Texas State finished the season at 6-6 after a 36-14 loss to undefeated and second-ranked Sam Houston State Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. The Bobcats rallied to cut the Sam Houston State lead to 17-14 at one point, but the Bearkats put the game away with a dominating fourth quarter. (Photo courtesy of Texas State University)
STAFF REPORTS
The Texas State football team put up a valiant effort for three quarters, but No. 2 Sam Houston State scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to pull away with a 36-14 victory at Bobcat Stadium Saturday.
The Bearkats jumped out to a 17-point lead in the game before Texas State climbed back into contention. Sam Houston State scored its 10 points in the first quarter. Tim Flanders opened the scoring with his first of two touchdown runs on a 32-yard gallop on the Bearkats’ second play from scrimmage. Craig Alaniz kicked the extra point to give Sam Houston State a 7-0 lead with 13:10 left in the first quarter. Alaniz added a 35-yard field goal for the final points in the first period.
The Bearkats extended their lead to 17-0 on the third play in the second quarter when Brian Bell hit Tora Williams with a 28-yard touchdown pass and Alaniz kicked the extra point.
Texas State scored its first points in the game on its final drive in the second quarter when Tyler Arndt completed a nine-yard touchdown pass to Darius Bolden and Will Johnson added the extra point to pull the Bobcats back to within 17-7 at halftime.
The Bobcats continued to rally as Arndt completed a 15-yard pass to Isaiah Battle for a touchdown to make the score 17-14 with 10:09 left to play in the third quarter.
The Bearkats extended their lead to 20-14 on their next possession when Alaniz kicked a 27-yard field goal with 4:42 left in the quarter.
Three straight Texas State turnovers ultimately did in the Bobcats.
Sam Houston State quarterback Bell hit Flanders for a 20-yard pass down to Texas State’s two-yard line to set up a second-touchdown run by Flanders from two yards away to give the Bearkats a 26-14 lead and the Bobcats never got any closer the rest of the way.
The touchdown by Flanders set a new Southland Conference record for most points and touchdowns in a season with 132 points and 22 touchdowns this season. It also tied Sam Houston State’s and the SLC’s record for most rushing touchdowns in a season with 20.
Texas State finishes the season at 6-6, while Sam Houston State improved to 11-0 for the first time in school history. The Bearkats also end their regular season as one of three NCAA Division I undefeated teams.
