The Roadrunners’ accomplishments in November have been nothing short of triumphant. In this month alone they have broken three school records, adding more milestones and highlights under coach Jeff Traylor. Conquering the game against the University of North Texas 48-27 with 40 minutes of possession, UTSA extended their home winning streak to nine.
The ‘Runners are currently 15-2 in November under Traylor, and his guidance has helped players like senior linebacker Jamal Ligon and sophomore kicker Tate Sandell topple school records. Ligon earned the title of the program’s all-time leading tackler and Sandell kicked the school’s longest field goal from 54 yards.
UTSA’s offensive line has stood out tremendously in helping the team find success in its recent games. With the provided extra time in the pocket, UTSA made eight successful deep passes during the game that helped the team extend their lead by 21 points. However, overall they gained more yards and success with their shorter passes.
“It started up front and our backs just committing to running the football better. We just kept going at it,” Traylor said.
The Roadrunners’ offense is No. 2 in the American Athletic Conference, averaging 291.2 passing yards per game. The ‘Runners broke the school record with 681 yards in total in the win over North Texas.
The Mean Green attempted to run the ball more against UTSA as opposed to previous games, despite being No. 1 in average passing yards per game. The Roadrunners are known for running the ball, averaging 149.7 yards per game, and proved to be capable of thwarting North Texas’ efforts.
“It’s the greatest testimony to our culture,” Traylor said. “I’ve never seen a team overcome what these guys have overcome. They got a chance to go to a bowl. We got a chance to get it done here Friday night.”
By the end of the game, UTSA had a 77% success drive rate as opposed to North Texas’s 72%. Senior running back Robert Henry Jr. accomplished 168 rushing yards, helping the team get to 302 rushing yards in total.
“An emphasis really this whole year and especially this week was running the ball,” McCown said. “The way they play defense and how they presented their defense was a little change-up. We knew we could run the ball. When we did that, it opens up everything.”
Prior to this game, the Eagles were third in passing offense in the AAC and have been dominant this season. However, they failed to surpass the 30-point mark against UTSA. The Mean Green walked into the ‘Runners game at home likely expecting the same results they have been able to pull off all season long but were unsuccessful throughout the game.
Based on the Roadrunner’s November track record, it looks like they will remain successful, furthering their winning streak at the Alamodome. A win against Temple University on Friday will officially make the ‘Runners bowl eligible with six wins heading into the final game against Army.
