SAN ANTONIO — Jalen Rhodes and Jarveon Williams rushed for 74 yards apiece to help lead UTSA to a 31-17 victory against North Texas in Conference USA action on Saturday night at the Alamodome.
The running backs led a balanced offensive attack by the Roadrunners (4-4, 3-2 C-USA), who registered their third all-time win in four tries against the Mean Green (4-4, 2-2 C-USA).
Rhodes piled up his 74 yards on just nine carries (8.2 avg) and added a pair of touchdowns to increase his team-leading totals to seven on the ground and eight overall this season, which ranks second on the school's single-season lists.
Meanwhile, Williams increased his program-leading career rushing-yards total to 1,964.
Quarterback Dalton Sturm completed 10-of-19 passes for 142 yards and two TDs, pushing his season total to 15, which stands second in program history.
The defense forced four turnovers (two fumbles/two interceptions) and was led by the trio of La'Kel Bass, Marcus Davenport and Nate Gaines, who each recorded eight tackles.
UTSA built a 14-0 halftime lead on the strength of big plays and a stiff defense.
On their second possession, the Roadrunners marched 49 yards on 11 plays to break the ice.
Sturm hit Kerry Thomas Jr. on a slant route from seven yards out to put UTSA on the board and give Thomas Jr. sole possession of the school's single-season TD reception record with six.
UTSA pushed its lead out to 14 when Sturm hit Josh Stewart on a 21-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone with 11:27 left in the second quarter. That play was set up by a 25-yard scramble by Sturm and an 18-yard completion to Marquez McNair.
The Roadrunners held North Texas to just 44 yards through the first 25 minutes before a late drive gave the visitors life.
The Mean Green used a 38-yard pass from Mason Fine to Jeffrey Wilson to move inside the UTSA 10-yard line in the final minute. With 11 seconds left and facing third-and-goal from the one, defensive tackle King Newton jarred the ball loose from Wilson and safety Michael Egwuagu scooped and returned it 61 yards to the North Texas 40 as time expired in the half.
North Texas got on the board on the first play from the scrimmage in the second half when quarterback Mason Fine found an open running lane and sped 80 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit in half.
UTSA was held to a three-and-out on its first drive, but the defense came up big with a fumble recovery by Jonathan Tuiolosega at the North Texas 36-yard line to help set up Victor Falcon's 33-yard field goal with 10:47 left in the third.
On the Mean Green's next possession, Chase Dalhquist came up with his first career interception and returned it to midfield to set up UTSA for another score. A 31-yard completion from Sturm to Stewart set up UTSA inside the North Texas 30. Four plays later, Rhodes dashed nine yards up the middle for his first touchdown run of the night to put the home team up 24-7.
After a North Texas field goal made it 24-10, Rhodes found paydirt again on a 19-yard scamper with just under 10 minutes remaining to push the lead to 31-10.
The Mean Green made things interesting when Fine hit Kenny Buyers with a 10-yard touchdown pass to cap an 11-play, 78-yard scoring drive that made it 31-17 with 5:45 left to play.
North Texas then recovered the onside kick near midfield and drove to the UTSA 3-yard line before an offensive pass interference call and a sack by Josiah Tauaefa pushed the visitors back to the 21 for fourth-and-goal. The UTSA defense held, as the pass went incomplete out of the back of the end zone.
Fine finished with 91 yards on 12 carries and threw for 257 and a touchdown on 27-of-38 passing. UTSA held leading rusher Jeffrey Wilson to 43 just yards on 19 carries.
The Roadrunners will open a three-game road stretch at Middle Tennessee (6-2, 3-1 C-USA) on Saturday, Nov. 5. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
