by JASON GORDON
After jumping out to a 21-20 halftime lead, the Texas State football team missed some key opportunities to score in the second half as the Bobcats fell to Nevada, 34-21, Saturday afternoon at Bobcat Stadium.
Texas State got off to a fast start when the Bobcats took advantage of an interception by Justin Iwuji to score the first touchdown in the game.
Iwuji intercepted a pass by the Wolf Pack’s Cody Fajardo on a third-and-two play from Nevada’s 33-yard line and returned it 16 yards. Five plays later, Marcus Curry scored his fourth TD run of the season on a one-yard plunge to give Texas State a 7-0 lead.
Nevada answered by driving 75 yards in 10 plays to score its first touchdown when Fajardo hit Zack Sudfeld for a nine-yard TD pass to tie the score at 7-7.
The Bobcats were driving later in the quarter following a kickoff return by Erickson to the 49-yard line. Texas State drove the ball down to Nevada’s 25-yard line before Isaiah Battle fumbled the ball and the Wolf Pack recovered at the 33-yard line.
Nevada drove to Texas State’s two-yard line before the Bobcat defense stiffened and forced the Wolf Pack to settle for a 24-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead.
The Bobcats answered following a 28-yard punt return by Erickson to take possession at Nevada’s 23-yard line. Rutherford hit Tim Gay on a two-yard shovel pass for a touchdown to give Texas State a 14-10 advantage.
Texas State extended its lead to 21-10 when Rutherford hit Erickson for a 28-yard touchdown to give the junior wide receiver his first career touchdown reception.
Nevada didn’t take long to respond as Fajardo completed three of his four passes, including a two-yard TD pass to Sudfeld to make the score 21-20 at halftime.
The Wolf Pack continued their surge immediately in the second half as Nevada went on a 91-yard drive to take a 27-21 lead after Fajardo scored on a six-yard run.
Nevada got some breathing room with just over a minute left in the third quarter when Fajardo connected with Sudfeld for a 12-yard touchdown pass to make the score 34-21.
Midway in the fourth quarter, quarterback Tyler Arndt came in to jump start Texas State’s offense and led the Bobcats down to Nevada’s 12-yard line following a personal foul penalty and a pass interference penalty against the Wolf Pack.
The Bobcats drove to Nevada’s 5-yard line but came up short on a fourth-and-3 play on their final possession.
Andy Erickson led the Bobcats with career-bests of eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.
With the loss, Texas State falls to 2-2 this season heading into a road game at New Mexico Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. and the game can be heard on Texas State’s radio network (89.9 FM San Marcos/Austin, 1260 AM Austin, 930 AM San Antonio).
Nevada improved to 4-1 with the win.
