San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
’Runners snag 6th win, beat Golden Eagles
As the final seconds were winding off the clock in UTSA’s 23-20win against Southern Mississippi, defensive tackle Jaylon Haynes reached out to hug coach Jeff Traylor and didn’t let go. A few yards away, a group of Roadrunners were clustered around a Gatorade bucket, shielding it from sight.
Traylor looked over his left shoulder at the last moment and saw it coming, but he, likemanyopposingquarterbacks and running backs through the season, was helpless to break free of Haynes’ grasp.
In15 years as a head coach at Gilmer High School, including three state championships, Traylor said he was never on the receiving end of a postgame dousing. But during his first season as a college head coach, after leading UTSA to its sixth win Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss., the moment finally arrived.
When the water splashed across his back, Traylor joined his players jumping up and down in celebration, as the Roadrunners (6-4, 4-2) crossed the usual threshold forbowleligibilityandstayed alive as a contender in Conference USA.
“I can’t believe Country did that to me,” Traylor said, calling Haynes by his nickname. “I trust that boy with all of my heart. He framed me. … I got the bath, but I love it right now.”
Running back SincereMcCormick carried 32 times for 173 yards and two scores, bringing life to a Roadrunners offense that had floundered formuch of the game.
In the process, he reached his preseason goal of setting the program’s single-season rushing mark, moving to 1,094 yards with a record-tying nine touchdowns on the
year.
McCormick said he entered Saturday’s game with a new perspective following thebirthofhisdaughter, Legacy, lastweek in Fayetteville, N.C.
“I had to do it for her, and every single time I touched the ball, it’s just fighting for her each and every down,” McCormick said. “It was amazing that I accomplished my goal, but the job still isn’t done.”
McCormick was away for theteamforninedays— from Nov. 9 until his flight back to San Antonio on Tuesday — but said he kept up with conditioning and the team’s COVID-19 testing protocol as he awaited Legacy’s birth.
Even after missing last week’s matchup against UTEPandhavingUTSA’sprevious game against Rice on Nov. 7 postponed because of COVID-19 issues, McCormick entered Saturday as the NCAA’s leader with 171 carries. He said he felt “juiced up” after not taking any hits for two weeks and “couldn’t wait to be back.”
“I reallymissedmy team. I missed being there, but I knewI hadtobe there formy daughter,” McCormick said. “That’s most important, especially after birth, and being a role model and letting
her seemy face, and to get to talk toherandseehersmile.”
After the Roadrunners were limited to 96 yards in the first half and trailed 10-9, McCormick scampered for a 69-yard touchdown on the opening possession of the third quarter to put UTSA ahead.
His 1-yard score midway through the third quarter gave theRoadrunners a 23-10 lead, but the Golden Eagles (2-7, 1-4) pulled within 23-20 early in the fourthquarteron a 51-yard touchdown pass from Tate Whatley to Frank Gore Jr.
The Roadrunners’ defense earned a stop on the ensuing possession, allowing the offense to drain the final 4minutes and 36 seconds off the clock.
Though the NCAA decided to waive the six-win requirementforbowl eligibility this season, UTSA treated Saturday as an opportunity to punch its ticket.
“Whenever you have a chance to go to a bowl and become bowl eligible, and you have 4 minutes and 30 seconds left, and you can end with the ball in your hands, that shows you how tough our kids are,” Traylor said.
Quarterback Frank Harris completed 12 of 17 passes with a touchdown to Zakhari Franklin and an interception, unable to replicate the success that led to a program600 yards of offense last week.
UTSA’s defense struggled to tackle in stretches, allowing Whatley to complete 22 of 39 passes for 272 yards with twotouchdownsandan interception by Rashad Wisdom. But the Roadrunners limited the Golden Eagles to 75 yards rushing on 26 carries.
“They’re amazing,” Traylor said of the defense. “They’re too physical at times. We have to wrap up a little better, but man, they love to play physical football. We preach it, we teach it, we love it. It’s who we are. And it’s got us 6-4 right now. We’re fired up about that.”
After UTSA was without 11 players last week, many due to COVID-19 protocols, Traylor said theRoadrunnershad a deeper roster Saturday. Still, he said the few who remained out “bothered me,” with many of the returning players showing signs of missed practice time.
Pushing through the challenges of 2020after going 7-17 the previous two seasons, the Roadrunners “deserve” the success UTSA is reaping, Traylor said.
In a Conference USA season altered by numerous cancellations and postponements, UTSA sits atop the West division standings, sharing the same conference winning percentage as UAB (4-3, 2-1).
“Our whole team knows all the adversity we went through just to get to this point,” linebacker Trevor Harmanson said, “and playing at the level we’re playing at means somuch to us.”