The UTSA Roadrunners delivered a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback Thursday night, defeating South Florida 31-24 at the Alamodome behind a late touchdown from Amari Peterson and a strong second-half performance by quarterback Owen McCown.
The victory improved UTSA to 5-1 and provided another memorable finish for a team that has repeatedly found ways to win close games.
South Florida opened aggressively under first-year head coach Brian Hartline. Quarterback Michael Van Buren directed an efficient opening possession, mixing short passes with runs by DJ Crowder. Crowder capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run, giving the Bulls an early 7-0 advantage.
UTSA answered with a 53-yard touchdown run by Peterson, who broke through a substantial opening created by the Roadrunners' offensive line.
The Bulls regained the lead late in the first quarter when Van Buren connected with Bryson Rodgers on a deep touchdown pass. UTSA subsequently added a field goal, but South Florida carried a 14-10 advantage into halftime.
The Roadrunners established a different rhythm after the break.
Will Henderson III opened the second half with a 12-yard run, followed by a reverse to Myles Anderson that moved UTSA into South Florida territory. McCown continued directing the possession before Peterson scored behind an eight-man offensive line, tying the game at 17.
UTSA's defense then delivered an important stop. Cameron Cooper tackled Crowder for a loss, and Owen Pugh followed with a sack of Van Buren, forcing a South Florida punt.
The Roadrunners capitalized with another productive possession, although the Bulls' defense prevented a touchdown. Kicker Matt Petro converted a 41-yard field goal to give UTSA its first lead.
Petro later added another field goal, extending the advantage to 23-17 as the Roadrunners continued finding success on the ground.
South Florida responded with a drive that exposed a breakdown in UTSA's pass coverage. Van Buren found Crowder completely uncovered out of the backfield for a touchdown, and the extra point put the Bulls ahead 24-23.
That left McCown and the Roadrunners facing one final challenge.
McCown used both his arm and his legs to advance the offense, repeatedly gaining valuable yards while keeping the clock moving. Henderson then broke outside for a substantial run, reaching the South Florida 1-yard line.
Rather than giving the Bulls additional time with an earlier touchdown, UTSA was positioned to finish the drive with only seconds remaining.
Peterson powered into the end zone with 15 seconds left, putting the Roadrunners back in front. McCown followed with a successful two-point conversion pass, extending the lead to 31-24.
South Florida's final desperation play failed, completing the comeback.
Afterward, head coach Jeff Traylor credited his players' determination and the team's collective approach. He also acknowledged the Alamodome crowd, whose noise had been a topic of discussion leading into the game.
UTSA scored on all four of its second-half possessions, combining an increasingly effective rushing attack with timely defensive stops.
The result was a significant American Conference victory and another demonstration of the Roadrunners' ability to execute when the game is on the line.
