SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — San Diego State withstood a late Texas State charge Saturday, beating the visiting Bobcats 31-29 at SDCCU Stadium in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game. The Aztecs moved to 2-3 this season, and Texas State dropped to 2-3.

Texas State struck first with Jacob Bonilla’s 37-yard field goal. Brad Jackson later found Ty Stamey for a 21-yard touchdown, and Bonilla’s extra point made it a two-score game. San Diego State got on the board before the end of the first quarter when Cooper DiLeva converted a 47-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Jackson added a 6-yard touchdown pass to Davian Jackson, pushing Texas State ahead. Bonilla had a 35-yard field goal attempt blocked by Cameron Cooper in the second quarter. The Aztecs then seized momentum with a 21-point second quarter, while Texas State managed 10 points in the period. A fourth-quarter team safety gave the Aztecs another notable defensive play.

Brad Jackson, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound quarterback from San Antonio, Texas, powered Texas State’s offense throughout. He completed 27 of 43 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 22 times for 80 yards. Beau Sparks, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound receiver, was his top target with 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. Ty Stamey, a 6-foot-6, 237-pound tight end, caught two passes for 36 yards and a score. Davian Jackson caught one pass for 6 yards and a touchdown, ran 13 times for 53 yards and returned three kickoffs for 65 yards. Torrance Burgess Jr., a 5-foot-6, 175-pound running back, rushed 21 times for 77 yards and caught two passes for 13 yards. Chris Dawn Jr., a 5-foot-7, 160-pound receiver, added five catches for 57 yards. Tucker Cusano had two catches for 27 yards, Kylen Evans, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound receiver, had one for 27, Zechariah Sample, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver, had one for 24, Jaylen Jenkins, a 5-foot-8, 177-pound running back, had one for 21, Jake Simpson, a 6-foot-5, 248-pound tight end, had one for 7, and Arvis Battle Jr., a 6-foot-4, 246-pound tight end, had one for 1 yard plus a 7-yard kick return. Dameon Crowe returned one punt for 20 yards.

San Diego State’s offense was more measured. Jayden Denegal, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound quarterback, completed 15 of 23 passes for 109 yards. Nathan Acevedo, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound receiver, caught four passes for 47 yards and returned one punt for 3 yards. Bert Emanuel Jr., a 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback, had one reception for 20 yards. Jacob Bostick, a 6-foot-2, 183-pound receiver, caught one pass for 8 yards, and Ryan Wolfer, a 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end, had one for 4 yards. The Aztecs leaned on their defense, which produced several key stops and a blocked kick. Gavriel Lightfoot, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive lineman, recorded 12 tackles. Cameron Cooper had seven tackles, a quarterback hurry, an interception, a touchdown and the blocked field goal. Josiah Cox, a 6-foot-0, 195-pound defensive back, Sione Hala, a 6-foot-1, 217-pound defensive back, and Jelani McLaughlin, a 6-foot-0, 202-pound safety, each made nine tackles. Josh Hunter, a 5-foot-9, 175-pound safety, added seven tackles. Djibril Rahman had seven tackles and one sack. Jalen Thomeson, a 5-foot-11, 181-pound safety, made six tackles. Kai Wallin, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound defensive lineman, had four tackles and an interception. Brady Nassar, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound defensive lineman, finished with four tackles.

Texas State’s defense also had heavy workloads. Ayden Jones, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker, made seven tackles, and Jayden Bradley had eight. Jayden Lawton added five. Terrence Cooks II, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker, recorded four tackles. Javante Mackey, a 6-foot-2, 228-pound linebacker, Jo’Laison Landry, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound defensive end, Phillip Bradford and DonTerry Russell, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound defensive lineman, each made three tackles. Tymere Jackson, Treylin Payne, a 6-foot-0, 210-pound linebacker, and Michael Patterson III, a 5-foot-11, 162-pound cornerback, each had two tackles. TJ Burkhalter, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, Craig Royal Jr., a 6-foot-2, 190-pound cornerback, and Tymere Jackson added two stops apiece. Cole Nilles, a 6-foot-4, 252-pound linebacker, Chancellor Owens, a 6-foot-3, 260-pound defensive end, and Ta’Derius Collins, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive lineman, each made one tackle. J.P. Deeter, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman, contributed one quarterback hurry. The Bobcats also got special-teams work from Tom Flintoff, who punted three times for 103 yards.

San Diego State’s Tashi Dorje punted six times for 268 yards. The Aztecs scored seven points in the third quarter, while Texas State scored 12 in the third. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter. San Diego State’s defense held on late after Texas State moved into scoring position. The win evened the Aztecs’ record after a difficult nonconference stretch. The Aztecs’ victory came despite Texas State’s late push, and the Bobcats’ final drive fell short.

Texas State began the season with a 63-10 home win over Incarnate Word, then beat North Texas 49-35. The Bobcats lost to Texas-San Antonio 31-26 and fell at Texas 59-7. San Diego State opened with a 53-20 home win over Portland State before losing at UCLA 28-10. The Aztecs then lost at home to James Madison 26-13 and fell at Toledo 41-16.

Texas State returns to action with a home game against Colorado State before hosting Utah State. The Bobcats then visit Boise State and Oregon State before home games against Fresno State and Washington State. San Diego State visits Oregon State before hosting Fresno State. The Aztecs then visit Colorado State and host Washington State, followed by a home game against Utah State and a trip to Boise State.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 46-34 San Diego State win, and its ELO system gave the Aztecs a 58.5 percent probability of winning. San Diego State was installed as a 9.5-point favorite before the game. The total of 60 points went under the over/under line of 57.5.