SAN ANTONIO – After a disappointing season opener against the Houston Cougars, the Roadrunners have fought their way back into the win column with a 20-13 win over Texas State on Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome. Quarterback Frank Harris had a bounce back performance, completing 26 of 37 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown.
After a slow start from the UTSA offense, the Roadrunners (1-1) struck late in the first quarter with a 46-yard field goal from kicker Chase Allen. The first touchdown wouldn’t come until the second quarter when Vanderbilt transfer Rocko Griffin showed off his electric speed and took it 20 yards to the house to put UTSA up 10-0.
Later in the second quarter, UTSA fans held their breath as Harris went down twice and was unable to finish out the half. Harris’s backup, Eddie Lee Marbuger, came in and had no success trying to run the offense. Texas State capitalized on the change in momentum and scored twice to tie the game at 10 going into the break.
Both offenses struggled to move the ball in the second half until Harris found JUCO transfer Willie Mccoy for an acrobatic 20-yard touchdown catch. With the lead and a packed Alamodome behind them, the UTSA defense held strong throughout the rest of the afternoon only allowing a single field goal. Despite star receiver De’corian Clark not playing and Harris fighting through injuries, the Roadrunners were able to scrape by with a 20-13 win.
“There was grit by a lot of people today,” UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor said after the game.
Saturday’s win over the Bobcats (1-1) took a whole team effort. Running back Kevorian Barnes rushed for 103 yards on 26 carries while Tykee Ogle-Kellogg led the UTSA receivers with 78 yards. The defense, led by Trey Moore who totaled three sacks, and the 49,342 fans showed up and rallied around Frank Harris who is still trying to find his footing early on this season.
The Roadrunners will have a short week to prepare for the visiting Army Black Knights who gave them a good fight last year at West Point. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Friday, at the Alamodome.
