Bobcats missing parts at safety
Injuries, suspension hampering Texas State’s secondary.
Injuries and suspensions have left Texas State short-handed at safety for a majority of this season, but the Bobcats will be nearly full bore Saturday against UT-San Antonio.
Junior A.J. Krawczyk has been the one constant at safety, as the Bobcats have started three players alongside him in the first three games — freshman Kordell Rodgers, senior Quinn Tiggs and senior Stephan Johnson.
“He’s smart; he’s physical; he loves the game,” Bobcats coach Everett Withers said of Krawczyk. “He’s a really good fit for what we’re looking for in that position. You don’t have to be the greatest of athletes, but you’ve got to love the game and ... communicate. That’s why he’s starting, because he’s been the most consistent guy at that position.”
Krawczyk is third on the team in tackles with 19, making at least five in each game. He also forced a fumble at the 1-yard line against Appalachian State that kept Texas State in the game last week.
Rodgers started against Houston Baptist but broke his hand, causing him to miss the Colorado game and play sparingly against Appalachian State while wearing a clublike cast on his hand. Tiggs started the second game, but Johnson got the start last week after being suspended the first two games.
“It was really good to get Stephan ( Johnson) back out there,” Withers said. “He’s an older guy, one of the holdovers from the previous staff that has really bought in to what we’re doing.
“I think he’s done a really good job, and it was kind of neat to see him out there. I told him before the game how excited I was to see him play, and I thought he played well.”
Johnson is listed as the starter this week against UTSA, alongside Krawczyk. Senior safety Dila Rosemond — who has yet to play this season — is out with a concussion.
Three-game losing streak in volleyball: The Bobcats (8-6) went 0-3 last weekend in Waco at the Jason’s Deli Baylor Classic, losing to Baylor (11-3) on Friday 3-1 and to UTSA (2-10) 3-2 and St. John’s (8-7) 3-1 on Saturday.
Despite the losing streak, Texas State still has the best record in the Sun Belt Conference.
The Bobcats begin conference play this weekend as they hosted South Alabama (5-5) on Friday and will face Troy (5-9) on Sunday.
Soccer team even in conference: Texas State (3-4-1, 1-1) has won two of its last three matches, including a conference-opening win 3-1 at Georgia State (2-6-1, 0-2) last Friday. They lost to Coastal Carolina (6-3, 1-1) on Sunday 1-0.
The Bobcats’ first conference home game was Friday against Georgia Southern (3-3-1, 1-0). Texas State will be back on the road Sunday to face Arkansas State (5-3, 1-1).