SAN ANTONIO – SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Kalen Ballage scored on a 2-yard run with 3:15 to play and Arizona State rallied from 16 points down in the second half for a tough 32-28 win over Texas-San Antonio on Friday night.
Ballage, who tied an NCAA record with eight touchdowns a week earlier against Texas Tech, capped the rally when he took a direct snap and powered over the goal line. The touchdown was set up by a defensive pass interference penalty on third down one play earlier.
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Zane Gonzalez kicked four field goals, including two from 54 yards, for Arizona State (3-0) and became the Pac-12 career scoring leader.
Manny Wilkins passed for 264 yards and two touchdowns for the Sun Devils. He threw a 27-yard score to N'Keal Harry with 3 seconds left in the first half. His 45-yard pass to Frederick Gammage in the fourth quarter cut the UTSA lead to 28-25.
Dalton Sturm passed for 229 yards and three touchdowns for UTSA (1-2). He also ran for 82 yards and a score.
THE TAKEAWAY
ARIZONA STATE: It was a victorious but ragged trip home for coach Todd Graham. The Sun Devils found themselves with a lingering hangover after their touchdown party in the desert last week. The points were much tougher to come by in the Alamodome as the Sun Devils were plagued by turnovers and drives that stalled and settled for field goals. Kalen Ballage produced little against the Roadrunners until the game-winning drive and even set up a Roadrunners touchdown with a fumbled punt return.
UTSA: If one game can be a confidence builder and a crusher, this is it. The Roadrunners are playing just their sixth season of football and punched above their weight for nearly four quarters, but couldn't hold on against an opponent from a Power 5 conference. First-year coach Frank Wilson will ache about letting this one get away, but at least he found the quarterback that should lead the Roadrunners into their Conference USA schedule.
UP NEXT
ARIZONA STATE: The Sun Devils start Pac-12 play at home against California on Sept. 24.
UTSA: The Roadrunners play at Old Dominion on Sept. 24 to start their Conference USA schedule.