Texas State OL Nash Jones extends lead against Rice with touchdown run

In this year’s First Responders Bowl, the Texas State Bobcats are taking on the Rice Owls in a battle of two programs that call the state of Texas home. The Bobcats, who entered the game with a 7-5 record, are pulling out all the stops in Gerald J. Ford stadium, home of the SMU Mustangs, to walk out of Tuesday night’s contest victorious. And that was made apparent on this three-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Texas State pulled out a little trickery, running a screen play on third-and-goal from the Rice three-yard line. And on the receiving end of the screen pass from quarterback TJ Finley was none other than tackle Nash Jones. However, Jones was not given credit for a touchdown catch. Instead, because he was behind the line in which Finley threw it, the big man earned himself his first collegiate career touchdown run.

You can check out Jones rumbling in for the score that put Texas State up 31-21 midway through the third quarter in the video below.

BIG MAN TOUCHDOWN BY TEXAS STATE pic.twitter.com/ghNx4IDIPy

— Pace N Space (@PaceNSpace2) December 27, 2023

Texas State wins big

Jones’s touchdown was the first of three second-half touchdowns by Texas State, which ultimately gave them the win over Rice. And it wasn’t just the Bobcats offense that was humming on Tuesday night. Their second touchdown of the second half was a pick-six by defensive back Brian Holloway, who returned the interception 48 yards for the touchdown. Texas State forced a staggering six turnovers on the night with five interceptions and one fumble recovered.

Running back Ismail Mahdi was the star of the show for the Texas State offense. The 5-foot-9 sophomore tailback from Murphy, TX, was the game’s leading rusher with 24 carries for 122 yards. Unfortunately, he did not cross the goal line, missing out on scoring one of the Bobcats’ four rushing touchdowns on the night. His backfield mate Jamyl Jeter cashed in on the majority of Texas State’s touchdowns on the ground, recording three of them to go along with his eight carries for 36 yards.

Texas State ends their year on a relatively high note with a 45-21 victory. The Bobcats pick up win number eight to finish 2023 with an 8-5 record. Plus, the victory will be etched in Texas State history as it is their first bowl game appearance and victory. Their 8-5 record is the best record to finish a season in the program’s history.