Final Stats l Notes

San Antonio, Texas – The Texas State football team came up with some big second half turnovers, but UTSA was able to hold on  for a 38-31 win in the inaugural I-35 Maroon-Orange Rivalry football game, Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome.
 
The first quarter was an offensive explosion of sorts with 24 total points coming in the first 15 minutes. The Bobcats' biggest play was a 57-yard touchdown on a seam route, similar to the one at Navy last week from Shaun Rutherford to Isaiah Battle, midway through the first quarter.
 
The two teams combined for 247 yards of offense, as well as a 80-yard punt return by UTSA to make the score 10-0 at the time. When the first quarter ended, the Roadrunners held a 17-7 advantage.
 
Late in the second quarter, Rutherford carried the Bobcats to get even closer. First, he kept the ball on an option play over right tackle for 17 yards down to the UTSA 20 yard line. A few plays later after he had converted on third-and-one, Rutherford leaped in from two yards out to make it 17-14. On the drive, he had five carries for 39 yards.
 
After a Rutherford fumble helped the Roadrunners take a 31-14 lead to begin the third quarter, the Texas State defense helped keep the Bobcats in the game. Defensive end Jamie Clavell-Head picked off his second screen pass of the season and took the ball to the 32-yard line of UTSA. Will Johnson connected on a 23-yard field goal on the ensuing drive to make it a 31-17 game.
 
On the Roadrunners' next drive, Darryl Morris intercepted an Eric Soza overthrow and returned it to the UTSA 49 yard line. Rutherford then drove the Bobcats down inside the 10-yard line and Terrence Franks rushed it in from six yards out to make it just a 31-24 game.
 
Down 38-24 in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Texas State made one final gasp, putting the ball in the end zone with 1:40 to go on Brandon Smith's first career touchdown reception. Unfortunately, UTSA recovered the ensuing onside kick.
 
The Bobcats return home next Saturday when they conclude their first season in the FBS against New Mexico State at Bobcat Stadium. The game kicks off at 3:00 p.m. and tickets are available by calling the Texas State Athletics Ticket Office at 512-245-2272 or by logging onto the athletics website at www.TxStateBobcats.com/tickets.