- Box Score
SAN MARCOS – The Tarleton football team took on Division I opponent Texas State Saturday night in San Marcos, but were disappointed after a Bobcat second half handed the Texans a loss.
Tarleton got off to their usual fast start, and turned their first drive into a 44-yard field goal conversion by Jerry Owens on a drive that went five plays, 41 yards and 57 seconds.
Texas State responded with a 53-yard field goal of its own, but took almost five minutes to do so.
Before the first quarter would end, the Texans would get another three points on a 40-yard field goal from Owens. Neither offense would threaten the end zone as both defenses held firm.
In the second quarter, the Bobcats would breach the goal line first at the 13:52 mark with a Franks 7-yd rush, making it a 10-6 ball game.
Both teams settled in defensively, as the next 10 minutes saw quick drives and long starting fields.
Tarleton broke the stalemate at the 2:29 mark with Owens' third field goal of the game, this time a 38-yarder.
Texas State turned their next drive into a field goal after 10 plays and 62 yards, leaving 21 seconds on the clock.
The Texans were not done though, and Owens hit his fourth field goal of the half from 26 yards out as Tarleton entered the break down 13-12.
As the third quarter got underway, the Bobcats took over deep in their own territory. Tarleton's defense stepped up big and gave the Texans a 14-13 by forcing a safety.
Another seven minutes ticked off the clock before Franks broke open the game with a two-yard rush, followed by a two-point conversion, giving the Bobcats a 21-14 lead.
It was once again Tarleton's turn to attempt a comeback, and they did just that at the 1:54 mark when Roddy Green caught his first touchdown as a Texan on a 23-yard pass from Nick Stephens. That capped off an 11 play, 80 yard drive that took 4:54.
The Texans' lead would not last long though as Texas State's Tim Hawkins slipped through the Tarleton defense for a 54-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage. The score put the Texans down 28-21.
The Bobcats would strike twice more in the fourth quarter, once on a 37-yard field goal and again with a 31-yard run by Franks, his third score of the game. That put Tarleton in a big hole, down 38-21 with precious time ticking away.
Tarleton's rally started with 2:10 left in the game when Evan Robertson scored from two yards out, to make it a 38-28 ball game.
But for the third straight week, time was not in Tarleton's favor as the Texans fell to Texas State 38-28.
Overall, Tarleton amassed 301 yards total offense, compared to Texas State's 341 yards. The Texans had 256 yards through the air and 45 yards on the ground.
Stephens led way with 21-of-41 passing, 256 yards and a touchdown. Robertson controlled the running game with nine carries, 54 yards gained and a score.
Green marked the third 100-yard game for a Texan receiver this year, catching seven passes for 123 yards and a score.
Special teams were a big part of Tarleton's effort, with Owens averaging 44.3 yards per punt on six kicks and converting all four of his field goal attempts.
Defensively, Desmond Jackson and Marquis Wadley both had 10 tackles, while Wadley also contributed two tackles for loss.
Tarleton drops to 0-3 on the year. The Texans will get a shot at their second Lone Star Conference opponent of the season when they head to Portales, N.M. to face Eastern New Mexico next Saturday at 3 p.m. Central.
For more information regarding the 2011 Tarleton football season, check out TarletonSports.com.
