SAN ANTONIO — Jarveon Williams rushed for 163 yards to become UTSA's first-ever 1,000-yard rusher and that helped UTSA beat Rice, 34-24, on Saturday night at the Alamodome.
Williams’ fourth 100-yard game of the season helped the Roadrunners (3-8, 3-4 C-USA) to their first-ever win against the Owls (4-7, 2-5 C-USA) and their first home triumph of the year. The junior from Converse eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in the third quarter and now has 1,042 for the season and 1,493 for his career. He also reached paydirt twice to tie Evans Okotcha’s school record of eight rushing touchdowns in a season.
Defensively, Jason Neill racked up two sacks and nine total tackles en route to setting single-season records for sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (11). Marcus Davenport recorded a career-high 10 stops, including a pair of sacks and three tackles for loss, one pass breakup and a key forced fumble that was recovered by Marcos Curry in the first half and led to UTSA's fourth touchdown of the night. Drew Douglas also recorded 10 tackles, while Bennett Okotcha and Mauricio Sanchez had an interception apiece, with Okotcha’s tying him for the school’s single-season record of four.
Williams accumulated 99 yards and both scores in the first half, including a 78-yard scamper midway through the second quarter that gave the home team the lead for good at 21-17 after rallying from an early 10-0 deficit.
UTSA added to its lead before halftime when Dalton Sturm kept on a bootleg around left end for a 1-yard touchdown run after Davenport’s forced fumble on a sack that was recovered by Marcos Curry set up the Roadrunners at the Rice 20-yard line.
After forcing two straight three-and-outs to start the second half, the Owls pulled to within 28-24 when Darik Dillard snuck into the end zone from three yards out to finish out an eight-play, 46-yard scoring drive.
UTSA provided the final margin late in the third when Sturm connected with Morgan II on a 19-yard touchdown pass. That score gave the senior tight end sole possession of the school’s single-season receiving TD record and it capped a seven-play, 96-yard drive that also featured a 32-yard connection from Sturm to Morgan II.
Sturm finished with 189 yards on 9-of-13 passing and the sophomore from Goliad added 50 yards on the ground. Morgan II had three catches for 76 yards, while Thomas Jr. added to his single-season receptions record with three more for 74 yards to give him 50 for his sophomore campaign.
Rice got on the board first with a 45-yard field goal by Hayden Tobola on the game’s opening possession. Driphus Jackson then hit Nate German with a 58-yard bomb with 5:51 left in the first quarter to push the Owls’ lead to 10.
On the ensuing drive, Williams capped UTSA’s first scoring drive with a 1-yard run after Sturm hit JaBryce Taylor and David Morgan II with 25-yard pass plays.
Okotcha’s interception helped set up the next score. Thomas Jr. hauled in a 23-yard pass from Sturm over the middle and in the end zone to put the Roadrunners up, 14-10, early in the second stanza.
The Owls answered, after Zach Wright hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Jackson made it 17-14 in favor of the visitors.
UTSA will wrap up its fifth season of play next Saturday, Nov. 28, against Middle Tennessee (6-5, 5-2 C-USA). Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the Alamodome.