SAN ANTONIO — UTSA set school records for points scored, defensive scores and tackles for loss in a 61-13 Homecoming victory over Rice in American Conference action on Saturday night at the Alamodome.
The Roadrunners (3-3, 1-1) registered three defensive scores with a Kendrick Blackshire interception return for a touchdown, a fumble return for a TD by Shad Banks Jr. on back-to-back Rice possessions to start the second half and added a safety by Jon Jones later in the third quarter as part of a dominant defensive performance.
UTSA also tallied a program-record 17 tackles for loss paced by two apiece from Tai Leonard and James Walley Jr., The Roadrunners limited the Owls (3-4, 1-3) to just 269 yards of offense, including only 79 passing.
Offensively, the Roadrunners piled up 437 yards, 191 on the ground and 246 through the air. Owen McCown completed 15 of 21 passes for 236 yards and three touchdowns, while Will Henderson III rushed for a career-high 115 yards and two TDs on only five carries.
UTSA stormed out to a 38-10 halftime lead, scoring on six of its first seven possessions and posting 315 yards of offense, the most in a half since a 360-yard, first-half output against Temple on Nov. 22, 2024.
The Roadrunners raced out to a 21-3 lead through the first quarter with touchdowns on their first three possessions and never looked back.
UTSA reached paydirt on the game’s opening drive for the second straight contest, as AJ Wilson’s 57-yard catch over the middle followed by a 14-yard rush from Robert Henry Jr. set up Henry for a 1-yard TD plunge.
Rice responded with a 36-yard field goal from Enock Gota but UTSA quickly made it 14-3 after McCown found Devin McCuin open in the end for a 2-yard TD pass at the 4:14 mark of the opening period. McCuin finished with 64 yards on three receptions.
Wilson, who ended up with 77 yards on two grabs, hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from McCown in the final minute of the first frame.
UTSA stretched its lead to 28-3 early in the second quarter after McCown avoided a pass rush and connected with DJ Allen Jr., who weaved his way to the end zone for a 43-yard score. Allen had three catches for 53 yards and a TD against the Owls for the second straight season.
Michael Petro drilled a career-long 45-yard field goal with just under five minutes to play in the opening half to make it 31-3.
The lead grew to 38-3 late in the second stanza when Henderson broke loose for a 43-yard touchdown scamper before a 3-yard TD run by Rice’s Daelen Alexander helped make it 38-10 at the break. Alexander finished with a game-high 129 rushing yards on 12 totes for the Owls.
The Roadrunners opened the second half with the three defensive scores before Henderson found an opening for a career-long 57 touchdown dash at the four-minute mark of the third quarter to help push the lead to 61-10, the largest of the night.
Chase Allen made a 45-yard field goal for Rice with 9:41 remaining in the contest for the final 48-point margin.
Elijah Newell led UTSA with seven tackles to go with a pass breakup and half-TFL, while Banks logged six stops, one TFL and a forced fumble to go with his fumble recovery and return for a TD. Nnanna Anyanwu and Walley added five tackles apiece.
The Roadrunners will travel to Denton to face North Texas (5-1, 1-1) on Saturday, Oct. 18. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. at DATCU Stadium and the game will air on ESPN+ and Sports Radio AM 760 The Ticket.
-UTSA-