had 18.0 sacks in all of last season (12 games).
• The 23.0 sacks this season are the most by Texas State since the 2014 team set the school FBS record with 29.0 sacks.
• The all-time record for sacks in a season in program history is 31.0 set by the 2011 team – which was the Bobcats' last year at the FCS level.

 
Most Team Sacks in a Season
Texas State, FBS History
1.   29.0           2014
2.   22.0           2022
3.   20.0           2017
 
WELCOME TO THE TFL

• Texas State has shown a knack for getting into the backfield as it has 58.0 TFLs this season.
• In the last 2 games, the Bobcats have 20.0 combined TFLs: 8.0 vs. ULM and 12.0 vs. Southern Miss.
• The Bobcats have 5 games this year of 7.0+ TFLs, including 2 with 10.0 or more: 12.0 vs. Southern Miss on Oct. 22 and 10.0 vs. FIU on Sept. 10.
• Texas State's 58.0 TFLs are currently 5th most in program history in its FBS history.
• The Bobcats are 5 TFLs away from matching the FBS school record for most team TFLs in a season.

 
Most Team TFLs
Texas State, FBS History (Since 2012)
1.   63          2016
2.   60          2014
      60          2013
4.   59          2018
5.   58          2022
 
HA-HA ON THE OFFENSE

• Redshirt senior Nelson Mbanasor has been a force as of late, totaling 7.0 TFLs and 4.0 sacks in the last 2 games.
• Mbanasor, in his first season with Texas State after transferring from Texas Tech, also has 9 total tackles, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup in the last 2 contests.
• For the season (9 games), Mbanasor has 26 tackles, 8.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 3 pass breakups.
• The Pflugerville, Texas product is tied with Levi Bell for the team lead in sacks with 5.0. He is third on the team in TFLs, trailing Bell (10.5) and Jordan Revels (9.5).
• In 4 seasons at Texas Tech (2018-21), Mbanasor had 38 tackles, 1.0 sack and 5.0 TFLs in 21 games.
• Mbanasor is currently 7th in the Sun Belt with 0.56 sacks/game.

 
E-Z DOES IT

• Nelson Mbanasor is not the only Bobcat defensive lineman standing out lately as fifth-year senior Nico Ezidore has been disruptive in the last 4 games.
• Since Oct. 8 against App State, Ezidore has 7.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks in 4 games. He also has 18 total tackles and 2 pass breakups.
• The Naaman Forest HS (TX) product has his most TFLs in a season (7.0) since tallying a career-high 13.0 in 2020.
• He is 0.5 sack away from his career-high as well.
• Ezidore needs 3 more TFLs to crack Texas State's all-time top-10 for most career TFLs. He has 26.5 entering this weekend and would match Frankie Griffin (2016-19) for 10th on the list (29.5).

 
REVEL(S) IN THE FACT

• Fourth-year junior Jordan Revels has also contributed to the disruptive front seven of Texas State's defense as of late as he has 24 tackles and 3.0 sacks over the last 3 games.
• Revels, who is in his first year as an outside linebacker after moving from defensive line, is 3rd on the team with 55 tackles and 4.5 sacks this year.
• In addition to his career-high 4.5 sacks, Revels has a team-best 7 quarterback hurries this year.
• For his career, Revels has 19 quarterback hurries, which is 7th-most in Texas State program history.
• He needs 4 more quarterback hurries to match C.J. Carroll (1997-2000) for 6th on the program's all-time list.

 
LAST 2 FOR TUPOU

• Sione Tupou enters this weekend 2nd on the team in tackles with 57 and has 14 tackles, 1.5 TFLs and 0.5 sack in the last 2 games.
• Tupou, who is in his 3rd year at Texas State and 7th year overall in college football, has generated 3 turnovers this season, including a forced fumble at ULM and interception against Southern Miss. He also had an interception against Baylor.
• In his Texas State career, Tupou has 195 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries and 2 interceptions in 33 games.
• Over his entire college football career – which started at UTEP (2016-19) – Tupou has 308 tackles in 55 games.
• Last year, in the four-overtime thriller against South Alabama, Tupou had a career-high 14 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery (in overtime) to help lead the Bobcats to a 33-31 win. He was named Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week following the effort.

 
THROWING FOR MORE THAN FOUR QUARTERS OF A MILE

• Layne Hatcher has taken every snap at quarterback this year for Texas State, going 215-of-337 with 2,181 passing yards and 18 touchdowns against 8 interceptions.
• Hatcher is the first Texas State player to accumulate 2,000 passing yards in a season since Damian Williams in 2017. That year, Williams was 194-of-333 with 2,061 passing yards in 12 games.
• Hatcher is currently 4th in Texas State's FBS history for most passing yards in a single season. He needs 4 passing yards on Saturday at South Alabama to pass Tyler Jones (2,184 in 2016) for 3rd on the all-time list.
• The FBS record for passing yards in a single season by a Texas State quarterback is 2,670 set by Tyler Jones in 2014. Hatcher needs 490 more passing yards this season to surpass Jones.
• Texas State's all-time record for most passing yards in a season is 3,129 set by Barrick Nealy in 2003 when the Bobcats were a Division I-AA team (FCS).
• There have only been 2 Texas State quarterbacks in program history – Nealy and Bradley George (3,121 in 2009) – who have thrown for 3,000+ yards in a season. Hatcher is 819 yards away from the milestone.

 
Most Passing Yards in a Single Season
Texas State, FBS History (Since 2012)
1.   Tyler Jones                 2,670            2014
2.   Tyler Jones                 2,517            2015
3.   Tyler Jones                 2,184            2016
4.   Layne Hatcher           2,181            2022
5.   Shaun Rutherford      2,137            2012
6.   Damian Williams       2,061            2017
 
CARVING UP THE RECORD BOOK

• In addition to passing yards, Layne Hatcher is working his way up several Texas State program record passing lists this season.
• In completions, Hatcher is currently 6th in program history with 215. Those are the most completions by a Texas State player since Tyler Jones (220) in 2016.
• The program record for completions in a season is 258, set by Bradley George in 2009. Hatcher needs 43 more completions to match the record.
• In pass attempts, Hatcher is currently 8th in program history with 337 attempts – which again are the most since Tyler Jones (342) in 2016.
• The program record for most pass attempts in a season is 473, set by Barrick Nealy in 2003. The FBS program record is 382 by Jones in 2015. Hatcher is 136 attempts away from the overall program record and 45 from the FBS mark.
• In passing touchdowns (18), Hatcher enters this weekend tied for 6th with David Williams for the most in a single season.
• Hatcher's passing touchdowns are the most by a Bobcat since Tyler Jones had 22 in 2014 – which is the program's FBS record.
• The all-time program record for passing touchdowns in a season is 26 set by Bradley George in 2008.
• Hatcher has at least one passing touchdown in all 9 games this year and multiple passing TDs in 6 of the 9 contests.
• He also has 20+ completions in 7 of the 9 games.

 
RULE OF 10,000

• Layne Hatcher needs 392 more passing yards to reach 10,000 for his career.
• Hatcher threw for 7,427 yards in 3 seasons at Arkansas State – which were the 4th-most in school history – and has 2,181 yards this year.
• There are currently 6 FBS quarterbacks with 10,000+ career passing yards.
• Hatcher is 13th in active FBS quarterbacks in career passing yards.

 
Career Passing Yards, Active FBS Players
1.      Holton Ahlers                              ECU                           12,857
2.      Sam Hartman                              Wake Forest             11,689
3.      Jarret Doege                                Troy                          11,069
4.      Clayton Tune                               Houston                   10,655
5.      Charlie Brewer                             Liberty                      10,202
6.      Dillon Gabriel                               Oklahoma                 10,064
7.      Sean Clifford                                Penn State                9,884
8.      Bo Nix                                          Oregon                     9,746
9.      Adrian Martinez                          Kansas State             9,727
10.    Chris Reynolds                             Charlotte                  9,717
11.    Dorian Thompson-Robinson       UCLA                        9,681
12.    Will Rogers                                  Mississippi State      9,627
13.    Layne Hatcher                             Texas State              9,608
14.    Malik Cunningham                      Louisville                  9,569
15.    Tanner Morgan                           Minnesota                9,396
 
TABULATING THE NUMBERS

• Wide receiver Javen Banks continues to add to his career numbers as he is among the Texas State bests in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
• The fifth-year senior had 2 touchdown catches at ULM, giving him 4 this season and 20 in his career.
• Banks is 2nd in Texas State history in career touchdown catches as he passed Johnny Parker (1969-71) on the all-time list with the performance against the Warhawks.
• Banks holds the school FBS record for career touchdown catches.
• Cameron Luke holds the all-time record for touchdown receptions by a Bobcat as he had 32 from 2006 to 2008.
• Banks became only the 11th player in Texas State history to have 100 career receptions as he finished the game at ULM with 3 catches to give him 101 in his career.
• Banks needs one catch to match Tyler Watts (2015-18) for 10th on Texas State's all-time list for career receptions. He needs 4 catches to move into a tie for 8th, joining Daren Dillard (2008-10) and Eric Tennessee (1984-87).
• Banks is 5th all-time in Texas State history with 1,646 career receiving yards. He trails Da'Marcus Griggs (1,990 yards from 2007-10) for 4th on the list.

 
PARE WITH THE CARRY

• Lincoln Pare rushed for 100 yards on 25 carries at ULM, making him the 2nd Bobcat this season to post a 100-yard game on the ground.
• It was Pare's first career 100-yard game since he ran for a career-high 121 yards on Nov. 7, 2020 against Louisiana while he was with Arkansas State.
• Pare has ran for 458 yards this season, making it a new career-high. His previous personal-best for a season was 450 yards as a freshman in 2020 (72 carries).
• Pare is averaging 66.5 rushing yards per game over the last 6 games. He averaged 19.7 rushing yards per game in the first 3 games of the season.

 
ON THE MOVE

• Texas State is aiming for its first ever win in Mobile as it has a 0-3 all-time road record in the series against South Alabama.
• The Bobcats lost the last meeting in Mobile, a 30-20 decision on Oct. 17, 2020.
• Texas State lost in 2018 in Mobile, 41-31, and then in 2014, 24-20.

 
BUMPS IN THE ROAD

• Texas State enters its final road game of the season with a 0-5 record in away games.
• The Bobcats are looking to avoid their first winless road season since 2019.
• Texas State's last 2 road games have been decided by a combined 4 points.
• The last time Texas State lost 2 straight road games by 3 points or less was 1990-91.
• It lost the 1990 season finale at Sam Houston State, 26-25, and then fell in its first road game of the 1991 season at Idaho, 41-38.
• Texas State is one of 23 FBS teams that are winless in road games this year. Other Sun Belt teams in this category include ULM (0-5) and Arkansas State (0-5).