According to redshirt freshman quaterback Eric Soza, the offense finally had the defense’s number in Wednesday's scrimmage. A transfer from Texas State, Soza completed 12-of-18 passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns in helping lead the Roadrunners to three scores on the night. The Beeville native led the offense on a 13-play, 76-yard drive for the second touchdown of the night. Facing third and long from the 11, he found freshman Cole Hubble, who was playing tight end, on a post route in the end zone for paydirt. After the scrimmage, Soza spoke with goUTSA.com about the change of pace offensively and what he wants the program’s first spring game to look like.
Why did you elect to transfer to UTSA?
"It just felt right. I felt like there were more opportunities here. I also prayed about it a lot and knew my calling was to be here in this program. It had absolutely nothing to do with the Texas State coaching staff because they were like family to me. I just felt things would be a better fit here because it was my calling."
How do you feel the offense is meshing as a unit?
"We are doing pretty good. We are young and going to have freshman mistakes, but we're coming together pretty well. We are finally gelling and the offense stepped it up tonight. In the last two scrimmages, the defense really set the tone, so we came out tonight with something to prove. Offense takes time to mesh as a unit because there is a lot of chemistry that has to happen between the receivers, backs and linemen. We are starting to get there, though."
How did it feel to control things tonight?
"It felt great. The defense is going to be good. They have been consistently good, but we just had their number tonight. Coach (Neal) Neathery is doing a good job with the defense and it's great because, at the end of it all, we are all one team. They are going to make us better and, on nights like tonight, we are going to make them better. The offense just needed to come out of the bye week and finally pick it up."
The offense really opened up the playbook tonight. Is this something you have been working on during these past two weeks?
"We worked on it the past two weeks because we knew we needed to. After the last scrimmage, we just stopped and just tried to focus on certain parts of the offense. This week, we did open it up because we need to get through the whole playbook before the spring starts. By that time, it needs to be nonstop to where we can run anything. We’re getting there and there is still a lot more offense to look forward to."
How do you cope with the ups and downs of the game?
"As a quarterback, I have to have short-term memory. I can have a great touchdown play and then throw an interception the next drive. We can drive for 99 yards and, in one play, the defense can run it back for 100. That’s what kind of football player I have to be. I have to move forward on a good play and forget about the bad ones quickly. I grew up hearing that the most important play is the next one. As an athlete, you have to embed that in your mind and keep going, no matter what happens."
At the end of your time here, what do you want this program to look like?
"I want us to be one of those teams everyone has to step up to play. I want to surprise people that very first game. I don’t want any excuses in regards to the fact that it will be our first game. I want us to look like we've been playing for three or four years already. And at the end of my three years, I want us to be a contender. As an athlete, you can’t expect anything less than that. We have to go out every game wanting to win and believing we can no matter who we are playing."
