NEW ORLEANS — A career-high 155-yard receiving day from senior wide receiver Jaden Williams and a season-high 143-yard rushing day from redshirt junior running back Lincoln Pare lifted Texas State to a 30-28 victory over in-state foe North Texas in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. 
 
The Bobcats—who were part of the Sun Belt’s bowl contingent that leads non-autonomy conferences for the third-straight season—earned their second-straight bowl title to remain unbeaten all-time in bowl games. 
 
Following three first-half field goals from redshirt junior kicker Mason Shipley, Williams broke through with the first Bobcat touchdown on a 24-yard reception from redshirt senior quarterback Jordan McCloud in the closing minutes of the second quarter. 
 
Pare scored both Texas State touchdowns in the second half—the first a one-yard punch-in and the second a 73-yard scamper with 2:25 to play after North Texas had narrowed the Bobcat lead to two. Pare’s second touchdown would prove to be the difference in the postseason rivalry renewal between in-state foes. 
 
McCloud completed 26-of-35 passes for 307 yards and a touchdown. Pare finished with 175 all-purpose yards, followed by 164 from Williams. 

Redshirt senior defensive back Jordan Polk led the Bobcat defense with nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a strip sack that forced a fumble recovered by redshirt junior defensive lineman Kalil Alexander. An interception by junior linebacker Treylin Payne with three seconds remaining sealed the victory for Texas State. 
 
With the win, Texas State improves to 8-5 for the second-straight season, matching its best record at the FBS level.