Brandon High Jr. scores game-winner as UTSA tops Texas State for program’s 100th win

SAN MARCOS, Texas — UTSA football overcame a 10-point halftime deficit, capped by a go-ahead 25-yard rushing touchdown with fourteen seconds remaining from junior running back Brandon High Jr. to defeat Texas State University 31-26 for the first time in three years on Saturday at UFCU Stadium.

The Roadrunners (2-0) led by a touchdown in the opening quarter, but the Bobcats (0-2) proceeded to score 17 unanswered points to take a double-digit lead into halftime. Senior quarterback Owen McCown completed 3-of-4 passes on UTSA’s first drive coming out of the break, but it was junior wide receiver David Amador II who tossed a 44-yard touchdown pass to cut UTSA’s deficit to three. After a tying UTSA field goal, Texas State retook the lead but missed the extra point. The Roadrunners and Bobcats scored on back-to-back possessions, setting up one final drive for McCown and the offense to win the game. McCown converted two fourth-down plays, and High sealed the win from 25 yards out.

“It definitely felt good,” High said. “I never forgot how it was last time we came here. There was definitely a bad taste in my mouth.”

Senior defensive back Zach Morris picked off Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson to set up the Roadrunners’ first score of the night. McCown hit senior wide receiver AJ Wilson for a 25-yard gain, putting UTSA in the Bobcats’ red zone. Three consecutive rushing plays later, McCown found junior tight end Brandon Young Jr. off play action for a 1-yard touchdown.

The Roadrunners were unable to capitalize on a missed field goal from Texas State kicker Dylan Cunanan, and the Bobcats scored on two rushing plays to even the score at 7-7. Jackson would find the end zone himself with 7:16 left in the half, and a 51-yard field goal sent Texas State to the locker room with momentum.

UTSA came out with urgency in the second half. Coach Jeff Traylor left the offense out on the field on fourth and five at the UTSA 44-yard line, and McCown connected with Amador on a 12-yard catch. Traylor called Amador’s name once again on the next play, and he delivered. Amador found sophomore wide receiver Mekhi Anderson for the score.

“I think I was told earlier that David [Amador] still has a better passer rating than me,” McCown said. “I don’t mind that at all. It was great. It’s something we’ve been working on for a long time. David, obviously a former quarterback, executed really well.”

Texas State and UTSA exchanged scores on back-to-back drives at the end of the third quarter and on the opening drive of the fourth, respectively. But the Roadrunners led due to the aforementioned missed extra point.

Jackson proceeded to lead the Bobcats on a 14-play, 67-yard drive that chewed up over seven minutes of the final quarter and resulted in a 26-yard field goal. UTSA’s offense delivered with the time they had, and the Roadrunners earned their 100th win all-time.

“We’ve been working on mindset since the beginning of January,” Traylor explained. “My mindset – it’s what the 210 Triangle of Toughness is: forward-thinking, proactive thinking in every situation. We prepared for every situation: negative, positive. I thought it was going to be an unbelievable game. I thought it would come down to the very last play of the game.

“And when [the clock] strikes zero, and the officials leave, I’ll take my headphones off, like I always do. I won’t smile, like I never do. I’ll go shake the coach’s hand, like I always do. I’m going to come sing the song with our unbelievable band, like I always do. And then I’m going to come into the locker room and bust a dance for [the team]. ”

Sophomore running back Will Henderson III led the team in rushing with 80 yards, while Anderson and Wilson tied for the lead in receiving yards with 83 each. Texas State outgained UTSA on the ground and overall, but UTSA was 5-of-6 on fourth down, probably the most crucial stat of the game.

UTSA will head to Austin, Texas, for its third-ever meeting with the University of Texas at Austin Longhorns at 7 p.m. Saturday at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.