Nixon leads Louisiana-Lafayette to 49-27 win over Texas St.

Published Oct. 10, 2015 10:50 p.m. ET

foxsports

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) Jalen Nixon threw for 238 yards and three touchdowns and Elijah McGuire rushed for 170 yards and one score as Louisiana-Lafayette beat Texas State 49-27 in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams on Saturday night.

Nixon, making just his second start for the Ragin' Cajuns, completed 22 of 29 passes and also carried the ball seven times for 45 yards and a touchdown.

McGuire scored from the 3 and later Nixon ran in from the 18 to give Louisiana-Lafayette (2-3, 1-0) a 35-14 lead with 2:31 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bobcats answered when Brandon Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 95 yards to close the gap to 35-21 with 2:17 remaining in the third.

Not to be outdone, Jeryl Brazil returned the following kickoff 100 yards to go ahead 42-21.

Tyler Jones threw for 178 yards and one touchdown for Texas State (1-4, 0-1).