UTSA defeated their I-35 rivals Texas State in the first-ever football game, 31-38 in Alamodome on Saturday Nov. 24. In the 2012 season finale, the Roadrunners compiled almost 300 yards on the ground, and sophomore wide receiver Kenny Harrison returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. Harrison was also name the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Special Teams Player of the Week. The Roadrunners ran a Bobcats defense that came into the game ranked114th in the country against the run as UTSA Quarterback Eric Sozathrew for three touchdowns and ran for another.
After settling for a field goal from UTSA kicker Sean Ianno on the game’s opening drive the Runners’ defense held the Bobcats into a three-and-out, forcing Texas State to punt from their own 20 yard line. Linden native, Harrison, fielded the punt at his own 21 yard line before taking it all the way to the end zone in a play that put UTSA up 10-0 early and set the tone for the ‘Runners early in the game. UTSA never trailed in its final game, finishing the season at 8-4.
Texas State, known for its option-based offense and led by running back Marcus Curry, came into the game averaging 5.9 yards per rush. However, the Bobcats were never able to establish a ground game and were limited to just 2.1 yards per rush against the Roadrunners. Texas State finished the game with just 68 rushing yards, compared to 299 forUTSA. The Runners ground was led by Soza, who finished with 97 rushing yards and a touchdown, and by running backs Evans Okotcha (93 yards) and David Glasco II (68).
“It probably was the difference in the game–being able to run the football,” UTSA Head Coach Larry Coker said after the win. “We weren’t able to run the ball much last year but this year we really stepped it up.”
The Bobcats responded to Harrison’s early touchdown by scoring on their ensuing possession, as Quarterback ShuanRutherford hit Isaiah Battle deep for a 57 yard touchdown to bring the score to 10-7.
The Roadrunners struck back, however, when Soza threw his first of three touchdown passes to Tight End Cole on the Runners next drive to put UTSA ahead 17-7.
A crowd of more than 39,000 showed up to the Alamodome to cheer on the Runners in their final game of the season. The Runners finished their second season of football with their first winning record and with a conference record of 3-3.
Rutherford scored from 2 yards out late in the second quarter to bring Texas State to within 3, but UTSA responded with an efficient two-minute drill that was capped by a 5 yard touchdown pass from Soza to Kenny Bias that put the Roadrunners up 24-14 going into halftime.
As the Texas State Running Backs failed to get into a groove the Bobcats turned to their Quarterback in an attempt keep up with a Roadrunner offense that finished the game with 499 total yards of offense. Rutherford finished the game with 324 passing yards–119 to Battle–and led the Bobcats with 42 rushing yards with two scores through the air and one on the ground. However, Rutherford was sacked 5 times and was never able to get his team to within more than 7 points in the second half.
A crowd of more than 39,000 fans cheered on the ‘Runners in their final game of the season at the Alamodome on Nov. 24. UTSA beat Texas State, 31-38, in the first meeting between the I-35 rivals and finished the second season of Roadrunner football with their first winning record and a conference record of 3-3.
“We just went out there and busted our tails and came up with the win,” junior linebacker Kurfehs. “It’s a very special moment for us.”
UTSA compiled almost 300 yards on the ground, sophomore wide receiver and Linden Texas native Kenny Harrison returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown, and the Roadrunners ran a Bobcats defense that came into the game ranked120th in the country against the run as UTSA quarterback Eric Soza threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.
