Adkins guides ’Runners to win after Harris is hurt
UTSAquarterback JoshAdkins replaced injured starter Frank Harris in the second quarter and led the Roadrunners to a 37-35 win over Middle Tennessee on Friday night at the Alamodome.
The Roadrunners claimed their Conference USA opener and moved to 3-0 under first-year coach Jeff Traylor, winning three consecutive games to open the season for the first time since 2017.
Middle Tennessee had a chance to tie the game in the final two minutes, scoring ona 6-yardtouchdown passfromquarterbackAsherO’Hara to Yusuf Ali to pull within two. But O’Hara’s 2-point conversation pass was off the fingertips of Marquel Tinsley in the end zone.
The Roadrunners recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.
“We’re thrilled tocomeout with a win. Our kids just keep finding a way,” Traylor said. “Youhadanother guy step up for an injured player.”
Adkins finished 16 of 28 passing for 233 yards and a touchdown. Zakhari Franklin, playing for the first time this season, paced UTSA’s receivers with six catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Running back Sincere McCormick carried 19 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
“For Josh Adkins to come out there and play almost as if he’s been playing the whole year,” Traylor said, “he was almost spotless.”
A Smithson Valley grad, Adkins transferred to UTSA from NewMexico State during the offseason, losing afour-wayquarterbackbattleduring fall camp. Adkins was a 20-game starter with the Aggies, throwing for 5,151 yards and 27 touchdowns with 24 interceptions.
Harris, the reigning Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week, came up limping after a 20-yard scramble in the second quarter, but stayed in for another play, rolling to his left and throwing the ball out of bounds. Traylor said Harris suffered a knee injury and will undergo an MRI this weekend.
Before the next snap, Harris fell to the turf andwasassistedoff the field. He returned to the sideline wearing street clothes early in the second half
UTSA’s defense
stifled Middle
Tennessee’s groundgamein the first half, holding the Blue Raiders to 28 yards on 19 carries. The Roadrunners’ defense also came up with interceptions from Donyai Taylor and TariqWoolen in the first 30minutes.
But Middle Tennessee’s offense hit its stride after halftime, scoring touchdowns on three of its first four drives and finishing with 356 yards in the second half.
Freshman linebacker Jamal Ligon, making his second career start, notched 19 tackles to set UTSA’s single-game record.
Middle Tennessee led 3-0 after thefirstquarter, butHarrishitFranklin in stride for a 25-yard touchdown on a fly route to make it 7-3 early in the second.
Franklin, UTSA’s leading returning receiver with 38 catches for 491 yards and three scores last season, was making his first appearance of the year after sitting out the opening two weeks.
The Roadrunners extended their leadin the secondquarterwhenMcCormick scampered for an 11-yard touchdown, breaking away from a groupof defenderswhoappearedto have him bottled up.
Middle Tennessee cut into the margin late in the second quarter, capping a 91-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run from Chaton Mobley to pull within 14-10.
The Roadrunners pushed the lead back to 17-10 with a field goal
right before the half. Adkins, throwing his first passes for UTSA, connected with Joshua Cephus for 11 yards and Brennon Dingle for 29 to move the Roadrunners into scoring position.
UTSA opened the second half with a field goal before Middle Tennessee scored touchdowns on backto-back drives to pull ahead 23-20.
O’Hara hit Mobley for a 4-yard touchdownpass, thenMobleybroke
loose for a 24-yard score on the ground. Thesecondtouchdownwas set up by a 64-yard Jayy McDonald run after Middle Tennessee started the drive at its own 4-yard line.
UTSAwentup27-23onitsensuing possession, as Adkins connected with Franklin for 48 yards and McCormick punched the ball into the end zone from1 yard out.
Adkins extended the lead to two scoreslateinthethirdquarter, spark
ing a 66-yard drive capped by a 7yard scoring pass to Joshua Cephus.
MiddleTennesseeansweredearly in the fourth quarter, as O’Hara connected with DJ England-Chisolm for a 26-yard score to pull within 34-29 after a missed extra point.
HunterDuplessiskickeda35-yard field goal to extend UTSA’s lead to eight on the ensuing drive — the last score beforeMiddleTennessee’s late touchdown.
UTSAannounceda crowdof6,182 fans at the Alamodome after announcing6,611for the seasonopener last week. Both crowds appeared to be closer to 3,000 fans, with capacity limited to 17 percent in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Conference USA season continues for UTSA next week with a road matchup against UAB at 11:30 a.m. Saturday.