Texas State freshmen break through in 63-10 rout of Incarnate Word

A 63-10 win over Incarnate Word gave Texas State's freshmen extended playing time, and the Bobcats now open Pac-12 play at San Diego State on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. on The CW.

Texas State improved to 2-2 on Saturday with a 63-10 dismantling of Incarnate Word at UFCU Stadium in San Marcos. With the outcome settled early, coach GJ Kinne handed substantial snaps to his first-year players, valuable timing with the program's first Pac-12 contest days away.

Wide receiver La'Keyleon Graves provided the highlight, converting his first career catch into a 49-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The freshman, a former four-star recruit, secured the ball in mid-air near the right sideline, then escaped two converging Cardinals defenders while classmate Blake McLane tied up another would-be tackler. "The receiver room, we go by the YAC boys," Graves said, a reference to yards after catches. "Make the first man miss. I just happened to make the first two men miss."

Two other members of the 2026 recruiting class reached the end zone for the first time in their careers during the final period. Dameon Crowe scored on a 77-yard punt return, and Juntavious Harris added a 45-yard touchdown run.

The youth movement extended past the offense. Redshirt freshman defensive back Greg Gipson Jr. came down with an interception he juggled before securing in the fourth quarter, and redshirt freshman quarterback Gavin Parkhurst ran the attack for most of the second half, going 3-for-3 for 74 yards, a figure that included the scoring strike to Graves. "That brings energy, that brings juice," Kinne said. "I felt like we were a little stale there in the third because we were playing the other guys."

A rule change helped open the door. The NCAA's recently adopted five-for-five policy gives college staffs greater flexibility in how frequently they use freshmen. Kinne had said in the days before kickoff that working underclassmen into the game was a goal, but he viewed that as the wrong way to think; out of respect for Incarnate Word, Texas State opened with its established players and turned to the youngsters once the result was no longer in doubt.

First-team youth is already part of the equation. Defensive back Jayden Bradley and wide receiver Zechariah Sample are young contributors with explosive ability, yet depth remains a concern: Sample and Beau Sparks are still short of full strength following their respective injuries, while Kylen Evans sat out Saturday with an ailment of his own.

Nor did the Bobcats bring in their freshman class expecting finished products. Real-game experience, the reasoning goes, is the quickest path forward for players with promising futures. "Now, when Crowe, JT and those guys get out there in the game, it's not their first live action," Kinne said.

Meaningful minutes will likely remain scarce for the youngest Bobcats this season. Even so, they now carry proof they can deliver when called upon. "You have to wait your turn sometimes," Kinne said. "So it's good they're able to lock in on the game plan and execute at a high level when they get an opportunity."

Attention now shifts to a milestone: Texas State's first Pac-12 game, Saturday at San Diego State in San Diego, Calif. Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m., with the television broadcast on The CW.