TXST Release:
HARRISONBURG, Va. – In a game that featured constant rain, Texas State surrendered 23 points off of turnovers and turned the ball over a season-high-tying four times in a 40-13 loss to James Madison at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday.
The Bobcats (2-3, 0-1 Sun Belt) allowed a majority of its points in the conference opener through miscues, including a safety on an over-snap on a punt, an interception returned for a touchdown, and back-to-back scoring drives following consecutive possessions resulting in fumbles.
Texas State forced three turnovers by the Dukes (4-0, 2-0 Sun Belt) as well, but failed to score on the subsequent drives. It forced JMU into back-to-back turnovers and limited them to four straight possessions of an interception, fumble, and two punts to start the second half. However, the following offensive drives for Texas State resulted in a turnover on downs, two punts, and a fumble.
In a battle of top-25 defenses entering the week, the Bobcats allowed 460 total yards, including 203 on the ground. Offensively, Texas State had 246 total yards, 106 of which were rushing.
The Bobcats were 2-of-12 on third downs and had 11 first downs. JMU, meanwhile, was 6-of-13 on third downs and finished with 22 first downs.
James Madison opened the game’s scoring on its second drive of the game, a trek that was ignited by a 46-yard pass from Todd Centeio to Kaelon Black that moved the ball to the Texas State 25-yard line. Three plays later, a roughing the passer by Nelson Mbanasor on a play that was originally an eight-yard pass relocated the ball to the seven-yard line. Centeio carried it in on second-and-goal from the two-yard line to help make it 7-0 with 5:42 remaining in the first.
On the following drive, Texas State quarterback Layne Hatcher nearly completed a pass to Javen Banks at midfield, but a Sam Kidd hit dislodged the ball and resulted in an interception by Taurus Jones to give the Dukes the ball at their 48-yard line.
The Dukes marched down the field on the subsequent drive, but the Bobcats got a fourth-and-goal stop to open the second quarter. However, a three-and-out returned the ball back to the Dukes.
Texas State allowed three plays of 10+ yards on following 12-play drive midway through the second, but after the Dukes managed to work the ball inside the red zone, the Bobcats forced the Dukes to kick a 27-yard field goal that made it 10-0 with 5:27 remaining in the half.
With the ball at the Texas State 27-yard line on the next drive, James Madison called a timeout to prevent a too many men on the field penalty when the Bobcats were lined up for a punt after a three-and-out. Coming out of the timeout, a snap over punter Seamus O’Kelly’s head went into the endzone, where O’Kelly kicked it out of bounds for a safety and made it 12-0 James Madison with 4:25 left in the half.
The Bobcats fought back with a forced fumble by Chris Mills that was recovered by Sione Tupou inside James Madison’s red zone. However, a pass by Hatcher was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Jailin Walker, who returned it for a touchdown that made it 19-0 James Madison.
Texas State had 72 total yards in its eight drives in the first half. Five of the eight drives resulted in eight punts while two resulted in an interception and a safety.
After allowing a touchdown on James Madison’s opening drive of the second half, the Bobcats answered with an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped by a Hatcher touchdown pass to Charles Brown for 17 yards. The drive featured four plays of 10+ yards by the Bobcats, including a 24-yard reception by Marcell Barbee and 22-yard rush by Lincoln Pare. In the first half, the Bobcats had three plays in the first half of 10+ yards.
After a pass interference penalty put the ball around midfield, Kordell Rodgers picked off his fourth pass of the season and returned it to the 50-yard line. It was the first interception thrown by James Madison all season. The Bobcats’ following drive stalled out at the James Madison 31-yard line, though, after seven plays and a failed fourth-down conversion.
James Madison added two rushing touchdowns coming off back-to-back Texas State fumbles. Lincoln Pare fumbled with 10:52 remaining in the game, and the Dukes scored four plays later with a Latrele Palmer four-yard rushing touchdown to make it 33-7. On Texas State’s first play of the subsequent drive, Josh Berry fumbled after a 12-yard run and returned the ball back to the Dukes at the Texas State 37-yard line. James Madison then scored on a two-yard rush by Palmer to make it 40-7 after a 34-yard pass moved the ball inside the Texas State five-yard line.
Pare finished the game with a team-leading 81 yards. Jahmyl Jeter had a season-high 47 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, which he scored on the game’s final play.
Defensively, London Harris led Texas State with a career-high 15 tackles. He also had a tackle for loss and quarterback hurry.
The Bobcats will return home and host App State on October 8 at Bobcat Stadium. Kickoff for the black out game is set for 6 p.m.
Postgame Notes
Rodgers’ four interceptions this season are the most by a Bobcat since Jarron Morris had four in 2020. He is one short of the school FBS record for interceptions in a season (David Mims II, 5, in 2014).
Rodgers has seven career interceptions, which ties Craig Mager for the FBS school record. Mager had seven from 2012-14.
Seamus O’Kelly had a 68-yard punt in the second quarter, which was a career-long. He had two punts over 60 yards.
Harris’ 15 tackles were the most by a Bobcat since Brendon Luper had 16 on Nov. 21, 2020 vs. Arkansas State.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Texas State in Sun Belt season openers.
All five Texas State games this season have been decided by 24 or more points.
– Eat ‘Em Up –
