TXST SOCCER

Texas State will look to finish the regular season on a high note when the Bobcats travel to South Alabama in a showdown with the Jaguars.

The Bobcats and head coach GJ Kinne “Obviously as coaches we have to do some things better to put the guys in better situations,” Kinne said. “I don’t think there was the energy and effort that we normally play with. This is something we need to address and we have addressed it.

“We need to come out and play with more enthusiasm against a really good team.”

South Alabama enters the game with a 6-5 record after beating Southern Miss to earn bowl eligibility.

The Jaguars are led by quarterback Gio Lopez. Lopez passed for 2,369 yards and 17 touchdowns for South Alabama and rushed for 436 yards on 76 carries and six touchdowns.

In the passing game, wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett leads the way with 81 catches for 1,042 yards and eight touchdowns, all team highs.

Wide receiver Jeremiah Webb ranks second in receiving yards with 27 catches for 414 yards and three touchdowns.

At rushing running back, Fluff Bothwell is the Jaguars’ leading rusher with 751 yards on 105 carries and 11 touchdowns. Kentrel Bullock is second in rushing with 683 yards on 125 carries and six touchdowns.

The history of the Texas State-South Alabama series dates back to the 2013 season when the Bobcats moved to the Sun Belt Conference. The series is unique in that the home team has won every game between the Bobcats and the Jaguars.

The first meeting between the Bobcats and the Jaguars ended with Texas State winning 33-31 after a game-winning field goal was scored with three seconds left in the game.

South Alabama got revenge in 2014 by defeating the Bobcats 24-20, denying Texas State its eighth win of the season.

Since then, the teams have traded wins back and forth, although both teams have been promoted to the Sun Belt West Division.

In their last meeting, Texas State defeated South Alabama 52-44 in the highest-scoring game of the series, giving the Bobcats their seventh win of the season. Kickoff for Texas State-South Alabama is scheduled for today at 2:30 p.m

cmcwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter: @ColtonBMc