– by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief
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DALLAS — The only reason that Texas State running back Lincoln Pare started Friday’s game was because the Bobcats’ leading rusher during the season decided to enter the transfer portal. Not only did Pare start in what would become a historic win for the program, but he sure finished it in style.
Pare ran for two touchdowns, including racing down the field for a 73-yard score with just over two minutes remaining as Texas State held on to defeat fellow North Texas 30-28 in the First Responder Bowl inside Gerald J. Ford Stadium on Friday afternoon. Bobcats quarterback Jordan McCloud threw for 307 yards and a touchdown as the Bobcats clinched back-to-back eight-win seasons for the first time since the program joined the FBS level in 2012.
McCloud, a transfer from James Madison, ended his collegiate career by going over the 10,000 passing yards mark, yet wasn’t joined by his backfield mate this year, running back Ismail Mahdi, who ran for 991 yards this season but decided to put his name in the portal at the end of the regular season. In stepped Pare, who did average almost six yards per carry this season as Mahdi’s understudy, and the junior came through with a season-high 143 yards on the ground.
“He’s going to be a captain going forward,” Texas State goach GJ Kinne said. “He’s the epitome of what we want as a Texas State Bobcat, on and off the field. That’s how you win games, with guys like him.”
After Pare’s long score, North Texas quarterback Drew Mestemaker answered with a 70-yard run with 1:49 left to get within two points again. The Mean Green got the ball back with 40 seconds left at their 8-yard line, but Texas State defensive end Kalil Alexander recorded a sack on first down and linebacker Treylin Payne sealed it with an interception three plays later.
Mestemaker was making his first career start as he replaced Chandler Morris, who threw for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns this season before transferring to Virginia.
*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Friday evening’s game, with photos taken by ALOST staff photographer Ross James. After clicking on a photo to enlarge the picture, press the left and right arrow buttons on either side of the caption to scroll through the rest of the pictures that appear on the first page. Also, click on the numbers and/or arrow appearing immediately below the picture grid to load the next set of photos. There are 40 pictures in total.
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