Texas State Victorious Over South Alabama In Thrilling Sun Belt Showdown
By Jen Lawson
Special to College Sports Journal
Editor’s Note: This story is courtesy of Texas State athletics.
SAN MARCOS, Texas — On a rainy, windy evening, twenty-six unanswered points along with a 100-yard missed field goal return for a touchdown helped lead the Texas State football team to a 36-18 victory over South Alabama at Bobcat Stadium Saturday evening.
The victory improves Texas State to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in Sun Belt Conference play.
How It Happened: South Alabama got on the board first against the Bobcats, but had to settle for a field goal after making a big play to move deep into Bobcat territory. After the Jags scored with a 32-yard field goal, Texas State notched 26 unanswered points to take over the lead and never look back.
Five rushes for 56 yards combined with five first downs on Texas State’s third drive of the evening by Tyler Jones propelled the Bobcats to their first touchdown of the game.
Texas State then quickly capitalized on a failed fake punt by South Alabama to lead to its second score of the game, a two-yard rush by Robert Lowe.
With just over a minute remaining in the half, South Alabama was unable to move the ball down field and were forced to attempt a 53-yard field goal.
Being proactive on the play, Brandon McDowell was camped in the end zone and ultimately ran back the missed field goal 100 yards for a kick-six to give Texas State a 19-3 lead going into the half.
Texas State recorded the first score of the second half to take a 23-point lead, but that would be the largest lead the Bobcats would maintain throughout the remainder of the contest.
South Alabama scored once in the third and again in the fourth to cut the Bobcat lead to 11, but Lowe’s third touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter put Texas State back up 18 and out of reach of the Jaguars.
With the help of a career-high 248 yards on the ground by Robert Lowe, Texas State finished the night with a season-high 319 yards rushing.
Who Stood Out: Brandon McDowell, at the end of the second quarter, ran back a missed field goal from inside the endzone for a 100-yard touchdown … Robert Lowe recorded a career-high 248 yards on the ground and finished the night with three touchdowns … Lumi Kaba recorded a 59-yard and a 69-yard punt for his fifth and sixth 50+ yard punt this season … he finished with five punts inside the 20 and his first two punts of his career inside the five-yard line … Kaba also recorded a career-long 36-yard field goal … the Bobcat defense, as they allowed a season-low 18 points against the Jaguars … the defense also recorded a season-high 3.5 sacks.
What It Means: Texas State improves to 2-4 on the year and 1-1 in SBC play with six games remaining on the 2015 schedule. The Bobcats have now defeated South Alabama twice in the last three games. Texas State will be on the road one more time before returning home for three straight in the month of November.
Up Next: Texas State will have just five days off before traveling to Georgia Southern for a Thursday night match-up. Kick-off against the Eagles is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT and it will be televised on ESPNU.
