SAN MARCOS, Texas — UTSA dropped a 49-10 decision to Texas State in the I-35 Showdown on Saturday afternoon at UFCU Stadium.
The Roadrunners fell to 1-1 on the season with their first setback in the six-game series with the Bobcats, who improved to 2-0 with the win.
UTSA saw two different quarterbacks combine to pass for 252 yards, as Owen McCown completed 10 passes for 105 in the first half and Eddie Lee Marburger piled up 147 yards and a touchdown on 14 completions, all after halftime. Marburger also had a career-high 23 rushing yards on five attempts.
Marburger connected with Willie McCoy on a 2-yard TD pass in the third quarter, and McCoy also had a 40-yard reception in the fourth, as the senior receiver racked up a team-high 59 receiving yards on three catches.
Devin McCuin led all Roadrunners with six grabs for 29 yards, Patrick Overmyer had three receptions for 31 yards and Chris Carpenter hauled in two passes for 43 yards.
Defensively, Ken Robinson paced UTSA with seven tackles including one for a loss. Martavius French and Jimmori Robinson made five stops with one TFL apiece, while Jermarius Lewis, Owen Pewee and Brevin Randle also recorded five tackles each.
Texas State used a balanced offense in the win, posting 504 total yards, 309 passing and 195 rushing. Jordan McCloud completed 18 of 27 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns, while Chris Dawn Jr. had 150 yards and both TDs on only five receptions. Lincoln Pare rushed for a game-high 109 yards and a pair of scores.
UTSA came up with the first big play of the day, as cornerback Zach Morris picked off a pass at the Texas State’s 33-yard line on the game’s opening possession. However, UTSA could not capitalize on the field position, turning the ball back over to the Bobcats on downs.
Texas State got on the board first when McCloud scrambled for a 17-yard touchdown run at the 6:19 mark of the opening period.
UTSA responded with a 13-play, 66-yard drive that was highlighted by a Houston Thomas 44-yard reception and capped with a 26-yard field goal from Chase Allen.
The Bobcats then reeled off 28 unanswered points over the rest of the first half to take a 35-3 lead into the locker room. McCloud scored on a 2-yard keeper up the middle in the final minute of the first quarter, then connected with Dawn on a 46-yard TD pass early in the second. Deion Hankins had a 2-yard touchdown plunge with 4:39 left in the half and Pare scored on a 45-yard, fourth-down dash up the middle with 1:52 on the clock.
Texas State added to its lead with a 21-yard TD catch by Dawn midway through the third quarter.
UTSA converted a fourth-down-and-goal into a score late in the third quarter when Marburger found McCoy in the end zone for a 2-yard TD reception.
Pare added the final score of the day on a 33-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
The Roadrunners will travel to Austin to face No. 3 Texas (2-0) next Saturday, Sept. 14. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
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