SAN ANTONIO — Junior quarterback Owen McCown tossed a career-high five touchdowns as UTSA football defeated East Carolina University 58-24 on Saturday at the Alamodome — clinching bowl eligibility for the sixth-straight season.
After picking up their first road-conference win since 2023, the Roadrunners (6-5, 4-3 AC) needed to defeat an East Carolina (7-4, 5-2 AC) team that was coming off an upset against the University of Memphis to secure bowl eligibility. McCown and freshman running back Will Henderson III helped UTSA to a 34-3 lead at halftime, a deficit that the Pirates never came close to erasing. Donning their “Black Bird” uniforms for the second time this season, the ‘Runners cruised to their second win of the season scoring 50 or more points.
“This building and those uniforms have been special for us through the years,” coach Jeff Traylor said. “That’s as good as we’ve felt all year. [East Carolina] is really good. We lost a heartbreaker to them last year to start off conference play, just a killer. Total team win.”
UTSA opened the game up with a near-flawless drive, with McCown completing 2 of 3 — including a 37-yard pass to sophomore tight end Patrick Overmyer — before connecting with junior wide receiver AJ Wilson for an 11-yard score.
On the following Roadrunner possession, McCown found his other stand out tight end — senior Houston Thomas — for a 5-yard score to give UTSA an early two-possession lead.
East Carolina forced the ‘Runners’ first three-and-out with a little under two minutes to play in the opening quarter but proceeded to allow seven consecutive scoring drives.
Sophomore wide receiver David Amador II opened up the second quarter with a 45-yard reception touchdown; sophomore running back A’Marion Peterson followed suit shortly after with an 8-yard rushing touchdown. Two field goals from sophomore kicker Michael Petro were broken up by the Pirates first score of the game: a 32-yard field goal.
Despite holding a 31-point lead at the break, the Roadrunners kept their foot on the gas in the second half. McCown capped off a 13-play, 75-yard third quarter drive by connecting with junior wide receiver DJ Allen Jr. for a 4-yard score. UTSA tacked on two more scores, including a 21-yard pick six from senior linebacker Shad Banks Jr. to seal the win.
“Our confidence has been through the roof these past few weeks,” Banks said after the game. “We just really needed to see it. Now ya’ll see it too.”
Henderson led the team in rushing for the second straight week with 146 as senior running back Robert Henry Jr. continues to battle an undisclosed injury. McCown set a career high in passing touchdowns with five, becoming the first UTSA quarterback to toss for more than four since Frank Harris against Western Kentucky University in 2021.
UTSA will remain home for its final game of the regular season against Army West Point at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.
