SAN MARCOS, Texas – After falling behind 24-0 in the first quarter, South Alabama came storming back to pull within a touchdown, but could not complete the comeback as the Jaguars fell to Texas State 52-44 Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium.
 
The loss dropped South Alabama to 6-6 on the season with a 4-4 record in Sun Belt Conference play. The matchup against the Bobcats also marked South's final regular season game of the 2023 campaign.
 
"We dug ourselves in an incredible hole and earned a loss with poor execution," said head coach Kane Wommack. "We didn't make enough plays defensively. We weren't nearly responsive enough. That was really the story to me all season. When we're in tight games and tough moments, we didn't have a defense that was responsive enough."
 
One of the game's biggest storylines for South Alabama took place in the third quarter when starting quarterback Carter Bradley went down with an injury. Senior backup Desmond Trotter then entered the game and proceeded to throw for 220 yards and four touchdowns while completing 19-of-22 pass attempts on the night. His four touchdown passes tied a single-game record at South Alabama. Bradley threw for 183 yards and two scores before leaving the game.
 
Several receivers had big games for the Jaguars, but it was DJ Thomas-Jones who turned in a career performance with three touchdown receptions on the night. It was the first time a Jaguar recorded three receiving touchdowns in the same game since Jalen Tolbert in 2020. Javon Ivory also provided a spark for USA with his first-career touchdown in a Jaguar uniform, and Caullin Lacy recorded 94 yards and touchdown on 11 catches.
 
Khalil Jacobs was the star on defense for South, recording six tackles, one sack, one interception and a forced fumble. On the other end of Jacobs' forced fumble was Marquise Robinson, who finished the game with five tackles in addition to his recovery. Quentin Wilfawn added 1.5 sacks to his season total while making six total takedowns.
 
Facing a 24-0 deficit, South went on to score 24 of the next 31 points in the game to make it a one-score game. The Bobcat offense had an answer for the remainder of the game, though, as the teams alternated scores for the remainder of the night. Down 16 with just over one minute remaining, Trotter threw his fourth touchdown of the contest to Jacob Hopper and then converted the two-point conversion to pull within eight, but the Jags could not come up with the onside kick and Texas State ran out the clock.
 
UP NEXT
 
Having already secured bowl eligibility with a shutout victory over Marshall, South Alabama will wait to learn its postseason destination. Bowl matchups will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 3.
 
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