UTSA Dominates Limited Coastal Carolina in Myrtle Beach Bowl

© Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The UTSA Roadrunners (7-6) cap off their season in Conway, S.C. with a 44-15 victory over Coastal Carolina (6-7) in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Dec. 23.

UTSA Overcomes Slow Start

Unsurprisingly, both offenses would start off slow, with both failing to score in each of their first two offensive drives. UTSA would go for it on fourth down on their first drive, but would be stopped a yard short. The first points would come in the beginning of the second quarter with UTSA capping off a 7-play, 62-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Brandon High.

They would expand their lead on their next offensive possession, driving the ball 81 yards on 4 plays, capped off by a 35-yard touchdown carry by sophomore quarterback Owen McCown. They would add on even further, capping off their next possession with a 6-yard touchdown pass from McCown to Patrick Overmyer. That would end up being the final scoring of the first half, with the Roadrunners taking a 21-0 lead into the locker room. This would be the first time the Chanticleers were shut out in the first half in the 2024 season.

The second half would open with the Roadrunners hitting a 38-yard field goal to extend their lead to 24. Another field goal by redshirt sophomore kicker Tate Sandell would extend the lead even further to 27. The Chanticleers would get an interception to bring a little hope to Teal Nation, but the offense would not be able to capitalize, turning it over on downs on four plays. The third quarter would end with the Roadrunners leading 27-0.

The fourth quarter would open with Coastal getting their first points of the day on the first play of the quarter with a 50-yard pass from freshman Tad Hudson to sophomore Bryson Graves. UTSA would immediately answer back with a 93-yard kick return touchdown by Chris Carpenter. A sandell 29-yard field goal would extend the Roadrunner lead even further, but Coastal would answer with their second touchdown on the afternoon, this time a 9-yard pass from Hudson to senior Senika McKie. UTSA would answer right back on the first play of their next drive with a 51-yard touchdown rush by freshman Will Henderson III.

In spite of this being the first time the two programs have ever faced each other, the game was plagued with multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, five for each team.

Player of the Game

McCown had another strong bowl performance in his second bowl appearance. The sophomore passed for 254 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 37 yards and a touchdown.

What It Means

The Roadrunners show that they are on the rise and will be ready to build on this season come next year, with McCown going into his junior year and plenty of pieces from this winning performance coming back next season.

For Coastal, they look to rebuild after not only having their first losing season since 2019 and underperforming expectations, but losing 27 players to the Transfer Portal. Coach Tim Beck will be looking to continue his progress in Conway he hoped would happen this year.