UTSA used a stout defense and efficient offense to rally from a 17-10 first-half deficit for a 38-24 victory over Florida Atlantic in American Athletic Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome.
With the win, the Roadrunners snapped a two-game losing skid to run their record to 3-4 overall and 1-2 in the league. The Owls fell to 2-5 and 0-3. UTSA also improved to 26-3 at home under fifth-year head coach Jeff Traylor with its 14th win in the last 15 contests at the Alamodome.
Trailing by seven late in the second quarter and with the Owls threatening to add to their lead, Asyrus Simon’s strip-sack of FAU quarterback Cam Fancher proved to be a key play in the fifth meeting between the two teams, giving the ball back to the Roadrunners at their own 12-yard line with 3:21 left until halftime. UTSA then marched 88 yards on 11 plays, the last a 10-yard touchdown pass from Owen McCown to Jamel Hardy. Tate Sandell’s extra point knotted the score at 17-all going into the break.
UTSA’s defense surrendered just 32 total yards following Simon’s takeaway, including only 29 in the second half. Altogether, the Roadrunners have held the Owls to a combined 365 yards of offense over the last two meetings, as they allowed only 162 in a 36-10 road triumph last year.
The Roadrunners outscored FAU, 21-7, over the final 30 minutes, giving up just a fumble return for a touchdown when Wendol Philord scooped up a loose ball on a lateral and sped 49 yards to the end zone with 3:58 left in the third quarter. That score tied the game again at 24-24, but UTSA responded with 14 unanswered points down the stretch to seal the win.
UTSA registered 13 tackles for loss, including a school record-tying seven sacks to extend that streak to 17 games. The takeaway streak also was extended to 17 games in a row with Simon’s strip-sack and Owen Pewee’s late interception.
Brandon Brown posted four total tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Pewee added a pair of TFLs and sack that resulted in a 16-yard loss, while Davin Martin, Bryce Grays, Jameian Buxton, Jon Jones, Vic Shaw and Simon all joined in on the sack party.
Offensively, McCown tied his career high with 340 passing yards to go with a pair of TDs through the air and 22 yards on the ground. Brandon High Jr. rushed for a game-high 65 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown scamper with 2:25 left to play that helped put the game away.
Houston Thomas led the UTSA pass catchers with 63 yards on three receptions, while Chris Carpenter had six grabs for 58 yards. Patrick Overmyer and Hardy each posted three catches for 47 yards and a TD.
UTSA scored on its opening possession for the third time in three home games this season, marching 67 yards in 16 plays, the last a 33-yard field goal by Sandell.
Fancher broke loose for a 76-yard dash up the middle to paydirt to get the visitors on the board late in the first quarter.
The Roadrunners responded with a 5-play, 75-yard drive that was capped by Overmyer’s first career score, a 42-yard touchdown catch. Sandell’s extra point made it 10-7 with 14:51 left until halftime.
Fancher put the Owls back on top later in the second stanza on a 6-yard scramble around the left end that was set up with a 27-yard interception return by Jayden Williams to the UTSA 3-yard line.
Carter Davis tacked on three points with a 50-yard field goal midway through the second quarter making it 17-10 in favor of FAU.
With the game deadlocked at halftime, UTSA reclaimed the lead on the first possession of the second half, as Robert Henry’s 1-yard touchdown plunge put an exclamation point on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that was highlighted by a 41-yard catch from Thomas and a 19-yard reception from Carpenter.
Sandell added 41- and 27-yard field goals in fourth quarter to push the lead to 30-24 before High’s TD dash and Henry’s plunge on the two-point conversion attempt provided the final margin.
The Roadrunners will hit the road to face Tulsa (2-5, 0-3) next Saturday, Oct. 26. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m.