AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas State has done something it hasn’t done in nearly a decade on Saturday — win five games in a season.
The Bobcats scratched their way back from a 20-9 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Louisiana-Monroe 21-20 for the program’s fifth win of the season. The last time Texas State reached five wins was in 2014, and they’ve got five more games left to add to the win column.
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“It was huge. I talked about it all week. This is the dang Super Bowl,” Bobcats head coach GJ Kinne said. “In a game like that it doesn’t matter how you win as long as you win, so I was really proud of them.”
Bobcats’ quarterback TJ Finley hit wideout Joey Hobert with a 22-yard pass for the go-ahead score with 0:41 left in the game. Hobert finished the game with 10 catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns, and both scores were in the final 4:16 of the ballgame. It was Hobert’s third consecutive 100-yard receiving game, and he’s the first player in the program’s FBS history to do that.
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Texas State takes the field against Louisiana Monroe during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Texas State safety Kaleb Culp (20) and linebacker Kenny Haynes (14) celebrate a goal line stop against Louisiana Monroe during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Texas State running back Donerio Davenport (8) is tacked by Louisiana Monroe cornerback Car’lin Vigers (7) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Texas State running back Donerio Davenport (8) is tackled by Louisiana Monroe linebacker Travor Randle and linebacker Ja’Terious Evans, right, during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe defensive end Kenard Snyder tackles Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi (21) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe wide receiver Tyrone Howell prepares to compete against Louisiana Monroe before an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe defensive lineman Adin Huntington (45) celebrates a sack on Texas State quarterback TJ Finley with cornerback Car’lin Vigers (7) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe guard Tellek Lockette (73) looks to protect quarterback Jiya Wright during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe defensive lineman Adin Huntington (45) celebrates a sack on Texas State quarterback TJ Finley during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Texas State running back Donerio Davenport (8) celebrates a first down past Louisiana Monroe cornerback David Godsey Jr., center, and linebacker Qway McCoy during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Texas State wide receiver Kole Wilson (2) celebrates a win over Louisiana Monroe with other Bobcat players in the student section during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Texas State head coach GJ Kinne prepares to compete against Louisiana Monroe before an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe wide receiver Tyrone Howell (4) reaches for the ball over Texas State cornerback Chris Mills (7) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Texas State running back Donerio Davenport (8) extends for a first down past Louisiana Monroe cornerback Car’lin Vigers (7) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe defensive lineman Adin Huntington (45) sacks Texas State quarterback TJ Finley during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe head coach Terry Bowden watches his team compete against Texas State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
A pylon marked with Sun Belt Conference logo stands in the south end zone of Bobcat Stadium before an NCAA football game between Texas State and Louisiana Monroe on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe tight end Nolan Quinlan (87) runs for a first down against Texas State during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Texas State wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins (1) looks to pull in a reception against Louisiana Monroe during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman) -
Louisiana Monroe quarterback Jiya Wright (18) avoids a tackle by Texas State cornerback Kaleb Ford-Dement (2) during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in San Marcos Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
Texas State mounted the comeback after ULM’s Ja’Terious Evans picked Finley off and returned it 76 yards for a touchdown with 8:57 left in the game. Finley and the Bobcats marched down the field in 4:04 to get within a touchdown, capping a 13-play, 75-yard drive with an 11-yard pass to Hobert. The two-point conversion failed and the Bobcats trailed 20-15.
The Bobcats then forced ULM into a three-and-out, and following the Warhawks’ punt, took over at their own 24-yard line. On 1st-and-10 from the 22-yard line, Finley hit Hobert just in front of the goal line with a pass, and with no one around him, Hobert sauntered into the end zone with the go-ahead score.
The Warhawks went on a frantic final drive and advanced the ball to the Bobcats’ 40-yard line, but an offensive pass interference call with 0:10 left derailed it.
Texas State kicker Mason Shipley made three field goals from 29, 34 and 47 yards in the first half. The last field goal gave the Bobcats a 9-7 lead with 7:06 left in the first half.
The Bobcats stuffed the Warhawks at the goal line in the second quarter, and Kinne said the stand was “unbelievable.”
“Our defense came to play,” he said. “I think it says a lot about you when they tried to draw us offsides on fourth down and that was their plan on fourth and inches. That was a good feeling.”
Texas State (5-2, 2-1 Sun Belt Conference) has a bye week next week and will host Troy at 2 p.m., Oct. 28.
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