option running attack<\/a> that is poised to test UTSA\u2019s struggling run defense. \u00a0<\/p>\nFollow along for live updates and analysis:\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Roadrunners\u2019 defense delivered three straight stops to close the half, but UTSA was unable to extend the lead, carrying a 16-7 advantage into the break. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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UTSA turned its first four drives into three field goals and a touchdown before Owen McCown was intercepted as he tried to force a pass over the middle on third-and-10. Pinned inside their 1-yard line with less than a minute to play before halftime, the Roadrunners elected to run out the clock and take a lead into the break. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Against Rice\u2019s run-heavy, triple-option approach, UTSA built a 106-75 advantage in rushing through the first two quarters, keeping control of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Roadrunners covered 62 yards in seven plays without attempting a pass, as Will Henderson broke off runs of 19 and 17 yards while Mekhi Anderson took an end-around for 23 yards. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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But UTSA\u2019s push stalled at the 3-yard line, and the Roadrunners settled for another field goal, going up 16-7 late in the second quarter. \u00a0<\/p>\n
After Owen McCown found David Amador down the middle to convert third-and-14 with a 17-yard strike, the Roadrunners rushed to the line and handed to Will Henderson for a 12-yard rushing score. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Henderson bounced around the right side and used his speed to beat Rice\u2019s defense to the pylon, giving UTSA a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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The Roadrunners have scored on all three possessions, covering 75 yards across 13 plays on the most recent drive. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Showing off the threats that come with a triple option, Rice used a pre-snap motion to get UTSA\u2019s defense flowing the wrong direction, then ran an option to the left. Quarterback Jacurri Brown broke through for a 38-yard rushing touchdown as the Owls poked ahead 7-6 with 3:09 to play in the opening quarter. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Roadrunners held the Owls to zero total yards across the first two drives before Rice broke off a 75-yard, 10-play march, converting a fourth-and-4 situation with an 11-yard pass. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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Michael Petro connected from 53 yards out to mark the second-longest field goal in UTSA\u2019s history, and the Roadrunners extended their lead to 6-0 against the Owls with 8:41 to play in the opening quarter. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Roadrunners coach Jeff Traylor again elected a kick over an attempt to convert fourth-and-6 from Rice\u2019s 35-yard line. UTSA\u2019s defense has been stout to start, using an extra nose tackle with just one cornerback against Rice\u2019s triple-option offense. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Rice fumbled the option pitch on the first offensive snap to give UTSA prime field position, but the Roadrunners converted the opportunity into just three points, as Michael Petro kicked a 32-yard field goal to go up 3-0 with 12:52 to play. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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UTSA coach Jeff Traylor elected to send the field goal team onto the field facing fourth-and-2 from Rice\u2019s 14-yard line \u2014 a situation that most analytics would say favors keeping the offense on the field. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Roadrunners and Owls will be kicking off<\/a> at 6 p.m. Saturday from First Community Stadium in Houston with a broadcast on ESPN+. The radio broadcast is 760 AM. \u00a0<\/p>\nThe start of the American Conference season brings the first player availability report of the year, and UTSA announced relatively few impactful injuries. \u00a0<\/p>\n
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Starting guard Ben Rios was listed as questionable and did not participate in pregame warmups, as Colorado State transfer MJ Senegal seems poised to start in his place. Defensive back Willie Nelson is listed out, but the rest of the report covers mostly little-used reserves or seasonlong injuries. \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"UTSA Roadrunners defensive lineman Jeremiah Bailey (0) reacts after a play during the first quarter against the Colorado…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":455728,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[82,84,83],"class_list":["post-455727","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio","tag-san-antonio-headlines","tag-san-antonio-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/455727","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=455727"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/455727\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/455728"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=455727"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=455727"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=455727"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}