UTSA overcomes disastrous start, outlasts Colorado State in non-conference finale

SAN ANTONIO — The Roadrunners must’ve forgotten to set their alarm for an 11 a.m. kickoff against Colorado State. The Rams caught UTSA sleeping early as Colorado State took the opening kickoff 94 yards to the house and, on its first offensive play, scored from 74 yards out to take a 14-0 lead less than two minutes in. 

The same UTSA defense that rattled Arch Manning and No.1 Texas last week was nowhere to be found against Colorado State, but neither was the anemic offense that failed to score a touchdown against the Longhorns. 

UTSA’s offense rattled off 35 unanswered points before the Rams began fighting back in the second half. Both sides went blow-for-blow in the final two quarters, but with Colorado State missing starting QB Hauss Hejny, the Roadrunners outlasted the Rams 59-45 Saturday at the Alamodome. 

“We have to report every morning at 7 a.m.,” Owen McCown explained. “We’re usually off the field by 11. We’re used to these early mornings, and the guys knew it. So it was kind of a shock when we came out down 14-0, but then again, we’re so used to it that we didn’t blink.” 

The only good thing about quickly falling behind is that there’s plenty of time to settle in afterward. That’s exactly what McCown and the Roadrunners did on their second drive of the game, embarking on a 12-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a 16-yard rushing score from Brandon High Jr. 

A 13-yard rushing touchdown from Will Henderson III and a 27-yard scoring connection between McCown and David Amador II completely erased any momentum the Rams had as UTSA pulled ahead 21-14. 

“You work the plan you’ve worked all week,” coach Jeff Traylor said of his approach trailing early. “You just keep calling them, keep shooting.” 

The Roadrunners kept pouring it on in the second quarter. McCown hit DJ Allen Jr. on a slant route near the 50-yard line, and Allen, with some help from excellent downfield blocking, did the rest. A 5-yard rushing score from A’Marion Peterson put the Roadrunners in front 35-14.

Despite the scoring barrage from UTSA, Colorado State managed a score before halftime and gave itself a manageable 14-point deficit to hack at in the second half. 

Coming out of the break, Rams running back Durrell Robinson punched in a one-yard score that brought their deficit to just one possession. It was a short lived momentum change as Mekhi Anderson brought the ensuing kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown. 

“Man, I just saw a big crease through the line,” Anderson said. “I hit it as fast as I could, and just stiff-armed the kicker. It was nothing but green grass in front of me. I can’t thank my guys up front enough. We’ve been emphasizing ‘One guy, one block.’ We got it today and broke one loose.” 

After a second rushing TD from Robinson, UTSA and Colorado State exchanged a pair of touchdowns and a pair of field goals before the Roadrunners drove in the final dagger — a 47-yard rushing touchdown from Peterson. 

Coming off an encouraging defensive performance against Texas, Traylor knew a performance like this was a possibility. 

“Our defense got a little big-headed, in my opinion,” he said. “They went over there and got after Texas and did a great job. They deserved all their flowers. But what I love about my team — and they’re happy for each other in there right now — you can tell our defense is disappointed. I guarantee you, when y’all speak to Darion [White], it’s the first thing he’s going to say. 

“We’ve got to get a lot better. They’re good kids. I’ve been saying that all year. There’s going to be a lot of games like this one. Hold on — y’all’s hair is going to look a lot like mine when the season’s up.”