Bearkats overcome a 22-point deficit as Pavon’s field goal with 6 seconds left seals the victory against Texas State at NRG Stadium.
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HOUSTON — The Sam Houston Bearkats continued their magic at NRG Stadium, rallying from a 22-point deficit to edge out the Texas State Bobcats 40-39 on a field goal by Christian Pavon with just six seconds remaining. Pavon’s 24-yard kick sealed the thrilling comeback victory, marking the third time in four appearances that the Bearkats have won on the final possession at the home of the Houston Texans.
Sam Houston head coach KC Keeler praised his team’s determination and noted the significance of the rivalry and playing at NRG Stadium. “One of the things we talked about before the game was that this is like a second homecoming for us,” Keeler said. “It’s a rivalry game in a way, and it’s also a win to get closer to bowl eligibility. This is two top 20 G5 teams playing. I don’t know if you realize that.”
Sam Houston head coach KC Keeler discusses the Bearkats’ thrilling 40-39 comeback win over Texas State at NRG Stadium. Keeler reflects on the team’s resilience, the significance of the rivalry game, and how the victory brings them closer to bowl eligibility. He also shares thoughts on the upcoming quick turnaround as the Bearkats prepare to face UTEP on Thursday night.
The Bearkats (4-1) leaned on a dominant ground game to power the comeback, with quarterback Hunter Watson and running back Jay Ducker combining for 174 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Watson tallied 105 yards on the ground with two scores, becoming the first quarterback in program history to rush for consecutive 100-yard games. Ducker added 69 rushing yards and three touchdowns, surpassing the 2,000-yard mark for his collegiate career, which spans time at NIU, Memphis, and Sam Houston.
Texas State (2-2) dominated the first quarter, scoring 22 points and recovering a Watson fumble for a defensive touchdown. The Bobcats appeared to be cruising after scoring on their opening drive and taking a quick 15-0 lead within the first five and a half minutes. They extended their lead to 22-0 by the end of the first quarter, but the Bearkats never wavered.
Ducker punched in a one-yard touchdown early in the second quarter to put Sam Houston on the board, and his 14-yard rushing score later in the period cut the Texas State lead to one possession. Texas State answered back, but the Bearkats capitalized on a muffed punt to set up a Watson rushing score before halftime, going into the break down 32-21.
The Bobcats continued to press in the third quarter, scoring on their first two possessions to build a seemingly insurmountable lead. However, the Bearkats defense held firm, forcing two crucial fourth-down stops. Watson and Ducker each added touchdowns, trimming the Texas State lead to 39-34 by the end of the third quarter.
Sam Houston’s defense dominated the fourth quarter, holding Texas State scoreless over the final 27 minutes of the game. Pavon’s 46-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter brought the Bearkats within two, setting up his game-winning kick. An 11-play, 72-yard drive that ate up 6:43 of the clock culminated in Pavon’s decisive 24-yard field goal with six seconds remaining.
Reflecting on the win, Keeler emphasized its importance. “We always talk about the importance of a game, and this game obviously, if we could win, was going to be hugely important to us,” Keeler said. “We’ve eclipsed the number of wins we had last year. We are now 7-2 in our last nine games, and this is a good football team.”
Looking ahead to Thursday’s matchup against UTEP, Keeler addressed the short turnaround. “We have a short week, playing in El Paso on a Thursday night, and they’re coming off a bye,” he noted. “But it’s about character, and our guys will come to work on Sunday. We’ll get a lot done.”
Postgame Notes:
- NRG Dominance: Sam Houston is now 12-2 all-time at NRG Stadium, with its last three wins coming by a single point after trailing for nearly the entire game.
- Watson’s Historic Run: Hunter Watson’s back-to-back 100-yard rushing games mark the first time in program history a Bearkats QB has achieved the feat.
- Ducker’s Milestones: Jay Ducker’s three rushing touchdowns made him the first Bearkat with three scores since Eric Schmid in 2021. Ducker also surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards across his collegiate career.
- Defense Shines Late: Sam Houston’s defense held Texas State scoreless for the final 27 minutes, limiting the Bobcats to just seven points in the second half.
- Balanced Offense: Five Bearkats players finished with at least 31 rushing yards, contributing to a dominant 278.3 rushing yards per game average over their last three contests.
Sam Houston now turns its attention to Conference USA play, as they head to El Paso for a Thursday night matchup against UTEP.
Scoring Summary:
- Texas State: McCloud led the Bobcats with 326 passing yards and three touchdowns. Texas State’s fast start included a defensive touchdown and two-point conversion, leading 22-0 after the first quarter.
- Sam Houston: Ducker and Watson combined for five touchdowns on the ground, and Pavon’s three field goals, including the 24-yarder to win, proved to be the difference.
The Bearkats improved to 4-1 with the victory, keeping their offense rolling at an average of 34.0 points per game in their four wins. Meanwhile, Texas State falls to 2-2 as they look to bounce back from the close loss.
Sam Houston: 0, 21, 13, 6 – 40
Texas State: 22, 10, 7, 0 – 39
