SAN MARCOS — Texas State (3-3, 0-2 Sun Belt) lost in overtime 48-41 to Troy (4-2, 2-0) at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos in front of a home crowd of 24,369.
Tonight marked the 82nd homecoming game in Texas State history, a tradition dating back to 1904. Once known as Southwest Texas State — before officially changing its name to Texas State University in 2003 — the program paid tribute to its roots by wearing throwback Southwest Texas uniforms.
Entering the game, the Bobcats held a 49-31-1 record in homecoming contests, but they added one to the loss column tonight after falling to Troy in another heartbreaker.
Now riding back-to-back losses, Texas State head coach GJ Kinne finds himself at a crossroads in his tenure. He now holds a 9-9 record against Sun Belt opponents and an even 5-5 mark in the month of October. With two conference losses already on the ledger, the road to a Sun Belt title has grown considerably steeper.
The season is far from lost. If Texas State can regroup and string together a run of victories down the stretch, a bowl berth remains well within reach.
“It’s still a long season to go,” Kinnie said. “I’ve been in this situation as a player and won ten games. We have to get back to work, obviously the Sun Belt is a really tough league.”
The first possession of the game for Texas State was similar to its opening drive last weekend at Arkansas State. The offense came out firing, and quarterback Brad Jackson found the end zone on an 8-yard scramble — his seventh rushing score of the year.
The Texas State defense forced the Trojans to punt, and on the Bobcats’ ensuing drive, running back Greg Burrell broke free for a 60-yard touchdown run. Burrell, who had a touchdown called back last week, was hungry to get his score.
The play put Texas State ahead 14-0. At that point, the Bobcats had piled up 135 total yards, while Troy had managed only three.
The offensive fireworks continued. Texas State marched down the field again, and Lincoln Pare scored on a direct-snap run from 7 yards out, giving the Bobcats a 21-0 lead. But soon, Troy found its footing, as quarterback Tucker Kilcrease connected with Rara Thomas for a 57-yard strike to get the Trojans on the board.
Pare responded immediately, slicing through the Troy defense for a 62-yard touchdown run to close out a stunning first quarter in which Texas State racked up 286 total yards and built a 28-7 advantage.
Unfazed, Troy answered early in the second quarter. Kilcrease hit tight end Jackson Worley on a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 28-14.
The Bobcats’ next drive nearly unraveled after a high snap, but Jackson coolly secured the ball and turned chaos into creativity, scrambling 20 yards for a first down. The drive ended with a 42-yard field goal by Tyler Robles, extending the lead to 31-14.
With time winding down in the half, Troy kicker Paddy McAteer drilled a 53-yard field goal — the longest in program history — trimming the deficit to 31-17 at the break. Texas State entered the locker room with 350 total yards to Troy’s 208.
The Trojans opened the second half determined to claw back. Kilcrease connected with DJ Epps for a 48-yard gain to set up first-and-goal, and Jarris Williams punched it in from 2 yards out to make it 31-24.
Moments later, Troy executed a perfectly placed onside kick, the ball ricocheting off a Texas State player and right back into Trojan hands.
Kilcrease and Epps continued their rhythm, hooking up for another 33-yard completion to move inside the 10. But the Bobcat defense stood tall, with back-to-back sacks from Jaden Rios and Treylin Payne forcing a field goal that cut the lead to 31-26 — the narrowest margin of the night.
Just as momentum seemed to tilt, Burrell reignited the crowd with a 40-yard burst into the red zone. Pare capped the drive with his third touchdown of the evening, restoring order and an 11-point cushion at 38-27.
On Troy’s next possession, the Texas State defense made a stand, forcing a fumble that was ultimately ruled down. Sacks from Kalil Alexander and Amipelasi Langi Jr. stalled the Trojans’ drive and forced a fourth-and-long.
Troy refused to fold. On fourth-and-11, Kilcrease found Tray Taylor for 31 yards, keeping the drive alive. The Bobcats again held firm, but on fourth-and-goal, Kilcrease threaded a 2-yard pass to Trae Swarts. The Trojans went for two but came up short, leaving the score 38-33.
Needing a stabilizing drive, Jackson and wideout Chris Dawn Jr. delivered. The pair connected several times to move the chains and chew clock, setting up Robles for a 41-yard field goal that extended the lead to 41-33.
Not missing a beat, the Trojans — led by their commander-in-chief Kilcrease — marched down the field and scored, with Epps finding the end zone this time. Troy converted the two-point try, tying the game at 41.
Texas State nearly muffed the ensuing kickoff but recovered it at its own 1-yard line. The Bobcats were fortunate to avoid a safety. Jackson and Dawn Jr. connected for a big pickup to set up a field goal attempt with two seconds remaining, but Robles missed, sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, the Trojans started on offense and scored with ease. Texas State had no answer for Kilcrease and Epps all night, and the duo struck again to make it 48-41. The Bobcats’ final drive came up short, sealing a gut-wrenching loss in San Marcos.
Brad Jackson finished 19-of-22 passing for 248 yards, adding 77 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. Greg Burrell ran for 136 yards on 13 carries — a 10.5-yard average — and one touchdown. Lincoln Pare added 113 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Chris Dawn Jr. led the receiving corps with 119 yards.
Troy quarterback Tucker Kilcrease lit up the stat sheet, completing 30-of-39 passes for 415 yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver DJ Epps hauled in 10 catches for 148 yards. The defeat drops Texas State to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in Sun Belt play. Next up is an away game at Marshall on October 18th.
