TXST Press Release: WACO, Texas – Baylor totaled 501 yards of offense, including 293 yards on the ground, as Texas State fell to the No. 17/19 Bears, 42-7, on Saturday at McClane Stadium.
The Bobcats (1-2) surrendered their most yards and rushing yards in a game since November 2020 and lost to ranked team for the eighth time since 2012.
The Texas State offense was highlighted by Ashtyn Hawkins who had a program-record 13 receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. The sophomore totaled nine of his 13 catches in the first half and connected with quarterback Layne Hatcher for the lone Bobcat touchdown in the second quarter.
Hawkins now has two 100-yard receiving games this season and a touchdown in all three contests.
Hatcher finished 24-of-36 with 186 yards and led an offense that totaled 268 yards. Calvin Hill had 62 all-purpose yards, 41 of which were on the ground.
The Bobcats were aggressive on the offensive side, going for it on four fourth-down attempts. However, they finished 1-of-4, including two instances that resulted Baylor touchdowns on the subsequent possession.
After Baylor scored a touchdown on the game’s opening drive and back-to-back three-and-outs by both teams, the Bobcats were driving halfway through the first quarter when they attempted to convert a fourth down for the first time. Hatcher missed Hawkins with a pass attempt on a fourth-and-two at the Baylor 31.
The Bears flipped the failed conversion attempt with a 9-play, 69-yard drive that made it 14-0. Baylor converted a fourth-and-one attempt at their own 40 early in the drive, with a four-yard rush by Richard Reese, and then five plays later, Craig Williams scored on a 30-yard touchdown run.
The next Texas State drive resulted in a failed fourth-down conversion attempt deep in enemy territory at the Baylor four-yard line, but after forcing a three-and-out, the Bobcats answered with a five-play, 54-yard drive capped by Hatcher finding Hawkins for a 12-yard connection in the second quarter to make it 14-7.
Baylor did its own answering on its final drive of the first half when they got the ball back with 1:59 remaining in the second quarter. The Bears muffed the kickoff, forcing them to start the drive at their own four-yard line. However, they worked themselves closer to midfield before an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by London Harris on a first-down play in Baylor territory helped place the ball on Texas State’s side of the field. The Bobcats forced Baylor into fourth down after the penalty, but a bootleg run by quarterback Blake Shapen to the right side resulted in a 35-yard touchdown to send Texas State into halftime down 21-7.
In the second half, the Bobcats fumbled on their opening drive but managed to get the ball back with Sione Tupou’s first career interception on the following drive. Texas State started its possession at its 30-yard line and maneuvered the ball to midfield with a 16-yard reception by Hill. However, the Bobcats could not convert a fourth-and-five at the Baylor 49 and returned the ball back to the Bears.
Baylor used the turnover on downs by finishing a six-play, 51-yard drive with a Shapen touchdown pass of 28 yards to Gavin Holmes that helped make it 28-7.
The Bobcats had an opportunity to put points on the board late in the third quarter, but a field goal attempt by Seth Keller was blocked near the Baylor 29-yard line. Texas State gained possession after forcing a Baylor fumble, but the eight-play drive ended with the blocked field goal.
The Bears scored their final touchdowns early in the fourth quarter on back-to-back drives, both of which were on rushes by Reese. He ran for a 52-yard touchdown with 14:19 remaining in the game, which capped the quick drive after the missed field goal attempt.
The Bobcats finished the game 4-of-14 on third downs and 1-of-4 on fourth. Baylor was held to 4-of-11 on third downs but 3-of-4 on fourth.
Reese finished the game with 156 rushing yards and three touchdowns for Baylor. He also had a catch for 17 yards.
Texas State will return home for its final nonconference game of the season when it takes on Houston Baptist on September 24 at 6 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium.
POSTGAME NOTES
Hawkins broke Texas State’s record for receptions in a game, which was set three times prior to Saturday. The first was Johnny Parker in 1969 against Angelo State and the last time was James Stewart in 1998 against Troy. David Vela also had 12 receptions in a game in 1982 against Texas A&M-Commerce.
Hawkins’ two 100-yard receiving games this year are the most by a Bobcat since Keenen Brown in 2018, who had two for the entire season.
Hawkins has two games of 10+ catches so far this year. It already matches Hutch White (2019) for the most in an entire season for the Bobcats in their FBS era (since 2012).
Hawkins’ 28 receptions this year are the most in the first three games of a season by a Bobcat in the program’s FBS era (since 2012). He has the most catches by a Sun Belt player since Casey Fitzgerald of North Texas had 35 in 2007.
The most yards allowed by Texas State this season before Saturday was 313 yards last week by FIU.
Texas State surrendered 21 first-half points, its most since September 25, 2021 vs. Eastern Michigan (28).
A week after going without a three-and-out offensively against FIU, the Bobcats’ opening drive was their first three-and-out since the fourth quarter against Nevada on September 3. They went 14 drives against FIU on September 10 without a three-and-out.
Texas State allowed 235 yards of offense in the first half, its most allowed all season and most since November 20, 2021 against Coastal Carolina (236).
The total yards allowed by Texas State were its most in a game since November 28, 2020 against Coastal Carolina (572 total yards, 406 rushing yards).
