Texas State manages to fend off Lamar in 34-27 season-opening win
Lamar Cardinals vs. Texas State Bobcats: Full Highlights
Lamar Cardinals vs. Texas State Bobcats: Full Highlights
SAN MARCOS, Texas -- — Jordan McCloud threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns and Texas State used a fast start to hold off Lamar for a 34-27 season-opening win on Saturday.
The Bobcats built a 15-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, and a field goal early in the second extended the lead to 18 points which Texas State took to intermission.
Texas State led 34-17 with 5:29 left when McCloud threw a 30-yard scoring pass to Joey Hobert. Following a missed point-after attempt, Lamar marched 75 yards in five plays capped by Robert Coleman's 9-yard touchdown to Jayden Boyd with 4:11 left to reduce the Cardinals' deficit to 34-24.
Lamar's defense forced a three-and-out before Bobcats' punter David Nunez mustered just a 28-yarder to give Lamar the ball at its own 44-yard line. Chris Esqueda kicked a 27-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining to make it 34-27.
The Cardinals recovered the on-side kick but never advanced the ball beyond midfield.
Ismail Mahdi ran for 156 yards on 28 carries and his 1-yard plunge at the end of the first made it 15-0 for Texas State.
Coleman threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns for Lamar.
Texas State is coming off a historic 2023 season that saw the program win its first bowl game, in its first appearance, a 45-21 victory over Rice in the SERVEPRO First Responder Bowl.
The Bobcats set an FBS-program record with eight wins.
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Game Information
2024 Southland Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Incarnate Word | 7-0 | 11-3 |
| SE Louisiana | 6-1 | 7-5 |
| Stephen F. Austin | 4-3 | 7-5 |
| Lamar | 4-3 | 7-5 |
| Houston Christian | 3-4 | 5-7 |
| McNeese | 3-4 | 6-6 |
| East Texas A&M | 2-4 | 3-9 |
| Nicholls | 2-5 | 4-8 |
| Northwestern State | 0-7 | 0-12 |
2024 Sun Belt Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Georgia Southern | 6-2 | 8-5 |
| James Madison | 4-4 | 9-4 |
| Old Dominion | 4-4 | 5-7 |
| Coastal Carolina | 3-5 | 6-6 |
| App State | 3-5 | 5-6 |
| Georgia State | 1-7 | 3-9 |
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 7-1 | 10-3 |
| Texas State | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| Arkansas State | 5-3 | 7-5 |
| South Alabama | 5-3 | 7-6 |
| UL Monroe | 3-5 | 5-7 |
| Troy | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Southern Miss | 0-8 | 1-11 |
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