Texas State Football faces tough loss against Baylor in season opener

Smoke filled the endzone as the Bobcats ran out of the tunnel at Bobcat Stadium, while the marching band began to play. Fireworks went off as the stadium echoed cheers and screams of excitement. The gameday atmosphere can only be described in one word: electric.

Texas State Football (0-1) took on Baylor (1-0) in the Bobcats’ 2021 season opener on September 4 in San Marcos, TX, where they were defeated 29-20.

At the beginning of the first quarter, the Baylor Bears offense turned the ball over to Texas State on a fumble by senior running back Abram Smith. Senior defensive lineman Caveon Patton recovered the ball.

The Bobcats starting quarterback, sophomore Brady McBride, was intercepted by Baylor senior safety JT Woods who ran it into the endzone for a Baylor touchdown. After a successful field goal kick from Baylor’s junior kicker John Mayers, the Bears led the Bobcats (7-0) with 12 minutes remaining in the first quarter.

With six minutes left in the first quarter, Texas State got on the board with a 22-yard field goal from Texas State’s sophomore kicker Seth Keller leaving the score (7-3).

After a failed field goal attempt by Baylor, Texas State’s offense sprung into action. McBride passed well under pressure, and the Bobcats were able to drive the ball down the field efficiently. McBride then hit junior wide-receiver Marcell Barbee for a Bobcat touchdown. The extra point attempt by Keller was good, leaving Texas State to lead Baylor (10-3) with eight minutes left in the second quarter.

With Baylor back on offense, junior quarterback Gerry Bohanon threw several pass completions putting the Bears closer to the endzone. Bohanon handed the ball off to Smith, who drove it into the endzone for Baylor’s first offensive touchdown of the night. Hankin’s extra point attempt was successful, and the Bears were back on top (14-10).

During the third quarter, the Baylor offense operated under a short passing game. Bohanon passed to senior wide-receiver Josh Fleeks, who was stopped by the Bobcat defense, forcing the Bears to attempt a long field goal. Hankins’s attempt was successful and put the Bears in the lead with (17-10).

After the long field goal, the Texas State offense came back strong with a pass from McBride to freshman running back Calvin Hill. Hill earned the Bobcats a first down before being tackled by Woods. The Bobcats continued the fight against a strong Baylor defense. But after another pass to Hill, the Baylor defense moved him back, forcing the Bobcats to punt.

Bohanon continued to throw the ball with accuracy in the third quarter. He handed off the ball to Smith, who managed to slip away from the Bobcats defense for another Baylor touchdown, putting the Bears up by 14 points against the Bobcats (24-10) with four minutes left in the third quarter.

Another touchdown from Baylor puts Texas State back on offense. McBride completed a pass to Barbee, and a pass interference call was made against the Bears giving the Bobcats an automatic first down. McBride launched another successful long pass to junior wide receiver Julian-Ortega Jones, allowing for another first down.

McBride handed the ball off again to senior running back Caleb Twyford who attempted to rush down the field but was stuffed by Baylor’s senior safety Jalen Pitre resulting in a fourth down. Keller kicked a field goal, making it an 11-point game (24-13).

In the fourth quarter, the Bobcat defense started strong with a big tackle by freshman safety Zion Childress, stopping the Baylor offense in their tracks. But with one hand-off to Ebner for a 15-yard run, the Bears gain significant yardage, unable to be stopped by the Bobcats defense.

Hankins kicks another successful field goal, putting the score at (29-13).

With eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, McBride throws the ball intended for junior wide receiver Chandler Speights but was intercepted by Baylor safety 4L Jairon McVea, forcing a third turnover for Texas State.

Baylor’s offense was quick and ran the ball with ease but was unable to score. Texas State is within reach to score another touchdown with one minute left on the clock. McBride hands it off to sophomore running back Jahyml Jeter, who drove it into the endzone for another touchdown and field goal for the Bobcats (29-20).

Texas State showed improvement on both offense and defense compared to the 2020 season, but there is still more work to be done.

“Offensively, we gotta improve on running the ball more efficiently, and it’s really the rhythm and consistency,” Head Coach Jake Spavital said.

“Everyone thinks getting blown out sucks the most, but when you’re in those games when you have a chance to tie things up when you have the ball that sucks,” graduate student and transfer offensive lineman Liam Dobson said. “But you know, we have to move on. We have to evaluate the tape, correct our mistakes, and then roll into next week.”

“I think our kids are going to respond next week and they’re ready to get back to work,” Spavital said.

The Bobcats will play Florida International University (FIU) on Sept. 11 at Riccardo Silva Stadium in Miami, Florida. The game will be at 6 p.m. and broadcast on ESPN+.