CHARLOTTE, N.C. — UTSA held Charlotte without an offensive touchdown and to fewer than 200 yards, while the Roadrunners piled up 521 yards in a 28-7 victory over the 49ers in American Conference action on Saturday at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
UTSA limited Charlotte to 197 yards, including only 51 rushing, and surrendered just a kickoff return for a touchdown in winning a conference road game for the first time in two years. The Roadrunners evened their records to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the league in snapping an eight-game losing streak in conference road contests.
Shad Banks Jr. paced the defense with eight tackles, while Tyan Milton made six stops and picked off a pass late in the game to keep the Charlotte (1-9, 0-7) offense out of the end zone.
Offensively, Owen McCown completed 24 of 37 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns, also rushing for one score. Will Henderson III piled up a career-high 185 yards and a TD on 19 rushes, while Devin McCuin registered his first career 100-yard receiving game with 100 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. AJ Wilson added 87 yards on five receptions, as UTSA logged its second 500-yard output of the year.
The Roadrunners scored on their first possession for the fifth time in the last six games. McCown found McCuin down the right sideline for a 45-yard score to cap a seven-play, 85-yard drive.
UTSA piled up 252 yards in the first half and had several additional opportunities to pad its lead but came up empty in two trips to the red zone and also misfired on a 33-yard field-goal attempt.
Meanwhile, the Roadrunners held the 49ers to 67 yards of offense — including only three rushing yards — and did not allow them to cross midfield through the first 30 minutes. Kenny Ozowalu and James Walley Jr. each came up with a sack on third-down plays to help UTSA post its first first-half shutout since the 48-20 win over UIW on Sept. 13.
Henderson broke loose for a career-long 59-yard touchdown sprint on a fourth-down try late in the third quarter to put the Roadrunners up by two scores.
David Amador II hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass from McCown at the 9:53 mark of the fourth quarter. Michael Petro’s extra point gave UTSA a 21-0 cushion. That score was set up by a 32-yard grab from Houston Thomas, who finished with four catches for 54 yards.
Kicking off from their own 20-yard line after a penalty following the touchdown, the Roadrunners surrendered their first and only score of the afternoon when Derrick Eley returned it 88 yards to paydirt.
The Roadrunners responded with a seven-play, 65-yard march that McCown capped with a 2-yard QB keeper around the left end.
Milton’s interception came in the final minutes, as he picked off a pass at the goal line and returned it 50 yards down the left sideline to help seal the win.
The Roadrunners will return home to host East Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Alamodome. A game time and network designation will be announced on Monday, Nov. 17. 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.
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