UTSA football earned its second bowl victory in program history after defeating Coastal Carolina University 44-15 on Monday at Brooks Stadium.
Facing a depleted Coastal Carolina squad, the Roadrunners (7-6, 4-4 AAC) dissected the Chanticleers (6-7, 3-5 Sun Belt Conference) on offense whilst stymying their efforts on defense. UTSA put up over 500 yards on offense and allowed just 271 total yards on defense. The ‘Runners entered this matchup with a majority of their team intact; the Chanticleers entered with 26 players having already entered the transfer portal – and it showed.
“I’m happy for my seniors. There’s a lot of guys who chose to not play in these bowl games. That’s never been the case at UTSA,” coach Jeff Traylor said. “I’m really proud of how they finished.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the UTSA offense exploded in the second, scoring 21 of the team’s 44 points in the quarter.
With starting running back Robert Henry Jr. out with an injury and second string back Kevorian Barnes in the transfer portal, it was freshman running back Brandon High Jr. who took over starting duties. High Jr., with a strong push from his offensive line, struck from nine yards out for the first score of the game.
On the ensuing Roadrunner possession, sophomore quarterback Owen McCown called his own number and found the endzone for a 35-yard rushing touchdown.
For the third consecutive time, the UTSA offense took the ball and drove it down the field into the opposing red zone. UTSA capped off the drive with McCown finding freshman tight end Patrick Overmyer for a 6-yard passing touchdown, and the ‘Runners entered the half with a 21-0 lead.
In the third quarter, UTSA managed two field goals, with sophomore kicker Tate Sandell drilling both from 38 and 27 yards out, respectively.
At the top of the fourth quarter, Coastal Carolina put an end to the shut out. Quarterback Tad Hudson took advantage of a blown coverage by the UTSA defense and found wide receiver Bryson Graves for a 50-yard touchdown.
The Chanticleers’ excitement was short-lived; UTSA senior wide receiver Chris Carpenter took the ensuing kickoff 93-yards the other way for the score.
“I took my initial angle, and I saw everybody going to my left. So I said, ‘If ya’ll go to the left, I’m gonna go to the right,’ and it just opened up for me,” Carpenter said.
Both sides added to their total in the fourth quarter, but UTSA slammed the door shut on Coastal Carolina with a 51-yard rushing touchdown from sophomore running back Bryson Donnell.
UTSA football has now won back-to-back bowl games after beginning 0-4 in postseason play. The common denominator in both wins? Owen McCown. McCown was awarded the Myrtle Beach Bowl MVP for his efforts in the win. Sophomore wide receiver David Amador II led in receiving for UTSA, finishing with seven catches for 110 yards. Despite not having the current American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in senior linebacker Jimmori Robinson, the Roadrunner defense got the quarterback four times and earned 10 tackles for loss.
The Roadrunners will look to carry this momentum into 2025 and continue to grow and evolve as a program.
“The body of work these seniors have done is incredible. The program that we recruited them to as to the program they’re leaving is light years different.Whenever you leave anything better than you found it, you’ve done an unbelievable job,” Traylor said.
