SAN ANTONIO — UTSA outscored and outgained UAB in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome an early deficit as UAB held on for a 24-19 win in Conference USA action on Saturday night at the Alamodome.
UTSA scored 13 points and totaled 181 yards in the second half to rally from a 21-6 halftime deficit and cut the UAB lead to five late in the fourth quarter. However, UAB recovered the onside kick with 1:11 remaining on the clock to secure the game.
UTSA outgained UAB 299-265 for the game. Dalton Sturm totaled 162 yards in the air and a team-high 35 on the ground to lead the Roadrunner offense. UAB's attack was led by Spencer Brown's 129 yards on 29 carries.
UTSA turned the ball over on its second play of the game as Sturm was intercepted by Will Dawkins at the Roadrunners 28-yard line. Six plays later A.J. Erdley rushed left for six yards to find paydirt and put the Blazers on the scoreboard. Nick Vogel split the upright for a 7-0 UAB advantage less than four minutes into the game.
After exchanging three-and-outs, UTSA got its first points of the night by way of a 28-yard Jared Sackett field goal. Greg Campbell Jr. set up to score with his 37-yard sprint down to the UAB 18-yard line on an end-around on the first play of the drive. However, UAB's defense would hold strong over the next three down to force the Sackett field goal.
UAB answered immediately with its second TD of the game for a 14-3 lead. The Blazers bookended eight consecutive rushes with pass plays as the later went for a six-yard score. Erdley connected with Ronnie Turner Jr. on a crossing pattern to cap the 10-play drive.
Erdley collected his second rushing TD of the game on a one-yard plunge on 4th-and-goal, capping a 17-play, 89-yard drive that consumed 8:26 of the second-quarter clock. The drive, which started at the UAB 11, featured 13 rushes for 82 yards.
UTSA trimmed the UAB lead to 21-6 18 seconds before the half as Sackett connected on his second field goal of the day. The 26-yard kick was aided by a trio of 15-yard Blazer penalties, nine yards on the ground by Sturm and a 14-yard reception by Marquez McNair.
The Roadrunners drove 54 yards on their first possession of the second half, but a Jalen Rhodes fumble at the UAB 27 after a 27-yard run thwarted the scoring chance. However, four plays later, UTSA got the ball back as Devron Davis intercepted Erdley at the UAB 30-yard line.
On the ensuing drive UTSA picked up a single first down before being forced to punt. UAB then ran three plays before Franklin Uesi stripped Erdley and La'Kel Bass recovered the loose football to set the Roadrunners up with 1st-and-10 at the UAB 35-yard line.
UTSA capitalized on the positive field possession, moving the 35 yards on five plays in 2:08 to cut the Blazer lead to 21-13 with 13:16 to play. After a 13-yard Josh Stewart reception moved the ball down to the 22, Sturm scored on a highlight reel-worthy run that included several broken tackles with the senior from Goliad emerging from a scrum on the right sideline to record his second rushing score of the year.
The Roadrunners defense then forced a Blazer three-and-out, but UAB's defense came away with its third turnover of the game on a fumble recovery to give the ball back to its offense at the UTSA 46. The UAB offense moved the ball 15 yards in four plays before Vogel converted a 48-yard field goal to give the Blazers a 24-13 lead at the 8:32 mark of the fourth quarter.
UTSA scored its final points, bringing the score to 24-19 with 1:11 to play as Sturm hit Kerry Thomas Jr. on a 17-yard slant. Thomas Jr. broke a tackle at the 10 on his way to his 17th career receiving TD. The Roadrunners two-point attempt fell incomplete and UAB recovered the onside kick to ice the game.
The Roadrunners play their home finale next Saturday, Nov. 18, when they host Marshall (7-3, 4-2). Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Alamodome and the game will be televised on KMYS-CW 35 in San Antonio and globally via Stadium on Facebook.
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