Texas State football thrashed Colorado State 66-27 on Thursday, breaking records and earning its first-ever Pac-12 win.
The Bobcats have combined flashes of brilliance with bouts of inconsistency in six games. They lead the Pac-12 in total yards per game (562.3) and are second in points per game (40). The defense will have stretches where it performs like a top-of-the-conference unit. But undisciplined moments still crop up, and head coach GJ Kinne said after the Colorado State win that there's still more to work on.
Texas State hosts Utah State on Saturday before going on a two-game road trip. Here are the grades from Texas State's victory.
Offense: A+
Texas State put up 716 yards, setting a new program record, despite quarterback Brad Jackson only passing for 213 yards and a touchdown. The Bobcats did the majority of their damage on the ground, setting another school record with 503 rushing yards. Running back Torrance Burgess Jr. ran wild for 224 yards and four touchdowns on 24 carries. Jackson flashed his dual-threat nature, running for 181 yards and adding three more touchdowns.
While the duo racked up the numbers, the offensive line and tight ends were somehow even more impressive. Burgess' 51-yard touchdown resulted from the dominant line and tight end Arvis Battle Jr. taking out two defenders. Texas State went three-and-out on its first drive, but the unit was nearly perfect for the rest of the game.
Defense: B
The defense looks close to putting it together. Texas State held Colorado State to one first down on its first five drives. But after a muffed punt gave the Rams a short field and a touchdown, QB K'saan Farrar found a rhythm and exposed the Bobcats' vulnerable secondary, putting up 21 points and 146 passing yards in the second quarter.
Edge rusher Tymere Jackson collected five pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, while linebacker Treylin Payne had his best game of the season with seven tackles and one for a loss.
Head coach GJ Kinne said Texas State still needs to improve its secondary. The Bobcats' three-high safety scheme should stop the pass, but the Rams still threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Colorado State averaged 4.8 yards per carry.
Special teams: C
Despite improvement, special teams still made errors that could have cost Texas State in a closer game. Wide receiver Dameon Crowe was aggressive on punt return, but he muffed two of them, one which led to a Colorado State touchdown. Wide receiver Zechariah Sample took his place on the next attempt. Punter Tom Flintoff's lone attempt traveled 42 yards, not a booming kick, but good enough if he can be consistent. Kicker Jacob Bonilla made a 23-yard chip shot and missed a 31-yard attempt.
Coaching: A
Considering the shock of the San Diego State loss, Texas State's sharp form is a testament to how well the coaching staff prepared the team during the bye week.
The Bobcats are talented enough to put up the eye-popping stat lines. Kinne, along with co-offensive coordinators Landon Keopple and Jordan Shoemaker, correctly identified the Rams' weaknesses and put on a play-calling masterclass. Whether they can do it against tougher units remains to be seen.
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This article originally published at Texas State football grades: Bobcats offense sets more records in win over Colorado State.