TXST FOOTBALL
The hunt of the postseason lives on for the Bobcats following their stunning 41-14 win over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.
The Bobcat defense, which had given up 40 or more points in their last four games during their losing skid, held Southern Miss to their lowest point total of the season while forcing a seasonhigh three turnovers.
With the victory to snap their five-game losing streak and keep their hopes of playing for a bowl game for the third consecutive season, the Bobcats look to rack up another win as they host longtime foe Louisiana Monroe.
Following a 3-1 start to the season, the Warhawks have fallen on hard times, losing six straight games including a 26-14 loss to South Alabama last week to knock ULM out of bowl contention.
Quarterback Aidan Armenta leads the Warhawk offense with 1,152 passing yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions.
In the ground game, running back Braylon McReyonlds leads the team in rushing with 539 yards and 101 carries and three touchdowns. Second in rushing is Zach Palmer-Smith with 466 yards on 80 carries and two touchdowns.
Offensively, the Warhawks average 15.8 points through 10 games and average 15.1 points per game through conference play. The Bobcats have averaged 35.3 points per game through ten games and average 34.6 points per game through conference play.
On defense, the Warhawks have allowed an average of 32.2 points through ten games compared to Texas State’s 32.7 points per game.
The series history between Texas State and ULM dates back to 1986 when both schools were playing at the FCS level. The Bobcats and the Warhawks became conference bunkmates when Texas State, along with Northwestern State, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin joined the Southland Conference.
From 1986 through 1993, the Bobcats and the Warhawks played eight consecutive times with ULM going 7-1 against Texas State. The Bobcats lone win over the Warhawks during that time span came during the 1989 season when Texas State defeated ULM for the first time in a 26-7 victory.
The series went on hiatus after the 1993 season when ULM made the transition to FBS from FCS where the teams would not play again until the 2000 season.
There the Bobcats pulled off the upset when Texas State, still playing in the FCS, defeated ULM 27-7 for the ‘Cats first-ever win in Monroe.
Texas State and ULM would reunite as conference rivals in 2013 when the Bobcats made the move to join the Sun Belt Conference.
Since 2013, both the Bobcats and the Warhawks have been consistent opponents for one another due to their geographical locations.
The series became more even in the Sun Belt Conference with both Texas State and ULM winning six games against each other, with seven of the 12 games coming within one possession.
One of the most thrilling wins for the Bobcats in the series came during the 2023 season when Texas State trailed 20-9 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game after the Warhawks scored on a 76-yard interception return for a touchdown.
The Bobcats on the next possession scored on a 11-yard touchdown pass from T.J. Finley to Joey Hobert, making it a one-posseson game at 2015 after a failed twopoint conversion.
The Texas State defense forced a three-and-out as the Bobcats got the ball back at their own 24 yard line with less than four minutes remaining in the game.
The Bobcats took their first lead of the game with Finley finding Hobert again for a 22-yard touchdown pass to put Texas State up 21-20 before the Bobcat defense made one final stop to preserve the win.
Last season, the Bobcats defeated the the Warhawks 38-17 in a breakout game for quarterback Brad Jackson. In a torrential rainstorm, Jackson rushed for 119 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns.
ULM leads the all-time series against Texas State 13-8.
Kickoff for Texas State-ULM is set for 4 p.m. Saturday Nov. 22 at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos.
Texas State and ULM meet for the 22nd time on the gridiron. The series dates back to 1986 when both schools were members of the Southland Conference. Photo submitted by Texas State Athletics
