SAN ANTONIO — Robert Henry Jr. registered his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, but Texas State used a 65-yard touchdown reception by Beau Sparks with 10 minutes remaining to outlast UTSA, 43-36, on Saturday afternoon in front of 45,778 fans at the Alamodome.
Henry rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns, including a 75-yard sprint in the third quarter and a 30-yard dash in the fourth that pulled the Roadrunners (0-2) within two. Owen McCown then completed a pass to Devin McCuin to knot the score at 36-all with 10:22 left to play.
The Bobcats (2-0) answered quickly on their next play from scrimmage, reclaiming the lead on a deep ball from Brad Jackson to Sparks, who finished the day with 155 receiving yards. Tyler Robles’s extra point gave the visitors a 43-36 cushion.
UTSA had three more possessions down the stretch but turned the ball over on downs twice, including with 1:28 left, allowing Texas State to run out the clock and snap the Roadrunners’ 10-game home winning streak.
Henry also had four receptions for 21 yards including a 4-yard score in the third quarter, and the senior now has rushed for 159-or-more yards and two TDs in each of his last four outings. In fact, the Lumberton, Mississippi, native has piled up 682 rushing yards, eight rushing and nine total touchdowns and four runs of 75-plus yards.
McCown threw for 219 yards and a pair of TDs with McCuin leading the receiving corps with 83 yards on five catches, as UTSA tallied 464 yards of offense, including 245 on the ground.
Jackson directed the Bobcats offense by completing 12 of 20 passes for 286 yards and a score and rushing for 34 and two TDs. Lincoln Pare led the ground game with 71 yards to help Texas State total 454 yards.
The scoring started with the first safety allowed by the Roadrunners in 10 years, as a high snap on a punt was batted through the back of the end zone early in the opening frame.
Pare had a 1-yard TD plunge at the 12:10 mark of the second stanza to help push Texas State’s lead to 9-0 before UTSA responded with an eight-play, 75-yard drive that was capped with a 1-yard touchdown rush by A’Marion Peterson.
The two teams traded touchdowns late in the first half with DJ Allen’s 1-yard catch and Michael Petro’s PAT pulling the home side within 16-14. However, the Bobcats drove quickly to the UTSA 32-yard line and Robles drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired, arming Texas State with a five-point advantage at the break.
Henry’s 75-yard score on the second play from scrimmage of the second half gave UTSA its first lead of the day, yet it was short-lived as Jaylen Jenkins’ 17-yard touchdown dash at the 11:35 mark of the third made it 26-21.
The Roadrunners reclaimed the lead when Henry found paydirt again on his short TD reception. Petro’s extra point made it 28-26 midway through the third quarter.
Robles connected with his leg again in the ensuing possession to hand Texas State a 29-28 lead and Jackson’s TD on a 6-yard keeper with 14:11 left in the game.
Shad Banks Jr. paced the UTSA defense with nine tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception for the Roadrunners’ first takeaway of the season. Jimmy Wyrick and Tyan Milton pitched in with six stops apiece.
The Roadrunners will host UIW next Saturday, Sept. 13. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at the Alamodome. Fans can purchase tickets online or by calling the UTSA Ticket Office at 210-458-UTSA (8872) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays.
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