Sophomore running back Will Henderson III rushed for a season-high 185 yards, helping UTSA football to a 28-7 win over the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Saturday at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
A promising seven-play, 85-yard opening drive from the Roadrunners (5-5, 3-3 AC) was followed by five consecutive scoreless possessions. It wasn’t until there was a little over three minutes remaining in the third quarter that UTSA found paydirt again, not that it mattered. The ‘Runners’ defense pitched a shutout against the 49ers, (1-9, 0-7 AC) with their lone score coming on special teams. Powered by a steady rushing attack led by Henderson, the Roadrunners secured their first road conference win since 2023.
“I was just proud of how our kids competed the whole game,” coach Jeff Traylor said after the game. “We had some adversity early — played very well and just couldn’t score — the poor decision by Owen on the interception, big ‘Rell losing his head, getting a 15-yard penalty trying to defend his teammate. Other than those plays, we executed at will.”
On the opening drive, junior quarterback Owen McCown went 4-of-5 through the air and connected with junior wide receiver Devin McCuin for a 45-yard touchdown. Henderson snapped a nearly two-quarter scoring drought on a 59-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down.
Henderson was the Roadrunners’ primary back against the 49ers, with senior running back Robert Henry Jr. struggling in an eight-carry, one-yard performance.
“We came through a lot of adversity on the road, people saying you’re not mentally tough, but I just don’t think it’s true,” Henderson said. “Ain’t nothing different but the crowd, so I think we did good, and it just felt great getting an away win.”
UTSA added to its lead in the beginning of the fourth quarter after McCown connected with sophomore wide receiver David Amador II for a 7-yard touchdown.
On the ensuing kickoff, Charlotte wide receiver Derrick Eley took the rock 88 yards to the end zone in the team’s first and final score of the game. The Roadrunners responded on the very next drive by marching 65 yards down the field, where McCown called his own number for a 2-yard bootleg score.
UTSA tallied up over 500 yards of total offense while holding Charlotte to under 200 yards on offense. The Roadrunners kept McCown upright throughout the game, allowing zero sacks while registering three of their own. Senior safety Tyan Milton had the lone takeaway for the ‘Runners with an interception deep into the fourth quarter.
UTSA will return home for its final two games of the season, the first of which comes against East Carolina University at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.
