Problems continue for Bobcats defense
Texas State allowing its opponents nearly 50 points per game.
Oops, Texas State’s
HOUSTON — defense did it again.
It didn’t matter what Houston tried offensively Saturday night — run, pass, option, anything. The Bobcats were powerless to stop them.
Texas State concluded nonconference play with a 1-3 record and yet another defensive stinker. Houston racked up 689 total yards in the 59-14 win at TDECU Stadium.
“Tough night. It seemed like what could go wrong, did,” Bobcats coach Dennis Franchione said. “We just couldn’t get any stops and offensively we turned it over inside the 20 twice.”
Unlike the previous week, Texas State’s offense wasn’t able to support its struggling defense, which entered the game ranked 122nd in scoring and total defense. But the Bobcats found a way to dig themselves a deeper hole.
The defense is in serious trouble. Through four games, Texas State is allowing 49.5 points per game. Three of four opponents have scored more than 50 points. The only team that didn’t exceed 50 was an FCS school.
“Disappointed. Surprised a little,” Franchione said. “We’ve done it four games in a row now. Sometimes you get to the point to where you are what you are. We’re going to try to fix that.”
Two drives were derailed in the first half by fumbles while Texas State was driving in Houston’s red zone. The Cougars recovered both fumbles and capitalized to take a 42-7 lead at halftime.
“They take the air out of a struggling team,” Franchione said. “I’m not willing to say it turned the game around, but you’d like to think you could have gotten to the locker room down 28-21, which is still a close game if you don’t do those kinds of things.”
Tyler Jones, one week removed from a career-high 470 all-purpose yards, was overshadowed by Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr.
Ward totaled 366 yards and six touchdowns in three quarters before he was replaced by senior quarterback Adam Schulz with the Cougars holding a 45-point lead.
On the first play of the game, Ward ran for 35 yards on the left side. It was a sign of things to come for Houston.
Houston scored a touchdown on seven of its first 10 possessions, including a stretch with five consecutive touchdowns. Texas State scored a touchdown on its third possession. The next score didn’t occur until four minutes were left in the game.
The Bobcats defense didn’t even have a chance to bend, because the Cougars already had broken them early.
“We aren’t this bad of a team,” Franchione said. “We have to get this in the right direction, and it starts with me. I have to accept the responsibility. This is adversity and we’ll see how we face and handle it.”