Texas State Football Team Wins 23-17 at Florida International University

TXST Athletics

In a game featuring two teams meeting for the first time, the Texas State put up a solid defensive wall in the second half and won a 23-17 overtime decision over FIU at Ricardo Silva Stadium on Saturday night.

The Bobcats stopped a pair of fourth-quarter drives inside their side of the 50-yard line, and Issiah Nixon recorded a sack and forced a fumble on FIU’s possession in overtime.

Running back Brock Sturges took care of the rest on the next two offensive plays. He ran around the right side for carries of 14 and 11 yards to score a touchdown and give the Bobcats the victory.

SPECIAL NOTE: On a day the United States observed the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on New York, the Texas State football team wore special helmets in their game at FIU to pay tribute to those who lost their lives. On the stripe of the helmet were the names of 19 individuals who were either born in Texas or from Texas who perished that day. In addition, the words “Never Forget” were inside the embossed Super Cat Logo.

 INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

The Bobcats rushed for a season-best 171 yards on 44 carries. Sturges finished the game with 43 yards rushing on nine carries. Calvin Hill led the Bobcats in rushing with 72 yards on 14 carries, and Brady McBride ran for 53 yards.

Markeveon Coleman and Zion Childress led the Bobcats with eight tackles to lead the Bobcats. Nixon had six tackles, including the game-winning sack and forced fumble.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Texas State jumped out to an early 7-0 lead when Brady McBride threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Twyford on the game’s opening drive. The Bobcats drove down 76 yards in seven plays.

The Panthers looked to tie the score in the second quarter when they drove down to Texas State’s two-yard line. Markeveon Coleman forced a fumble by D’Vante Price, and Nick McCann recovered the ball at the six-yard line.

After the two teams exchanged a punt, Texas State took over on its 11-yard line and drove 57 yards down the field to FIU’s 31-yard line before Seth Keller equaled his career-best distance with a 48-yard field goal. Keller also kicked a 48-yard field goal against Arkansas State on November 21, 2020.

FIU scored a touchdown with six seconds left in the first half when Max Bortenschlager hit Tyrese Chambers for a 22-yard pass.

Then Panthers took the lead on the opening drive in the second half when Bortenschlager threw a 34-yard pass to Rivaldo Fairweather for a touchdown, and Chase Gabriel added the extra point.

After FIU extended their lead to 17-10 on Gabriel’s 18-yard field goal, Brock Sturges scored his first touchdown of the season with a one-yard plunge up the middle to tie the score at 17-17.

UP NEXT: Texas State returns to Bobcat Stadium on September 18 when the Bobcats host UIW in a non-conference game that kicks off at 6 p.m.