Idaho second-half comeback falls short

Despite racking up 523 yards of offense and holding the ball for over 41 minutes, Idaho had no answer for Texas State running back Terrance Franks, who ran for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries.

The Vandals dropped to 0-3 in conference and 0-5 overall as their second-half rally fell short in a 35-30 loss to the Bobcats (1-0, 2-2) in San Marcos, Texas.

The Vandals took the opening kickoff and moved 62 yards in 13 plays before stalling at the Texas State 13-yard line and settling for a 29-yard field goal by kicker Austing Rehkow.

It would be Idaho’s only score in the first two quarters as the Vandals failed to capitalize on two first-half Bobcats turnovers. Meanwhile, Texas State’s Franks scored on runs of 70 and 95 yards to give the Bobcats a 21-3 lead at the half.

The Vandals scored 13 unanswered points in the third quarter to close the gap to 21-16 before Franks struck again to start the fourth quarter – taking a pitch left and darting around and though Idaho defenders for another 70-yard touchdown run and extending Texas State’s lead to 28-16.

The teams traded touchdowns and Idaho trailed 35-23 when it took over the ball at its own 20 with 9:25 left in the game. The Vandals converted three fourth downs on the drive – two on a one-yard rush and a nine-yard completion by quarterback Matt Linehan, who finished 33 of 52 for 347 yards and two interceptions – and the third on a one-yard touchdown run by Elijhaa Penny to cut the deficit to 35-30.

Idaho held Texas State to a three-and-out on its next possession and took over the ball on its own 25 with 1:17 left.

Following a 17-yard completion to Joshua McCain, Linehan was intercepted by the Bobcats’ Germod Williams and Texas State ran out the clock.

Arkansas State, 28 UL-Monroe 14: Fredi Knighten ran for three touchdowns and passed for another, powering a big second half in the Red Wolves’ victory over the Warhawks in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

After a scoreless first half for both teams, Arkansas State took a 21-7 lead early in the fourth quarter on Knighten’s touchdown run – a 29-yard keeper – and held off UL-Monroe.

Knighten finished with 284 yards.

South Alabama 47, Appalachian State 21: Brandon Bridge threw for a career-high 339 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Jaguars to victory over the Mountaineers in Boone, North Carolina.

Bridge, who sat out the final quarter, finished his day’s work with 362 total yards, three shy of the school record.

LA-Lafayette 34, Georgia State 31: Terrance Broadway’s second touchdown pass to Jamal Robinson, a 21-yard strike with 3:34 to play, lifted the Ragin’ Cajuns to a win over the Panthers in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The Ragin’ Cajuns secured the victory when Tracy Walker made an open-field tackle two yards short of a first down on a fourth-and-6 play with 1:07 left.

Georgia Southern 36, New Mexico State 28: Kevin Ellison ran for two touchdowns, including a late fourth quarter score, to lift the Eagles over the Aggies in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Ellison finished with 145 yards on 16 carries.