South Alabama Drops Heartbreaker At Texas State 30-28
South Alabama played a spirited game behind Desmond Trotter’s first career start against Texas State, but the potential game-winning field goal attempt would slip just outside the left upright by the slimmest of margins sending the Jaguars home with their seventh consecutive loss of the season.
The Jags opened the game with a mental mistake when Tra Minter ran up to field the kickoff near the sideline at the 5 yard line, but his momentum took him out of bounds. After only managing three yards, the Jags punted giving Texas State great field position at the midfield stripe.
The Jaguar defense bent but did not break as the Bobcats scored first with a field goal.
Later in the first quarter, after the Jaguar defense held on a three-and-out, the Jaguar offense started at their own 23 yard line and behind Carlos Davis and Tra Minter the Jags drove 77 yards in nine plays for a touchdown making it 7-3.
Texas State would get a field goal early in the second quarter to shrink the Jags lead to 7-6. Later in the quarter, the Bobcats would put together a 92 yard, 8 play drive to take a 13-7 lead aided by a face mask penalty on 3rd & 6 deep in Bobcat territory. Three plays later Tyler Vitt connected with Javen Banks for a 40 yard touchdown.
The Jags answered right back with a drive of their own that started with an 8 yard run by Carlos Davis and highlighted by an amazing one-handed catch down the right sideline by Tre’Veon Hamilton for 33 yards. Trotter would find Davyn Flenord on a seam route for a 22 yard touchdown pass to take a 14-13 lead that would hold up going into the locker room at halftime.
Texas State would take the opening possession of the second half to the end zone on a 75 yard, 6 play drive. The scoring play was on a play action pass when Vitt connected with Graham for a 38 yard touchdown making the score 20-14 with only 2:36 off the clock.
USA would answer back on the ensuing possession. Trotter would open the drive with a 12 yard slant pass to Jalen Tolbert to get the offense in gear. Trotter would find Jalen Wayne for an 8 yard touchdown. After a roughing the kicker and an offsides penalty, Frankie Onate would finally put the kick through the uprights and make the score 21-20.
Not to be outdone, the Bobcats would take their next possession of the ball and drive back down for a touchdown, capped off by an 17 yard slant pass to Graham making it 27-21 for the Bobcats.
After a three and out, Texas State opened their drive with a 40 yard pass from Vitt to Hutch White, but the Jaguar defense stiffened and forced a 44 yard field goal attempt that hit the right upright no good.
The Jags took over possession at their own 28 and pieced togehter a 73 yard, 12 play drive using 5:40 off the clock and culminating in a 6 yard touchdown run by Tra Minter. The Jags then held a 28-27 lead with 9:44 left in the game.
Texas State take the kickoff from the 5 yard line and return it 60 yards to the Jaguar 35 yard line. After only managing 21 yards on 7 plays, they settle for a 41 yard field goal to take a 30-27 lead over the Jags.
USA got the ball back and quickly was facing 4th & 1, but the run by Tra Minter went nowhere and gave the ball back to Texas State at the USA 33.
The Jags were looking to hold them to a field goal at worst to keep it a one score game. Facing 4th & 12 after a four yard loss on third down, Head coach Jake Spivital decided to punt the ball and try to make the Jags drive a long field to get into a game-winning field goal position.
However the snap to the punter was bobbled and the Jags recovered at the Bobcat 30 yard line setting up the Jags in excellent position to run the clock down and win the game with a field goal.
But as Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast…” the Jags set up for a 28 yard field goal and Frankie Onate’s kick just stayed left of the upright and missed.
Redshirt freshman Desmond Trotter finished 13 of 17 for 164 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start. Kawaan Baker led the receiving corps with four catches for 34 yards.
Tra Minter led the team rushing with 21 carries for 87 yards and a touchdown. Carlos Davis added 63 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown. Trotter carried the ball 12 times for 34 yards as well.
Tyler Vitter wen 23 for 33 for 373 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Vitt led the Bobcats rushing with 42 yards on 11 carries. Anthony Taylor carried 11 times for 27 yards.
Hutch White led all receivers with 10 catches for 165 yards. Javen Banks had 4 catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. Calvin Hill also had four catches for 61 yards. Graham had two catches for 55 yards and both were touchdowns.
South Alabama will host Louisiana-Lafayette at Ladd-Peebles Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 4pm.