Eastern Michigan can’t stop Texas State in 52-27 season-opening loss
The Eagles had no answers for the Bobcat offense, giving up gaudy amounts of yards and points.
After the Texas State offense put up more than a third of a mile's worth of yardage and 52 points on Eastern Michigan, the season opener finally relented as the Eagles fell, 52-27, at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos.
From the jump, EMU struggled to slow the Bobcat offense in all phases. Quarterback Brad Jackson completed 69 percent of his passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns, all to wideout Beau Sparks, who had seven catches and 82 yards with the scores.
But the Bobcats were even more dominant on the ground, as Lincoln Pare, who had 12 carries for 167 yards and a touchdown, led the way for a rushing attack that put up 392 yards. Greg Burrell and Jaylen Jenkins also both went over 70 yards rushing and scored on the ground.
All told, Texas State averaged more than nine yards per play on Saturday night en route to 606 total yards. Texas State also finished 7-of-10 on third downs, perfect on its lone fourth down attempt and went 6-of-6 on red zone trips.
The Eagles fell behind on the first drive, kicking the ball to the Bobcats and giving up a touchdown drive with little resistance, capped by a 16 yard walk-in touchdown reception for Sparks. The Bobcats would lead for the rest of the game.
And after the game went into the half 24-17, Eastern Michigan fell off the pace, getting outscored 14-0 in a 3rd quarter that gave Texas State the room it needed.
For all that ails the Eastern Michigan defense, the offense had bright spots.
Making his first start for Eastern Michigan, Noah Kim looked solid and had the offense operating consistently. He finished with 248 passing yards and a touchdown after completing 68 percent of his passes.
The rushing attack showed up, too, as Dontae McMillan posted 78 yards on nine carries. Joey Mattord and Tavierre Dunlap added 38 and 33 yards, respectively, and a touchdown apiece. McMillan led the Eagles with 113 all-purpose yards.
The offensive line did show growing pains, as the group gave up a pair of sacks and seven tackles for loss.
But all told, it was a 27-point, 391-yard performance from the offense in a road season opener.
It just wasn’t ever going to be enough to overcome a defensive outing where the Eagles had no answers for Texas State, by land or air.
