SAN MARCOS, Texas – Behind a defensive effort that limited HCU to 142 total yards, Texas State shut out the Huskies 34-0 on Saturday at Bobcat Stadium and is off to its best start since 2016.
The total yards allowed by the Bobcats (2-2) were their fewest in a game in the program’s FBS era while the 34-point win was their largest in seven years.
HCU (1-2) only garnered 39 yards on the ground and 103 in the air. The Huskies were also held to 4-of-15 on third downs (26.7 percent).
The Bobcats totaled four sacks, 7.0 tackles for loss, three quarterback hurries, four pass breakups and an interception. They had one forced fumble as well.
Jordan Revels tied for the team lead in tackles with a season-high seven. The junior had 0.5 sacks, 1.5 TFLs and two quarterback hurries.
Sione Tupou and Jarron Morris matched Revels for the team-lead in tackles with seven apiece.
Kordell Rodgers grabbed his third interception of the season for the lone Texas State takeaway. The senior cornerback picked off a pass by HCU’s Justin Fomby in the second quarter, which the Bobcats used to turn into a touchdown on the subsequent drive.
Offensively, Texas State registered 479 total yards – its most in a single-game since November 2020. Quarterback Layne Hatcher finished 27-of-41 with a season-high 362 yards and four touchdowns. He connected with Marcell Barbee, Ashtyn Hawkins, Julian Ortega-Jones and Donnovan Moorer for the scores. The touchdown receptions by Moorer and Ortega-Jones were the first of their careers.
On the ground, Lincoln Pare led the team with season-highs in yards (84) and attempts (19). Calvin Hill rushed for 61 yards on 17 carries. The team finished 117 rushing yards.
The Bobcats scored three touchdowns over the course of eight-and-a-half minutes late in the first quarter and the start of the second to take a 21-0 lead. The first two Texas State drives stalled – on an interception by HCU in the red zone and a three-and-out – but it came back with an 11-play, 85-yard drive punctuated by a Hatcher touchdown throw to Ortega-Jones from 19 yards out.
Texas State forced another HCU punt on the next possession – one of nine in the game by the Huskies – before using a seven-play, 80-yard drive to take a 14-0 lead. The biggest play of the drive was a 39-yard reception by Javen Banks on a play that started with an offsides by HCU, but Hatcher found his senior wide receiver with the “free play” to get deep into Huskies territory. Hatcher capped the drive with his fifth touchdown throw of the season to Hawkins.
Later in the second quarter, Rodgers’ interception on the first play of the HCU drive at the Huskies’ 33-yard line set up a quick three-play drive highlighted by Hatcher’s 38-yard touchdown pass to Barbee with 8:55 remaining in the half.
Seth Keller was perfect on two field goal attempts, including a 27-yarder to end a 15-play drive as well as the first half that made it 24-0. He added his second late in the third quarter at the end of a 12-play drive that put the Bobcats up 27-0.
The final score came in the final minute of the game as Hatcher found Moorer over the middle for a 10-yard touchdown pass. That score culminated an 11-play, 91-yard drive.
Of Texas State’s six scoring drives, three of them last five-plus minutes – all of which were in the second half.
The Bobcats won the time of possession, 35:05 to 24:55.
Texas State also had 28 first downs to HCU’s eight.
Texas State will open Sun Belt play with its next game, a road matchup at James Madison on Oct. 1 at 12:30 pm CT/1:30 pm ET. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
POSTGAME NOTES
Saturday’s win was the largest for the Bobcats since Sept. 12, 2015 when they beat Prairie View A&M, 63-24.
The last time Texas State shut out an opponent prior to Saturday was Aug. 30, 2014 vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff (65-0).
A week after going 1-of-4 on fourth down, Texas State was 3-of-3 on fourth downs against HCU.
Texas State moved to 2-0 all-time against the Huskies. The two last played in 2017 (W, 20-11).
Layne Hatcher became the first Texas State quarterback to throw for 300+ yards in a game since Brady McBride had 443 against Arkansas State on Nov. 21, 2020.
Ashtyn Hawkins has a touchdown catch in all four games this year, totaling a team-best five this season. He is tied with three others for second-most receiving touchdowns in a season in Texas State’s FBS era (since 2012).
Hawkins’ 34 receptions this year are the most by a Bobcat in the first four games of a season in the program’s FBS era. Hawkins entered the game second in the nation in total receptions this year.
The 24 points by Texas State in the first half were its most in a half this season.
All four of Texas State’s games this year have been decided by 28+ points.
Texas State’s 2-0 start to the home schedule is its best since 2013. It is also the first the time the Bobcats have won two home games in a row since 2019.
– Eat ‘Em Up –
