ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Eric Soza's 11-yard touchdown pass to David Glasco II completed a 99-yard, fourth-quarter drive Saturday night that capped UTSA's 21-13 season-opening victory at New Mexico.
It was Glasco's second touchdown of the game for UTSA on a night the Roadrunners overcame an early 13-0 deficit.
"That's a good road win for us," Roadrunners head coach Larry Coker said. "We got it on the one and took it 99 yards. Then our defense had to step up and win the game."
New Mexico drove it back as far as midfield with one minute remaining, but the UTSA defense made a fourth-down stop to clinch it.
"Our defense played one heck of a game," said Soza, who finished with 237 yards passing and two touchdowns. "The players of the game was our defense."
New Mexico opened the scoring four minutes into the first quarter when SaQwan Edwards returned a fumble 45 yards, but New Mexico's attempt at a 2-point conversion failed.
The Lobos added a 37-yard touchdown pass from Cole Gautsche to Marquis Bundy early in the second quarter.
However, UTSA made some adjustments at halftime and began to execute better in the second half.
"We had the attitude that we were going to get it done," Coker said.
The front line's ability to bottle up Lobos running back Kasey Carrier, who averaged 122 yards a game last season but finished with 58 on Saturday, was a big key.
"Our front four played fantastic and really plugged it up," linebacker Steven Kurfehs said.
The Roadrunners began their comeback when Glasco bulled in from 1-yard out before halftime.
Soza found a wide-open Brandon Armstrong for a 38-yard touchdown three minutes into the third quarter to give UTSA its first lead, 14-13.
On the crucial pass to Glasco, which came on second-and-goal from the 8-yard-line, Soza scrambled around then flipped it toward the end zone just before crossing the line of scrimmage.
"I saw him and I said, 'Don't do it. Don't do it,' Glasco said. "I know Soza. He has a little bit of Brett Favre in him and then 'boop,' sure enough, he did it and it was a great play."
The Roadrunners will host No. 13 Oklahoma State, a 21-3 winner against Mississippi State on Saturday, in their home opener next Saturday, Sept. 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Alamodome and the game will be televised nationally on FOX Sports 1.