UTSA rallies down 14, beats Navy to remain perfect in conference play

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA overcame an early 14-point deficit to beat Navy 38-34 Saturday at the Alamodome. Owen McCown finished 28-of-38 for 359 passing yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. 

Navy quarterback Jackson Gutierrez — a San Antonio native — quickly gave the Midshipmen an early lead, breaking free for a 53-yard rush before keeping it himself for a 2-yard score. 

After a pair of UTSA punts and a Midshipmen missed field goal, Gutierrez once again called his own number for a 5-yard score, giving Navy a 14-0 lead with 14:11 left in the opening quarter. 

Owen McCown injected some life into the Alamodome on the Roadrunners’ ensuing possession as he found Mekhi Anderson for a 46-yard touchdown. UTSA tied the game 14-14 after McCown hit Brandon Young Jr. in the flat, and Young hurdled a defender into the end zone. 

UTSA officially flipped the game on its head after a surprise onside kick. A few plays later, McCown and David Amador II connected for a 36-yard catch-and-run. A’Marion Peterson punched in the 1-yard score on the next play, giving the Roadrunners their first lead of the game.

Navy settled in and capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 25-yard passing touchdown from Gutierrez to Jordan Collins. A missed extra point kept the Midshipmen trailing by one at the half. 

The Roadrunners responded with the contest’s first and only field goal, a 36-yard kick. 

After two punts from both sides, Navy retook its long-lost lead with a 92-yard passing touchdown. Gutierrez had his back to the endzone, the roaring of the UTSA student section behind him, but stood tall and delivered the pass into Collins’ breadbasket for the score. 

McCown and the offense didn’t blink, though. On fourth-and-three, McCown hit AJ Wilson for a 22-yard gain. On the next play, Will Henderson broke loose for a 31-yard rushing touchdown.

The Midshipmen utilized some trickery for a 63-yard gain that set them up inside the Roadrunners’ 5-yard line. After a few penalties on Navy, backup QB Braxton Woodson ran in a 7-yard score to put the Midshipmen up 34-31 with 4:50 remaining in the game.

UTSA quickly regained its lead after Peterson took a short screen 41 yards to the house. 

Navy’s last gasp came on fourth-and-16 on its own 19-yard line with 1:50 left in the game. Gutierrez’s pass was off its mark, sealing the Midshipmen’s fate.

UTSA will next face Tulane at 7 p.m. Saturday at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Live updates below:

Penalties doom crucial Navy drive

After a holding penalty and a false start, Gutierrez scrambled to get back 11 yards. On third-and-14, Gutierrez was decked by Owen Pewee.

Peterson takes a short screen 41 yards to the house

In need of a response, UTSA found one. Peterson took a short screen pass, broke a couple of tackles and outran defenders for a 41-yard touchdown. UTSA leads 38-34 with 2:24 remaining.

Navy utilizes double pass for large gain, retakes lead shortly after

The Midshipmen are opening up the playbook. Gutierrez pitched to fellow QB Braxton Woodson before leaking out on a wheel route. Woodson hit Gutierrez in stride and was barely stopped at the UTSA 1-yard line. A pair of flags pushed Navy back, but Woodson eventually found paydirt.

Will Henderson puts UTSA ahead

On fourth-and-3, McCown rolled to his left and heaved a pass to AJ Wilson. Wilson hauled it in to move the chains and keep the drive alive. On the next play, Henderson broke loose and scampered 31 yards into the end zone.

Gutierrez hits Collins for a 92-yard touchdown

Backed up near his own end zone, Gutierrez hung in the pocket and found a wide-open Collins for a 92-yard score. It looks like Elijah Newell got beat on the play.

UTSA punts, again

McCown passed three consecutive times for a net total of zero yards.

Navy forced to punt after being pinned near its own end zone

Hard to do much on offense starting from your own 3-yard line. A false start doesn’t help either. Navy ran three times, but couldn’t move the chains.

UTSA’s drive stalls after a pair of short gains

Rushes from Will Henderson and Peterson gave UTSA a quick first down, but the offense stalled after two negative-yardage plays from McCown and Henderson.

Gutierrez crushed by Bryce Grays on third down

On third down, Gutierrez rolled out to his right, spinning and evading contact. The Houdini act was short-lived as Grays flew in and laid a huge hit that popped the ball out. Navy recovered and punted.

Petro extends UTSA’s lead with a 36-yard field goal

The Roadrunners notched a pair of chunk plays, including a 19-yard pass from McCown to Hardy, but penalties forced the Roadrunners to settle for three. UTSA leads Navy 24-20 with 8:03 left in the second quarter.

McCown dropped for 7-yard sack, but leads at half

Navy rushed three, and all three got home. A 9-yard run from Will Henderson wasn’t enough to pick up the first down. After the ensuing punt, Navy elected to burn the remaining time on the clock. UTSA leads at halftime, 21-20.

Gutierrez hits Jordan Collins for 25-yard score; Navy misses XP

Gutierrez proved he’s dangerous through the air, adding to his rushing ability by connecting with Collins for a 25-yard touchdown. The XP was no good. UTSA leads 21-20 with 1:03 left in the half.

UTSA recovers surprise onside kick; A’Marion Peterson punches in score

Jeff Traylor did his best Sean Payton impression with a surprise onside kick. A couple of plays later, McCown hit Amador in stride, down to the 1-yard line. Peterson did what he’s done all year long and punched in the short touchdown. UTSA leads 21-14 with 3:56 left in the half.

Brandon Young hurdles defender for tying score

On second-and-10, McCown hung in the pocket and hit Isaiah Butler-Tanner for a huge 22-yard gain. Three plays later, David Amador nearly took a screen to the house, but the officials ruled he stepped out at the Navy 14-yard line. Ball doesn’t lie, though. Two plays later, McCown found Brandon Young, and he hurdled a defender for a 14-yard score. Tie ball game at 14-14 with 5:55 left in the half.

UTSA forces first Navy punt

A critical block in the back call on the Midshipmen put them in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. Gutierrez attempted a third-down pass near the left-side boundary, but Asaad Chapman was all over the intended receiver.

McCown hits Mekhi Anderson for a 46-yard score

McCown had all day in the pocket to sit and wait as Anderson’s speed became too much for Navy corner Phillip Hamilton. He didn’t blow past him, but the separation was just enough for Anderson to adjust to the throw and reel in the score. Navy leads UTSA 14-7 with 13:08 remaining in the half.

Gutierrez’s second touchdown of the half, puts Navy up 14

After a delay of game, Braxton Woodson broke free for a 43-yard gain. A pair of penalties and efficient runs from Gutierrez had Navy knocking on the door. Gutierrez eventually punched in a 5-yard touchdown. Navy leads UTSA 14-0 with 14:11 remaining in the half.

Promising drive stalls for UTSA

Owen McCown hit Mekhi Anderson for a 13-yard gain, putting the Roadrunners in plus territory. Not much was going on the next three plays, though. UTSA punted and pinned Navy at their own 8-yard line.

Navy misses 49-yard field goal

After a big second-down TFL from Jeremiah Bailey, Gutierrez’s first pass of the day was short of the line to gain. Nolan Bartley’s 49-yard field goal missed. Navy leads 7-0 with 6:35 left in the first quarter.

Owen McCown sacked on third down, UTSA punts

Not much going for the Roadrunners on their first drive of the day. A third-down sack forces a UTSA punt.

Navy takes the early lead

Jackson Gutierrez breaks loose for a 53-yard gain, setting up the Midshipmen in the Roadrunners’ red zone. Two plays later, Gutierrez calls his own number for the 2-yard score. Navy leads 7-0 with 11:50 left in the first quarter.