UTSA Survives Scare, Edges Kennesaw State in Close Game

© Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

The UTSA Roadrunners (1-0) opened their season with a 28-16 win over the Kennesaw State Owls (0-1) on Aug. 31 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. One of UTSA's key preseason questions was replacing star quarterback Frank Harris, and Owen McCown stepped up, completing 28-of-38 passes for 340 yards, 3 touchdowns, and adding a rushing score with no turnovers.

Despite leading 21-3 early, the Roadrunners struggled to put away the Owls due to several mistakes but secured the victory late.

Game Summary

The Roadrunners started fast, scoring on their opening drive with an eight-play, 53-yard march capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass from McCown to wide receiver Devin McCuin, making it 7-0. Kennesaw State responded with a 44-yard drive that ended in a 48-yard field goal by kicker Austin Welch, cutting the lead to 7-3.

UTSA continued to dominate on their next possession, scoring on an 11-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 5-yard touchdown run by McCown, extending the lead to 14-3. The Roadrunners then forced a three-and-out by the Owls. UTSA followed with an 80-yard drive in eight plays, ending with Devin McCuin’s second touchdown catch, a 4-yard pass from McCown, pushing the score to 21-3. Kennesaw State added another field goal by Welch, making it 21-6 at halftime.

The Roadrunners' offense stalled in the third quarter, managing just 30 total yards. Meanwhile, the Owls went on a 10-0 run with a 31-yard field goal by Welch and a 25-yard touchdown pass from QB Davis Bryson to tight end Carson Kent, narrowing the score to 21-16.

UTSA’s offensive struggles continued until a game-changing play by the defense, recovering a fumble at the Owls’ 44-yard line with 7:36 left in the fourth quarter. The Roadrunners sealed the win with a 3-yard touchdown pass from McCown to TE Oscar Cardenas, making it 28-16.

Turning Point for UTSA

Kennesaw State had all the momentum in the fourth quarter after scoring a touchdown to cut the lead to 21-16 and immediately forced UTSA into a three-and-out. On the ensuing drive, the Owls attempted a quick pass to the flat, but safety Jimmy Wyrick made a great play, knocking the ball loose, and the Roadrunners recovered. UTSA took over at the Kennesaw State 44-yard line and scored eight plays later, sealing the game at 28-16.

What It Means

When UTSA went up 21-3 with 10 minutes left in the second quarter, it looked like they were on their way to an easy victory. However, mental mistakes plagued the Roadrunners, who ended up committing 10 penalties for 109 yards. In the postgame press conference, coach Jeff Traylor expressed disappointment with his team’s untimely penalties and blocking miscues. The nonconference schedule gets tougher for UTSA with the next two games at Texas and Texas State, so they’ll need to clean things up quickly to avoid a 1-2 start.

Despite the loss, Kennesaw State can take positives from its performance. The Owls showed resilience, battling back from a 21-3 deficit to pull within five points at 21-16 with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter. It was an impressive showing for a team playing its first-ever FBS game on the road in a challenging environment at the Alamodome.