SAN MARCOS, Texas – A 35-point first quarter coupled with missed offensive opportunities allowed Texas State to claim a 63-24 win over Prairie View A&M Saturday night at Bobcat Stadium.

It took Texas State five plays to score on its opening drive as a 49-yard strike to Jafus Gaines on the third play set up a 1-yard run by Robert Lowe two plays later.  Down 7-0, the Panthers were moving on its opening drive but a fumble at the Texas State 35 killed the drive and set up Texas State's second score of the night five plays later after Chris Nutall's touchdown run.

After a three-and-out on PVAMU's next offensive drive, Texas State needed only one play to move ahead 20-0 as Tyler Smith connected with Brandon Smith for a 65-yard strike.  Brandon Medina picked off the 2-point conversion as the Panthers were down three scores.

The Panthers finally cashed in on their scoring opportunity on its third drive of the game as they drove down to the Texas State 13 but had to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Owen Hoolihan.  However, the momentum was short-lived as Nutall capped off a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 7-yard rush up the middle for a 27-3 lead after the PAT.

PVAMU failed to capitalize off a 51-yard kickoff return by Johnta' Hebert and committed a huge special teams mistake on the punt as they allowed Brandon McDowell to return a 95-yard punt for a touchdown en route to a 35-7 first quarter lead after the PAT.

The Panthers regrouped on their next drive and had a textbook 11-play, 75-yard drive which was capped off by De'Auntre Smiley's 4-yard touchdown run. Hoolihan's PAT was good as PVAMU trailed 35-10 early in the second quarter.

Texas State added two more touchdowns over the next few minutes and jumped ahead 56-10 until a 10-yard strike from Trey Green to Keylon LaSalle with 18 seconds left coupled with the PAT made the halftime score 56-17.

The Panthers missed a field goal on the opening possession of the second half and lost another fumble on the Texas State 7 three drives later. A Texas State fumble on the punt return in the fourth quarter led to a 28-yard scoring strike from Green to Demarquo LaStrappe for the final score of the night as Texas State was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

PVAMU finished with 402 (323 P, 79 R) total yards to Texas State's 649 (333 P, 316 R) yards.  Hebert rushed for 68 yards on 11 carries while Green threw for 289 yards on 25-of-37 passing with two touchdowns.  Hebert caught a team-high six passes for 63 yards while LaStrappe led all receivers with 87 yards on five receptions.

Sophomore linebacker Jalan Coleman led the team with 10 tackles and a tackle for loss.

Prairie View A&M will have its home opener next weekend versus Alabama A&M at 6 p.m. inside Waller ISD Stadium.