DALLAS, TX — The Texas State Bobcats capped off their most successful season since they became an FBS school with a dominant win over the Rice Owls in the First Responders Bowl on Tuesday night. The Bobcats' team from San Marcos racked up six takeaways as Texas State flattened the Owls 45-21 to secure the first bowl win in program history.
Bobcats’ linebacker Brian Holloway set the tone throughout the contest with two interceptions returned for touchdowns. Holloway snagged his first pick-six in the 2nd quarter and his second in the 3rd quarter.
Texas State took the lead for good with 3:22 remaining in the 1st quarter. RB Jahmyl Jeter punched the ball into the end zone from a yard out to give the Bobcats a 14-7 lead. Texas State never looked back after that. Holloway intercepted A.J. Padgett in the opening minute of the 2nd quarter and returned the football 36 yards to the house to put the Bobcats up by two scores. Rice battled back before halftime and tied the game at 21-21, but Texas State headed into the break with the lead after Mason Shipley nailed a 31-yard field goal.
Texas State Bobcats
(Credit: twitter.com/txst)
The Bobcats recaptured all momentum in the 2nd half when they scored twice in a row, once on offense and the second on Holloway’s second pick-six. Rice failed to protect the football throughout the contest, and Texas State took advantage on defense. The six takeaways forced by the Bobcats were a definitive exclamation point on an incredibly successful season.
Texas State’s runningback Ismail Mahdi led the Bobcats on offense with 122 yards on the ground on 24 carries. QB TJ Finley threw for 159 yards on 15/29 passing with two touchdowns.
Texas State finished its 2023 campaign with an 8-5 overall record and its most successful season since it became an FBS school back in 2013.
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