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The UTSA Roadrunner football team returns to the Alamodome this weekend after a two-week tour of I-35 that resulted in two blowouts in San Marcos and Austin.

Now, the Roadrunners welcome the Houston Christian Huskies to the Alamodome, a place the Roadrunners have done well in since Jeff Traylor arrived in 2020. UTSA has played 27 games in the Alamodome under Traylor and won 24 of those, including a 28-16 win over the Kennesaw State Owls on August 31.

That win over the Owls gave Traylor his 40th win as head coach at UTSA, allowing Traylor to become the first football coach in UTSA history to reach 40 wins.

Two games have come and gone, with Traylor still looking for win number 41. In that time the Roadrunners have lost games number 15 and 16 in the Traylor era.

The Houston Christian Huskies are probably the best thing for the Roadrunners to close out non-conference and to try and get Traylor to Roadrunner win number 41.

The only thing Houston Christian and UTSA have in common, aside from football, is that both schools were founded in the 1960s. Houston Christian began as Houston Baptist College in 1960 in the Sharpstown area of Houston. In 1973, the school became known as Houston Baptist University, a name it still held when the Huskies football program began with a practice season in 2013 (the team unofficially went 4-3 that year). In 2022, the school changed its name to Houston Christian University.

The Huskies first official season of football came in 2014. They went 2-9 that year. Their all-time record is 25-82. Last year was the first year they finished at or above .500 in program history.

Houston Christian's biggest claim to fame on the football field is that they are the place where Bailey Zappe got his start. Zappe was quarterback for the Huskies from 2017-2020 and set school records for completions (890), pass attempts (1,477), passing yards (10,004) and passing touchdowns (78).

The 2024 Huskies don't have the high-powered offense of the Zappe era, as they have just 942 yards of offense through the first three games (314 per game). Houston Christian has put up 603 yards passing (201 per game) and 339 yards rushing (113 per game). The Huskies started 0-2 on the season with losses to SMU and Tarleton State. Houston Christian notched its first win of the season last week with a 70-7 win over NAIA school Louisiana College. Houston Christian had just 25 points in their first two games before putting up the points last week.

On defense, Houston Christian has allowed its opponents to combine for 1,364 yards of total offense (454.7 per game). The Huskies defense has given up 560 yards passing (186.67 per game) and 804 yards rushing (268 per game). HCU opponents have combined to score 101 points, with most of those points coming from SMU in the Mustangs 59-7 win over Huskies in the season opener. The Huskies have eight turnovers (four fumbles lost and four interceptions) and seven takeaways (five interceptions and two fumbles recovered).

UTSA counters with an offense that has 993 yards through three games this season (331 per game). The Roadrunners have thrown for 722 yards (240.7 per game) and run for 271 yards (90.3 per game). A pair of blowout losses have hurt the Roadrunners point margin, as UTSA has been outscored 121-45 through the first three games. The last two games combined have accounted for 105 of those points given up by the Roadrunners.

The Roadrunner defense has allowed 1,371 yards (457 per game). Opponents of UTSA have thrown for 938 yards (312.7 per game) and run for 433 yards (144.3 per game). In terms of the turnover stat line, UTSA has four takeaways (two fumble recoveries and two interceptions) and four giveaways (two fumbles lost and two interceptions thrown.

NOTABLE PLAYERS

If things go well for the Roadrunners on Saturday and they can build a sizeable lead on the Huskies, it’s possible that both Owen McCown and Eddie Lee Marburger could see the field. McCown has started all three games for UTSA, completing 59 of 90 pass attempts for 575 yards and three touchdowns. Marburger has played in each of the last two games, completing 14 of 28 pass attempts for 147 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Houston Christian has had four different players attempt a pass this season. Starting quarterback Cutter Stewart leads the Huskies with 31 completions on 71 attempts for 445 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions. Backup Eli Brickhander has completed six of seven passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns.

The Roadrunners top receiver through three games has been Devin McCuin. McCuin has 22 catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Willie McCoy is the other Roadrunner with triple-digit receiving yards through three games, with 128 yards on nine catches and a touchdown.

AJ Wilson leads the Huskies with seven catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Ismael Fuller has 117 yards and a touchdown on four catches. Deuce McMillan is tied for the Huskies team lead for receiving touchdowns with two.

Leading the running attack for UTSA is Robert Henry. Henry has 21 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown. Kevorian Barnes has 19 carries for 47 yards but is still searching for his first touchdown.

Houston Christian's running game is led by Darryle Evans. Evans has 126 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. The hardest-working Husky runner has been Jesse Valenzuela, with 28 carries for 102 yards.

The visit from Houston Christian on Saturday will allow UTSA the joy of having played all four college football teams in the Bayou City at least once. It will be the 17th time UTSA has played a football team from Houston. In the previous 16 contests, the Roadrunners are 10-6. Houston Christian will be making its first of two trips to San Antonio this season. The Huskies have a conference game at UIW in November.

UTSA will be closing out its non-conference schedule on Saturday and hoping to go 2-2 in non-conference for the third time in five seasons under Jeff Traylor. The Roadrunners will also be looking to put the last two weeks behind them and build a little momentum going into conference play at the end of the month.

Houston Christian has to feel good about themselves after a blowout win over an NAIA opponent last week, but there is a big difference between NAIA and FBS, something the Roadrunners will show the Huskies on Saturday afternoon.

The Huskies will give all they can, but UTSA should be able to play the backups by the second half. Roadrunners might even have a chance at the third shutout in program history and the first since there were two in that magical 2021 season.

UTSA wins big, but Houston Christian is able to get a late touchdown to avoid the shutout.

UTSA 49 HCU 7

FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way