by JASON GORDON
The Texas State football team looks to improve its record to 2-1 when the Bobcats play host to former conference foe Stephen F. Austin in a non-conference game on Jim Wacker Field at the renovated Bobcat Stadium on Saturday.
The Bobcats enter the game with a 1-1 record after splitting their first two games with Houston and Texas Tech.
Stephen F. Austin enters the game with a 1-2 record after nearly upsetting No. 3-ranked Montana State in Bozeman last Saturday.
The Lumberjacks held a 35-34 lead with 6:23 left to play before Montana State scored nine points in the final 2:26. It was the second straight loss for SFA after the Lumberjacks fell at SMU on Sept. 8. SFA opened the season with a 49-14 victory over Southwest Oklahoma State on August 30.
This marks the 87th meeting between Texas State and Stephen F. Austin in a series that dates back to 1923.
The Bobcats own a 56-29-1 record against the Lumberjacks after winning the last five meetings and six of the last seven contests against SFA. Texas State won the last two meetings in Nacogdoches after posting a 35-26 victory last year and a 27-24 win in 2010. The Bobcats won 28-7 in 2009, 62-21 in 2008 and 52-29 in 2007 against the Lumberjacks.
Texas State suffered a 58-10 loss against Texas Tech at Bobcat Stadium on Sept. 8. The Bobcats opened the season with a 30-13 upset victory at Houston in their first-ever game as a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school.
At press time, close to 10,000 tickets remain for the contest against SFA as Texas State tries to win its first game in its redesigned stadium, which now seats more than 30,000.
Bobcat fans can get a preview of each week’s game as ESPN Radio airs “The Dennis Franchione Football Coach’s Show” beginning at 7 p.m. every Thursday throughout the season on its FM station, ESPN Austin 104.9, and on ESPN San Antonio (AM 1250).
The show takes place at Saltgrass Steakhouse and Bobcat fans are encouraged to attend. Coach Franchione and host Brant Freeman are joined by Bobcat players during the show.
Kickoff Saturday against SFA is scheduled for 6 p.m.
