PACK THE DOME: Traylor, UTSA want record-setting crowd for Conference USA Championship Game
For the second straight season, UTSA will host the Conference USA Championship Game, and head coach Jeff Traylor wants to pack the Alamodome with a record-setting crowd to help the Roadrunners take on North Texas.
Frank Harris accounts for 5 TDs, UTSA routs UTEP 52-21
SAN ANTONIO – Frank Harris accounted for a career-high five touchdowns to lead UTSA in a 52-21 rout of UTEP on Saturday. The Roadrunners (5-4, 3-2 Conference USA) had a program-best 600 yards of offense while winning their fourth straight against UTEP (3-4, 0-3). Harris had touchdown runs of 35 and 4 yards, and finished 22 of 26 for 312 yards passing — hitting Zakhari Franklin six times for 118 yards with a 35-yard touchdown. UTSA was also without defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix, who was placed on administrative leave amid an internal investigation. Gavin Hardison fired a 52-yard pass to Jacob Cowing in the end zone for UTEP.
UTSA postpones Saturday’s football game against Rice due to COVID-19 within program
SAN ANTONIO – UTSA has canceled Saturday’s football game against Rice due to COVID-19 issues within the program, UTSA officials announced on Friday. “We are certainly disappointed that we have had to make the difficult decision to postpone Saturday’s game with Rice,” UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos said. Texas is currently seeing a spike in coronavirus-related illnesses and hospitalizations and currently has the highest hospitalization rate in the country. The U.S. broke another record in the 7-day rolling average for daily new cases, hitting nearly 90,000. The tally for new cases Thursday reached 121,888 cases, according to a COVID-19 dashboard from Johns Hopkins University.
Two Conference USA games postponed because of COVID-19
Two Conference USA games scheduled for the weekend, including No. 19 Marshall at Florida International, have been postponed because of COVID-19 issues. For Marshall (5-0), this is the third time this season it has had a game postponed because of an opponent's struggles with COVID-19. The Thundering Herd did not play a nonconference game against East Carolina and a conference game against Rice in September. A total of seven Conference USA league games have been postponed.
McCormick runs for 3 TDs, leads UTSA past La. Tech 27-26
SAN ANTONIO – Sincere McCormick ran for three second-half touchdowns to lead UTSA to a 27-26 victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday night. UTSA (4-3, 2-1 Conference USA) broke a six-game losing streak against Louisiana Tech (3-3, 2-2). Trailing 19-6, McCormick bulled into the end zone from the 2 capping a 15-play drive, 75-yard drive to open the third quarter. Louisiana Tech answered with Ezekiel Barnett's 60-yard interception return for a touchdown and the Bulldogs led 26-13. McCormick had a 6-yard touchdown run and broke loose on a 45-yard scoring run with 6:16 remaining.
Lucero throws 3 TD passes, UAB holds off UTSA 21-13
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Bryson Lucero threw three touchdown passes to lead UAB to a 21-13 victory over UTSA in its Conference USA opener on Saturday. It was the 20th straight home win for the Blazers (3-1, 1-0). Gerrit Prince caught two touchdown passes and Myron Mitchell had one. Sincere McCormick ran for 150 yards and a touchdown to lead UTSA (3-1, 1-1). Lucero's 21-yard TD pass to Prince stretched the Blazers' lead to 21-6 late in the third quarter.
McCormick rushes for 2 TDs, UTSA holds off Middle Tennessee
SAN ANTONIO – Backup Josh Adkins threw for 233 yards and a touchdown, Sincere McCormick rushed for 82 yards and two scores, and UTSA held off Middle Tennessee 37-35 on Friday night in a Conference USA opener for both teams. Duplessis made his 16th straight field goal with 11:39 remaining for a 37-29 lead, but UTSA punted on its next two possessions. Middle Tennessee put together a 13-play, 72-yard scoring drive, ending with 1:04 remaining, but its two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful in front of a sparse crowd at the Alamodome. Zakhari Franklin had 119 receiving yards and a score, and freshman Jamal Ligon set a program record with 19 tackles for UTSA (3-0). Asher O’Hara threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns, but he also had two first-half interceptions for Middle Tennessee (0-3).
UTSA’s McCormick, Duplessis earn Conference USA weekly awards
SAN ANTONIO – For their performances in UTSA’s dramatic 51-48 double-overtime victory over Texas State on Saturday, sophomore running back Sincere McCormick and senior kicker Hunter Duplessis were named the Conference USA (C-USA) Offensive Player of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week respectively. McCormick spearheaded a rushing attack that tallied 330 yards on the ground, and he was quick to credit the offensive line for paving the way to victory. “Without them, I wouldn’t have 197 yards,” McCormick said. They’ve been clocking in, clocking out. The Roadrunners will return to action this Saturday for their home-opener in the Alamodome against Stephen F. Austin.
UTSA head football coach discusses challenges during COVID-19 pandemic
SAN ANTONIO In his first season at the helm, UTSA head football coach Jeff Traylor is dealing with numerous challenges due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, including finalizing the teams schedule, since their first two games against LSU and Grambling State have been canceled outright. The Roadrunners will take the practice field this Friday for the start of Fall Camp. MORE UTSA FOOTBALL COVERAGEUTSA to miss out on $1.4 million paydayUTSA Football presents united front after emotional discussion about racial injusticeJeff Traylor ready to embrace culture, get UTSA football on right track