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Frank Harris passed for 359 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner to De’Corian Clark in overtime, to help UTSA rally from a 14-point deficit for a 41-38 victory over Army West Pointon Saturday afternoon at Michie Stadium.
The Roadrunners erased a 28-14 second-half Black Knights (0-2) lead to even their season record at 1-1, matching the second-largest comeback in program history while play in their second consecutive overtime contest for the first time in school annals.
Harris completed 32 of 45 passes for a career high 359 yards — just eight yards shy of the school record — and three touchdowns. The Schertz Clemens High School product helped lead a 512-yard output by the offense, including 153 on the ground.
For the second straight game, a pair of Roadrunners topped the century mark in receiving yards, as Zakhari Franklin caught 10 passes for 122 yards and two TDs while Joshua Cephus had 10 grabs for 112 yards/ Clark added seven receptions for 90 yards and the game-winning score.
After Army took a two-touchdown advantage following a drive of eight-plus minutes to open the second half, Franklin found paydirt for the second time on the afternoon on a 9-yard pass from Harris to help pull the visitors back to within a touchdown late in the third quarter.
On the ensuing possession, the UTSA defense forced the first Army punt of the day. The Roadrunners then marched 74 yards on 11 plays, the last a 1-yard touchdown run by Brenden Brady, who rushed for 76 yards on the day, that helped tie the game at 28-28 with 9:49 remaining.
After a three-and-out by the Army offense, UTSA took over near midfield with 8:23 on the clock. The Roadrunners covered 54 yards in only four plays, highlighted by 16- and 34-yard passes from Harris to Cephus and punctuated by another 1-yard TD plunge by Brady.
The Black Knights managed to force an extra period with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Cade Ballard to Tyrell Robinson with just over a minute left in regulation, tying things up at 35-all.
UTSA drove down to within field goal range but an attempt as time expired sailed wide right.
Army got the ball first in overtime and had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Quinn Maretski that gave the home side a 38-35 lead.
The Roadrunners needed only two plays to secure their first win of the season, as Harris hit Franklin for 18 yards over the middle to set up the game-winning toss to Clark on the left sideline.
Clifford Chattman paced the defense with 11 tackles and a key pass breakup in overtime that forced the Army field goal. Trevor Harmanson and Jamal Ligon registered eight stops apiece and Trey Moore and Jimmori Robinson tacked on seven each.
Army struck first on a 77-yard touchdown pass from Tyheir Tyler to Ay’Jaun Marshall to take a 7-0 lead with 5:24 left in the opening period.
UTSA took advantage of a muffed punt deep inside Army territory midway through the second stanza when Caleb Cantrell fell on a loose ball at the 1-yard line. On the next play, Trelon Smith reached the end zone for the first time as a Roadrunner and Jared Sackett’s extra point knotted the score at 7-all.
The Black Knights answered with a 75-yard march that resulted in a 1-yard TD plunge by Jakobi Buchanan to reclaim the lead, 14-7.
The Roadrunners responded, as Harris found Franklin open on a 29-yard TD pass on a third-down-and-20 play to tie things up with 1:29 left until halftime.
Army retook the lead just before halftime on a 1-yard score by Buchanan that was set up by a 43-yard pass from Cade Ballard to Braheam Murphy.
The Black Knights extended their advantage to start the second half, covering 75 yards in 14 plays and chewing 8:11 off the clock on a drive that was capped with a 16-yard QB keeper by Tyler.
UTSA then reeled off 21 unanswered points to take the lead before Army forced overtime.
Tyler led Army in rushing with 61 yards while Ballard added 58 and was 11 of 15 for 221 yards and a TD through the air.