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To win the Sun Belt, Texas State needs to get the train back on track. Here are live updates from its 7 p.m. game against Troy.
Texas State football vs Troy live updates
4Q, 3:55 — Texas State 41, Troy 33
Jackson and Sparks connect for the quarterback’s first pass attempt of the second half. Dawn gets in on the action with two clutch third-down catches. Texas State turns to Burrell in the run game, who gets a few good gains before Troy holds on third down. On fourth down, Dawn snags another ball over the middle to convert.
Pare runs over Troy’s defense for a first down. Jackson doesn’t pick up enough for a first down, and Robles hits the ensuing 37-yard field goal.
4Q, 12:40 — Texas State 38, Troy 33
Kilcrease finds Tray Taylor streaking up the seam for a fourth-down conversion. Texas State holds for three downs at the goal line but give up a touchdown pass to tight end Trae Swartz.
The two-point conversion is no good.
End of 3Q — Texas State 38, Troy 27
Texas State nearly forces a fumble but replay shows the runner was down before dropping the ball. Troy returns to the ground game, moving to Texas State’s side of the field on a clever jet sweep. Kilcrease is sacked by Amipeleasi Langi Jr. for a loss of two yards.
Another sack by Texas State Kalil Alexander forces fourth-and-11 as the quarter ends.
3Q, 3:45 — Texas State 38, Troy 27
Texas State regains possession and Pare gets the rock on three consecutive plays for five, nine and four yard gains. Troy stops Burrell cold on third down, but Jackson converts on fourth down. The bold decision is paid off — Burrell breaks through Troy’s tackle attempts and steps out at the six-yard line.
Burrell’s attempt to jam his way into the endzone ends in flags. The penalties offset. Pare slings himself into the endzone on third down.
3Q, 8:03 — Texas State 31, Troy 27
Troy hits the ball right at Texas State’s line on the kickoff, recovering the ball after the ricochet. Kilcrease hits another deep pass and Troy is threatening on Texas State’s side of the field again.
A sack and a tackle for loss give Troy a third-and-14 to convert. Kilcrease holds onto the ball for too long and is sacked again. The 47-yard field goal is good.
3Q, 11:27 — Texas State 31, Troy 24
Texas State stuffs the Troy run at the line of scrimmage. A screen goes nowhere and Texas State declines an offensive holding penalty. The Bobcats commit a holding of their own and Troy gets a first down.
Offsides gives Troy five yards. Texas State stuffs the run again to force a third-and-4. Kilcrease finds Ethan Connor for the first down. The quarterback then dots up Epps for 48 yards, and a facemask penalty gives Troy extra yards. Jarris Williams runs it in from the two for six.
End of 1H — Texas State 31, Troy 17
Texas State forces a three-and-out, but Troy responds in kind with its strongest defensive stand of the day. Texas State punts for the first time today and Troy fields it at its 45-yard line. A penalty pushes the Trojans 10 yards back.
Troy’s offense cruises down the field. Kilcrease nearly connects with Mothershed for a touchdown, but barely misses. DonTerry Russell sacks the quarterback and Troy’s 57-yard field goal is good.
2Q, 2:35 — Texas State 31, Troy 14
Jackson takes off following a botched snap for 20 yards. Burrell thunders through the defense for 13 yards. Jackson then finds Sparks for 20 yards, but the drive stalls at the opposing 23-yard line. Kicker Tyler Robles nails the ensuing 40-yard field goal.
2Q, 7:34 — Texas State 28, Troy 14
Kilcrease gets the run game going, ripping off a few gains himself and getting Meadows involved. Pressure gets to Kilcrease and he throws it away, forcing a third-and-6 on Texas State’s 33-yard line.
On fourth down, the Trojans convert on a pass up the middle. Kilcrease throws to Mothershed for seven yards. The Trojans are stuffed on third down but convert. Troy false starts, but Kilcrease completes a pass to tight end Jackson Worley for the touchdown.
End of 1Q — Texas State 28, Troy 7
Jackson hits Sparks for a six-yard gain and Pare gets three on second down. Then the running back bursts through the middle of the defense for a 62-yard touchdown. Troy wide receiver Roman Mothershed catches a ball at the 41-yard line as the quarter ends.
1Q, 1:12 — Texas State 21, Troy 7
Troy gets things moving with a 19-yard pass to Troy Taylor. Kilcrease then unleashes his arm, hitting RaRa Thomas in stride for a 57-yard touchdown.
1Q, 2:29 — Texas State 21, Troy 0
Texas State forces another three-and-out and receives the punt at its own 30-yard line. Jackson and Pare take turns rushing, with Jackson crossing midfield on a 17-yard scamper. Texas State continues to bash Troy in the run game until Jackson is sacked at Troy’s 37-yard line. His first down throw to Dawn is negated by a penalty.
Jackson scurries 14 yards up the middle for a first down. Pare loses three yards on a run. Jackson gets it back and more on a 21-yard pass to wide receiver Kylen Evans, setting the Bobcats up at the seven-yard line. Texas State center Brock Riker snaps it directly to Pare, who leaps into the endzone.
1Q, 9:20 — Texas State 14, Troy 0
Jackson hits wide receiver Chris Dawn Jr. over the middle for an 18-yard gain. Running back Greg Burrell goes up the middle for three and then breaks through the Troy defense for a 59-yard touchdown run. Texas State is in complete control.
1Q, 9:38 — Texas State 7, Troy 0
Troy quarterback Tucker Kilcrease throws to wide receiver DJ Epps, who is swarmed immediately for a one-yard loss. Running back Tae Meadows is stuffed up the middle and Kilcrease’s second pass to Epps goes five yards. A penalty negates Troy punts and a Sparks touchdown return.
1Q, 11:56 — Texas State 7, Troy 0
Texas State running back Jaylen Jenkins returns the kick to the 45-yard line to begin the game. Quarterback Brad Jackson gets things started with a four-yard run and then completes a pass to wide receiver Beau Sparks. Lincoln Pare converts a fourth-down attempt and Jackson hits Sparks again for a 35-yard completion, putting Texas State on Troy’s nine-yard line.
Texas State goes nowhere on two consecutive runs. Jackson rushes it in from nine yards out for the touchdown.