WEST POINT, N.Y. — Syrus Dumas had a career-high 12 tackles and Brandon High Jr. rushed for a pair of touchdowns, but No. 22 Army thwarted a late UTSA rally for a 29-24 decision in American Athletic Conference action on a chilly Saturday at Michie Stadium.
The Roadrunners fell to 6-6 overall and ended their second season in The American with a 4-4 league mark. The Black Knights improved to 10-1 and 8-0 on the conference, earning the right to host the championship game versus Tulane next weekend.
Dumas registered three of his dozen stops behind the line of scrimmage, as UTSA tallied seven tackles for loss on the day and now owns 104 this year to break the school’s single-season record of 99 last season. The Roadrunners also recorded a pair of sacks and came up with their 21st takeaway of the fall to run those streaks to 21 consecutive games.
High rushed for 61 yards on 16 carries to pace the ground game while Owen McCown added 50 yards to go with his 207 passing yards.
David Amador II led the receiving corps with seven catches for 75 yards while Devin McCuin piled up 82 yards on three grabs.
Army took a 7-0 lead early in the contest, marching 75 yards in 13 plays capped with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Daily to Tyrell Robinson.
The Roadrunners answered, driving 53 yards in seven plays, the last a 10-yard touchdown dash up the middle by High. That score was set up by 26-yard pass from McCown to Amador.
The Black Knights reclaimed the lead with 5:17 left until halftime when Trey Gronotte made a 39-yard field goal.
UTSA knotted the score once again with a 33-yard field goal from Tate Sandell with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter.
Gronotte drilled a 35-yard field as time expired in the first half to hand Army a 13-10 advantage at the break.
The Roadrunners recorded their first lead of the day after their opening drive of the second half ended with a 23-yard touchdown reception by McCuin, who was playing in his first game since Oct. 12.
Army pulled to within one point on the ensuing possession, as Gronotte booted a 23-yard field goal with 1:34 left in the third quarter.
The Black Knights then came up with a fourth-down stop deep in UTSA territory to open the fourth quarter. Five plays later, Daily snuck into the end zone from one yard out to give the lead back to the home team. The two-point attempt was no good, leaving the score at 22-17 with 12:19 left to play.
Army added to its lead on a 42-yard TD dash by Daily fewer than two minutes later.
UTSA cut the deficit to five on the next possession, covering 75 yards in just four plays, the last a 6-yard touchdown rush by High, his second of the day. McCuin had a season-long 55-yard catch to set up the score.
The Roadrunners then forced a field goal try by Army with just under two minutes remaining, as UTSA got the ball back trailing 29-24. However, Gavin Shields iced the game for the Black Knights with an interception off a tipped ball with 1:22 left. Army took two knees from there to run out the clock.
The Roadrunners are bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive season and will find out their postseason destination on or before Dec. 8.
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