SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter and beat South Alabama 33-31 in four overtimes on Saturday, handing the Jaguars their second consecutive loss.
South Alabama fell to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the Sun Belt Conference under first-year head coach Kane Wommack. Texas State improved to 2-3 and 1-0 in league play.
Fast Start for Bobcats
Texas State needed only three plays to score on the game’s opening possession, connecting on a 57-yard touchdown pass. South Alabama recovered to build a 14-point lead in the second half.
Turnover Swings Momentum
With the Jaguars ahead by 14 and moving the ball, South Alabama called a flea-flicker. Running back Bryan Hill took the handoff and turned to pitch the ball back to quarterback Jake Bentley, but a Texas State defender intercepted the lateral. The Bobcats turned the takeaway into a touchdown that cut the lead to 24-17 with 7:17 remaining.
South Alabama picked up two first downs on its next possession before a negative play stalled the drive, and the Jaguars’ punt was fair caught at the Texas State 15 with 3:17 left. The Bobcats drove the length of the field and scored the tying touchdown with 17 seconds remaining to force overtime.
Four Overtimes
Texas State won the overtime coin toss and put South Alabama on offense first. The Jaguars converted a fourth-and-1, and Bentley threw a touchdown pass to Jalen Tolbert. Texas State matched the score to send the game to a second overtime.
In the second extra period, the South Alabama defense forced a Texas State field goal attempt from the right hash mark, and the kick bounced off the right upright. Needing only a field goal to win, the Jaguars lost a fumble on third down, and Texas State recovered.
Under NCAA overtime rules, the third overtime moved to alternating two-point conversion attempts. Neither team converted in the third overtime.
In the fourth overtime, the Texas State quarterback ran up the middle for a successful two-point conversion. South Alabama’s first attempt, a pass to Tolbert in the back of the end zone, fell incomplete, but a pass interference penalty gave the Jaguars another try from about a yard and a half out. Bentley’s second throw, toward the middle of the field, was deflected, ending the game.
Up Next
South Alabama returns to Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile to host Georgia Southern on Thursday night.
