SAN ANTONIO — Dalton Sturm tied a program record with four touchdown passes, including three in the second half, but Jonathan Barnes booted a 32-yard field goal with 10 seconds left to push Louisiana Tech past UTSA, 34-31, on Saturday night at the Alamodome.
Sturm, who also rushed for 34 yards, went 18-of-27 through the air for 227 yards to go along with his four scores to lead the Roadrunners (1-5, 1-1 C-USA). In the final half, the sophomore from Goliad completed 13-of-18 attempts for 186 yards and three touchdowns.
David Morgan II tied the program record he shares with Aaron Grubb with nine catches for 85 yards and a pair of scores. In his first start, JaBryce Taylor also added two touchdown receptions and nearly cracked the century mark with 99 yards of his own.
Both teams failed to hold onto the ball in the early going as the first 10 points for each squad came after a turnover.
The Bulldogs (4-2, 2-1 C-USA) opened the scoring with a pick-six and added a 19-yard field goal following another interception.
Meanwhile, UTSA turned a pair of interceptions by Trevor Baker and Michael Egwuagu into points with a 25-yard field goal from Daniel Portillo and a 10-yard touchdown reception by Morgan II.
However, Louisiana Tech broke the 10-10 tie with a pair of touchdowns, including a 2-yard scoring pass from Jeff Driskel to Jarred Craft with just eight seconds to play in the second quarter for a 24-10 cushion at the half.
Sturm drove the Roadrunners down the field on the opening drive of the second half and found Taylor for a 38-yard scoring connection on 4th-and-5 to trim the deficit to 24-17.
But the Bulldogs answered with an eight-play, 71-yard drive that was capped by a Ricky Jones 3-yard plunge to regain the two-score lead.
Trailing 31-17, the UTSA offense again cut the deficit in half with an 11-play, 60-yard drive. Sturm completed five passes during the possession and found Morgan II in the corner of the end zone for his second touchdown reception of the night.
UTSA opened the fourth quarter with a quick five-play drive that ended when Taylor took Sturm’s slant pass 57 yards to paydirt with 13:38 remaining. The strike was the Roadrunners’ longest scoring toss of the season and Portillo’s extra-point knotted the score at 31.
However, Louisiana Tech forced punts on the next two UTSA possessions and the Bulldogs took over at their own 22-yard line with 4:28 to play. The visitors drained all but 10 seconds from the clock and Barnes’ 22-yarder provided the final margin.
The Roadrunners will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 17, when they travel to Southern Miss (3-3, 1-1 C-USA). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Roberts Stadium.