TXST Release:
TROY, Ala. – Troy’s backup quarterback Jarret Doege found RaJae’ Johnson early in the fourth quarter for the game-winning touchdown as Texas State lost on the road, 17-14, at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The Bobcats (3-4, 1-2 Sun Belt) held Troy (5-2, 3-1 Sun Belt) without a third-down conversion until the Doege-Johnson connection on a third-and-seven from the Texas State 23-yard line that erased the Bobcats’ advantage. Troy was 0-for-8 to start the game on third downs until the game-winning score with 11:45 left in the game.
The Bobcat defense forced seven Troy punts and had an interception on the Trojans’ opening drive. It also created five three-and-outs by Tory on its 13 total drives.
However, Troy staked itself to a 10-0 lead with a 74-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter and a field goal 11 minutes later.
The touchdown by the Trojans with 11 minutes remaining in the game was the lone time Troy finished a drive past the Texas State 49-yard line in the second half.
Texas State scored its two touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to end the first half and start the second. Lincoln Pare scored on a three-yard rush after the Bobcats marched down the field 75 yards, and then on the opening possession of the second half, Pare evaded tacklers and tip-toed down the sideline to score on a 64-yard reception that made it 14-10 Bobcats with 13:23 left in the third.
The lead was later erased when Troy used a nine-play, 79-yard drive – its longest drive of the day – to take the lead.
Troy gained 406 total yards to Texas State’s 301. Of the 406 yards, 299 were through the air.
Jordan Revels led the Texas State defense with a career-high two sacks among his nine tackles. He also had a quarterback hurry.
DeJordan Mask had the lone takeaway in the game with the first-quarter interception. He added a season-high seven tackles.
Pare had 140 all-purpose yards to go with the two touchdowns. He rushed for 69 yards and caught three passes for 71 yards.
After Texas State limited Troy to one first down in the first quarter and 27 total yards, the Trojans took the first lead early in the second quarter. Troy starting quarterback Gunner Watson connected with Tez Johnson for a 74-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive and helped make it 7-0 Trojans.
After Texas State went three-and-out from inside its 10-yard line, Troy delivered a 7-play, 42-yard drive that gave it a 10-0 lead late in the second quarter. The Bobcats allowed a 24-yard pass that put the ball in the red zone, but the Texas State defense got three straight stops before Brooks Buce kicked a 24-yard field goal to give the Trojans a double-digit advantage.
Including the 74-yard touchdown reception, Troy had four plays of 20-plus yards in the second quarter, totaling 164 of its 215 total yards in the period.
After five unsuccessful drives to start the game, the Bobcats punched back with a 9-play, 75-yard scoring drive to end the second quarter that made it 10-7 Troy. Hatcher completed six straight passes to start the drive, and then after a missed diving connection in the end zone with Charles Brown, he found Titus Lyons wide open over the middle for a 24-yard pass that put the ball at the Troy three-yard line. After a timeout, Pare found pay dirt with a touchdown run to the left side.
The Bobcats took the lead a minute-and-a-half into the third quarter when, facing a third-and-four, Hatcher found Pare on the left sideline that was enough for the first down. However, Pare slipped a tackle, traversed the sideline before breaking free, and reached the end zone for the second-longest play of his career. After Keller’s successful point-after, the Bobcats led 14-10.
The advantage was taken away with the Doege-to-Johnson touchdown pass in the front right of the end zone.
The go-ahead score was the sixth 20-plus yard play of the game for the Trojans. Texas State had two such plays.
The Bobcats return home to host Southern Miss for Homecoming at Bobcat Stadium on October 22. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.
Postgame Notes
Texas State dropped to 0-4 on the road this season.
The loss to Troy was Texas State’s 11th straight in the series. The Bobcats are 0-7 all-time at Troy.
Layne Hatcher’s touchdown pass to Pare was his 14th of the season, moving him into a tie for 10th all-time on Texas State’s passing touchdowns in a season list.
Saturday marked the third time this year Texas State has held an opponent scoreless in the first quarter (record: 2-1).
The 74-yard passing touchdown surrendered by Texas State in the second quarter was the longest play allowed by the Bobcats since Nov. 21, 2020 vs. Arkansas State (84-yard play).
The 64-yard touchdown reception by Lincoln Pare in the third quarter was his longest play from scrimmage since Nov. 20, 2021 when he had an 84-yard catch with Arkansas State at Georgia State.
– Eat ‘Em Up –
