Author: Aryan Virani
The Texas State Bobcats hosted the App State Mountaineers in a Sun Belt conference matchup. The Bobcats would pull off the win with a big 36-24 score.
This game started off with great play on both sides of the ball. The Bobcats drove down the field with quarterback Layne Hatcher leading the offense. The Bobcats got to the App State 4 yardline where Hatcher would throw an interception to the Mountaineer defense. After the interception, the Mountaineers would move to around midfield where they would attempt to convert on 4th down which was stuffed. The Bobcats used this stop to their advantage, using the short field to score a touchdown. Sophomore running back Lincoln Pare ran it in for a 2 yard score. The Bobcats would force a 3 and out and would be right back on offense. Starting with good field position again, Hatcher and his offense would score another touchdown, this time on a 2 yard throw to Charles Brown and all of a sudden it's 14-0 Bobcats to start the 2nd quarter.
App State was unable to get anything going on offense in the first half. They had 3 punts, a turnover on down, and a fumble. With about a minute left in the 2nd quarter, the Bobcats were looking to extend their lead, and they did so with a 23 yard dart from Hatcher to Ashtyn Hawkins. The Mountaineers did kick a field goal as time expired to make it 24-3 Texas State at the half.
The Mountaineers would open the half with the ball and they knew they needed to score to get back into this game. They would put together a solid drive moving downfield nicely. The Bobcats would force a 4th down on the 12 yardline and App State had to make a decision. They decided to go for it hoping to make it a 2 score game but that backfired. Senior Chase Brice threw an interception that was taken 94 yards the other way by Tory Spears and the Bobcats were now up 30-7.
The Mountaineer offense would fight back into this game. Chase Brice would throw a touchdown pass to Henry Pearson after the pick 6 to make it 30-10. The Bobcats would respond with a field goal. Brice would then throw another touchdown to Henry Pearson to make it 33-18 with 13 minutes left in the 4th. The Bobcat defense would however, make 2 4th down stops down the stretch and they would win 36-24.
The Mountaineers who are now 3-3 and 1-2 in the conference, will play another conference foe, the Georgia State Panthers in their next game. The Texas State Bobcats who are also 3-3 and 1-1 in the conference, will play at Troy.