UTSA returns home to host Florida Atlantic looking for first conference win
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Last weekend, UTSA reached the halfway point of not just the 2024 season but also their historic series against every Owl team in Division I-FBS football.
The Roadrunners saw their long run of success against the Rice Owls come to an end when Rice won 29-27 on a last-second touchdown pass.
That loss dropped the Roadrunners to 2-4 on the season, 1-1 against Owl teams, and 0-2 in conference play for the first time since the 2017 season when the Roadrunners were able to get right in their third game against that Owls team from Houston.
Now UTSA is back home and ready to start the second half of the season and the third of four games against a parliament of Owls. This time, the Roadrunners are facing the parliament from Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton.
Last season, UTSA got its first win in the series with a 36-10 win at Boca Raton. Florida Atlantic leads the all-time series 3-1. The Owls won the only previous game in San Antonio, 40-26, in November 2019. That game turned out to be the final home game for Frank Wilson as head coach of UTSA.
Florida Atlantic is like UTSA in that it was started as a school in the 1960s and had its football team debut in the 21st century with a former Miami Hurricane legend as the first coach. The Owls started their football program in 2001, with Howard Schnellenberger leading the program for its first 11 seasons. In August 2011, Schnellenberger, who won the 1983 national championship with Miami, announced that 2011 would be his final season at Florida Atlantic. The Owls finished 1-11 in his final season at the helm. In his 11 seasons leading the Owls, Schnellenberger was 58-74.
Around the time that Schnellenberger was sailing off into the sunset from Boca Raton, another former Miami Hurricane coach, Larry Coker, was opening the book on the UTSA Roadrunner football program. Coker only made it about half the time of Schnellenberger, finishing his five-year run at UTSA with a 26-32 record.
Since the Roadrunners debut in 2011, UTSA has amassed a record of 86-79. In that same time, Florida Atlantic has gone 67-96. Since starting football in 2001, the Owls are 124-158.
Both teams are 2-4 overall and 0-2 in conference play this season. The Owls are looking to avoid their first 0-3 start in conference play since 2016. UTSA has never started a season 0-3 in conference play, although the Roadrunners are on a three-game losing streak in conference play dating back to last season's loss at Tulane in the regular season finale.
It's quite a different story from last season when both teams met the third weekend of October, sporting 2-0 records in conference play.
A have to have it kind of game
At 2-4 after six games, UTSA has just six games left to avoid a final record on the season matching the San Antonio area code. That would certainly go down as the worst record in program history if it happens.
This weekend represents one of the few games that might be considered winnable remaining on the schedule as games against Memphis, North Texas and Army loom ahead in November. UTSA is also hoping to avoid making ignominious history with the first 0-3 start to conference play.
Through six games this season, UTSA has been outscored 187-137 (31.17 per game against to 22.83 per game for). In the same time span, Florida Atlantic has been outscored 159-147 (26.5 points against to 24.5 points for).
The Roadrunners offense has put up 2,379 yards through six games (396.5 per game). UTSA has thrown for 1,533 yards (255.5 per game) and run for 846 yards (141 per game). Facing the Roadrunners offense will be a Florida Atlantic defense that has allowed 2,268 yards (378 per game). Opponents of Florida Atlantic have thrown for 1,008 yards (168 per game and run for 1,260 yards (210 per game).
Florida Atlantic's offense has compiled 2,244 yards (374 per game). The Owls have thrown for 1,165 yards (194.17 per game) and run for 1,079 yards (179.8 per game). Trying to stop the Owls will be a Roadrunner defense that has allowed 2,278 yards to opponents (379.7 per game). Opponents of UTSA have thrown for 1,706 yards (284.3 per game) and run for 572 yards (95.3 per game). Last week, UTSA limited Rice to 42 yards rushing.
One area of concern this season for the Roadrunners has been penalties. UTSA is the fourth most penalized team in the country with 59 and has the fifth most penalty yards in the country with 524 yards.
NOTABLE PLAYERS
UTSA has had pretty good play out of quarterback Owen McCown this season. McCown has completed 129 of 207 pass attempts for 1,310 yards and 10 touchdowns, along with two interceptions. McCown has also run for 62 yards and a touchdown through six games.
Florida Atlantic has some questions at quarterback, namely that starting quarterback Cam Fancher is questionable to play Saturday with a turf toe injury. So far this season, Fancher has completed 91 of 145 pass attempts for 1,058 yards, five touchdowns and thrown six interceptions. If Fancher can't go, the Owls will call on backup Kasen Weisman, who has completed seven of 13 pass attempts for 98 yards, no touchdowns and thrown one interception.
Jacksonville, Texas, native Devin McCuin and Rusk native McCown have had a Cherokee County connection this season. McCuin leads the Roadrunners with 37 catches and four touchdowns, along with 279 yards receiving. Willie McCoy leads the Roadrunner receiving corps with 306 yards. Four other Roadrunners have triple-digit receiving yards this season. Those four are receivers Chris Carpenter (173 yards) and DJ Allen (161 yards and one touchdown) and tight ends Houston Thomas (152 yards and one touchdown) and Oscar Cardenas (102 yards and two touchdowns).
The Owls top receiver is Omari Hayes. Hayes has 24 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns. Other Owl receivers of note are C.J. Campbell Jr. (16 catches for 171 yards), Milan Tucker (nine catches for 116 yards) and Wyatt Sullivan (seven catches for 107 yards and one touchdown).
UTSA has three runners with triple-digit yard totals this season. Robert Henry leads the team in carries (50) and yards (230) along with one touchdown. Brandon High has 225 yards on 36 carries and a team-leading two touchdowns. Kevorian Barnes has 148 yards and a touchdown on 44 carries.
Campbell Jr. leads the Owls running game with 381 yards and six touchdowns on 77 carries. Fancher is second on the team with 67 carries for 288 yards and a touchdown. Zuberi Mobley has 64 carries for 334 yards and four touchdowns.
Stephen's Prediction
UTSA has struggled this year, but the Alamodome has been a haven for the Roadrunners as both of their wins came in the friendly confines beneath the quad spires.
Florida Atlantic has struggled on the road with an 0-2 record away from Boca Raton this season. Both teams want to avoid an 0-3 start to conference play. In UTSA's case, avoiding 0-3 in conference would allow Traylor to avoid making the history of being the first coach in program history to have his team go 0-3 to start conference.
Homecoming is usually a festive occasion, but the 2024 Roadrunners have given the fanbase very little to feel festive about. It might be helpful for UTSA that their opponent Saturday is in a similar situation of struggle. The winner on Saturday might just end up being the team with better luck.
UTSA has been able to force a turnover in 16 straight games. The challenge for the Roadrunners is turning those extra possessions into points. UTSA has just 14 points off eight takeaways this season.
If the Roadrunners can figure out how to turn takeaways into points and limit the number of penalties, they have a good chance to give positivity to the fanbase.
It's a big if. This one will be close, but the Alamodome will provide just enough boost to help the Roadrunners notch win number three and avoid making a sad kind of history.
UTSA 21 Florida Atlantic 18
FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way
