RUSTON, La. — Josh Stewart had his second 100-yard receiving game of the season, but Ryan Higgins passed for 293 yards and four touchdowns to lead Louisiana Tech to a 63-35 victory against UTSA in Conference USA action on Saturday at Joe Aillet Stadium.
The Bulldogs (8-3, 6-1 C-USA) tallied 473 yards of offense and a season high in points in downing the Roadrunners (5-5, 4-3 C-USA) for the fourth time in five tries in the key West Division contest that saw LA Tech clinch a spot in the league's Championship Game.
Stewart piled up 113 yards on seven catches to break the program's single-season receiving yards record. The junior from College Station now has 591 yards (on 27 receptions) on the year, bettering Kam Jones' 578 set in 2011.
Jarveon Williams nearly turned in his eighth career 100-yard game on the ground, as the senior rushed for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 18 carries. He extended his UTSA record career rushing total to 2,168 and his two scores gave him a school record-tying eight on the season and 19 for his career, one shy of David Glasco's program standard.
LA Tech got off to a quick start, as Carlos Henderson returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, the first of three scores for the junior wide receiver.
UTSA responded with a 13-play, 87-yard scoring drive that chewed 6:39 off the clock. Dalton Sturm completed passes of 18 and 12 yards to Stewart and also had a 22-yard scramble that helped set up Williams' first score of the day, a 1-yard plunge.
The Bulldogs then scored 28 unanswered points on four consecutive possessions to build a 35-7 advantage late in the first half.
Jarred Craft's 1-yard TD run provided a 14-7 edge for the home team after the first 15 minutes.
Henderson hauled in a 6-yard pass from Higgins for a score early in the second quarter and Higgins then found Alfred Smith for a 68-yard scoring connection on the Bulldogs' next possession.
Henderson capped the next drive with a touchdown on a 14-yard reverse to push LA Tech's lead to 28.
UTSA cut the deficit to 35-14 just before the break.
Matt Guidry's 36-yard kickoff return and a face mask penalty on the play helped set up the visitors at the LA Tech 46. Sturm promptly found Stewart on a 20-yard completion on third down and a targeting call put the ball at the 17-yard line. Five plays later, Williams found paydirt for the second time from one yard out.
The Bulldogs pushed their lead back to 28 after Trent Taylor caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Higgins early in the third quarter.
Neither team scored until Jared Johnson found Kerry Thomas Jr. for a 4-yard TD pass on fourth down and goal with 14:48 left to play.
LA Tech answered when Higgins completed a 50-yard touchdown pass to Marlon Watts down the sideline. The extra point made it 49-21 with 12:01 on the clock.
Nearly six minutes later, the Bulldogs had a field goal attempt blocked by Kevin Strong Jr. and Michael Egwuagu picked up the loose ball and returned it 82 yards for a score. Victor Falcon's extra point pulled the Roadrunners to within 49-28 with just over six minutes remaining.
UTSA then cut the deficit to two scores when Johnson hit Marquez McNair with a 4-yard touchdown pass with 3:32 left.
The Roadrunners then tried an onside kick, which was returned 45 yards for a TD to help seal the game for LA Tech.
Marcus Davenport had seven tackles, including a pair of sacks, while Josiah Tauaefa also registered seven stops to lead the UTSA defense.
The Roadrunners will wrap up the longest road stretch in program history at No. 8 Texas A&M (7-2) next Saturday, Nov. 19. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m and the game will be televised on ESPN2 or ESPNU (selection to be made after this weekend's games are complete).
