By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal
Texas State’s defense owned three quarters in Jonesboro, then watched a 10-point fourth-quarter lead disappear in a 31–30 loss that turned on three long, late Red Wolves drives and a go-ahead quarterback keeper with seven seconds left.
It’s a collapse all too familiar with Texas State fans after watching the Bobcats (4-2, 0-1 Sun Belt) historically slump in October.
Texas State will look to right the ship Saturday when the Bobcats host Troy at UFCU Stadium on homecoming weekend in San Marcos. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
All eyes will be on a disappointing defense, that gave up a 75-yyard drive that ended with Jaylen Raynor punching in the the game-winning touchdown from the 4-yard-line with :07 on the clock.
Head coach GJ Kinne didn’t sugarcoat the ending.
“Disappointed… in the way we finished on Saturday, but all you can do is go back to work.” he said. “We’ve got to make plays… in the kicking game. We’ve got to make plays on defense in crunch time.”
Defensive coordinator Dexter McCoil put the collapse on himself and the unit’s inability to close.
“We took accountability, starting with myself being the reason we fell off in the fourth quarter,” McCoil said at Tuesday’s media availability. “We’re going to correct that… I’ve got to be better, got to call it better, got to get guys in position more and get them fighting for all four quarters.”
The fourth-quarter script flipped fast.
Texas State opened the period with a 9-play, 89-yard march capped by a Titus Lyons catch to the 1-yard-line and a go-ahead score moments later. From there, Arkansas State answered with touchdown drives of 75, 80 and 75 yards, including a sequence aided by a defensive pass interference and chunk gains to Corey Rucker and Kenyon Clay.
Raynor’s legs finished two of those series, a theme Kinne and McCoil both flagged coming in and doubled down on afterward.
“When you have your opportunity to get the quarterback down, you’ve got to get him down,” Kinne said.
McCoil echoed the tackling point, “we’ve got to continue to tackle and stop what they do well… we’ll have a plan to affect their quarterback and execute it.”
The sting is sharper because so much else went right.
Texas State out-gained Arkansas State 519–398, rushed for 289 yards, didn’t turn the ball over and sacked Raynor five times. Jackson ran for 131 and a score, Pare added 105 and two TDs, and the Bobcats held a 17–10 lead with 12:05 left. But Arkansas State owned situational football down the stretch, converting in the red zone (5-for-5) and stringing together short throws and quarterback runs to keep Texas State on its heels.
McCoil said the response this week has been about details and finish.
“All I know is work and grind, start fast and finish strong. That’s on me to get our kids to continue to do.”
Saturday’s game
Troy (3-2, 1-0 Sun Belt) at Texas State (4-2, 0-1)
When: 7 p.m., Saturday
Where: UFCU Stadium, San Marcos
TV/Radio: ESPN+, 89.9 FM KTSW
Last meeting: Texas State snapped a 12-game losing streak, beating Troy 38–17. The Trojans lead the all-time series 12-2.
Betting line: Texas State -9.5
