UTSA's Fifth Greatest Conference Game
The top 10 countdown of greatest conference games in UTSA football history moves to the fifth best game
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Game Number 5: UTSA at North Texas, Nov. 23, 2013
Since their first meeting the UTSA Roadrunners and North Texas Mean Green have developed into rivals on the football field. It all began with the 2013 football season when both schools were in their first year as members of Conference USA
The conference schedule placed the first game between UTSA and North Texas on November 23, 2013. It would be the second to last week of the regular season. Few could have guessed when the schedule came out how important the game would become.
UTSA entered the game with a 4-2 record in conference and a 6-4 record overall. The Roadrunners had won three in a row after losing to Rice in the middle of October. UTSA's most recent game had been two weeks before when they beat Tulane.
North Texas was in the midst of their best season in nearly a decade. The Mean Green were 5-1 in conference play and 7-3 on the whole season. A win over UTSA would clinch the west division for North Texas. A win by UTSA would keep hope alive in the division for Rice and Tulane as well as UTSA.
UTSA GETS OUT TO AN EARLY LEAD
It was a cold afternoon in Denton when the Roadrunners and Mean Green met for the first time. The temperature was 39 degrees but it certainly felt colder.
UTSA received the opening kickoff after North Texas won the coin toss and deferred. The Roadrunners began their drive at the UTSA 30. In seven plays the Roadrunners were in the end zone when Kam Jones scored on a 40-yard run. Sean Ianno added the extra point and UTSA lead 7-0 with 12:40 left in the first quarter.
Those turned out to be the only points in the first quarter as both teams punted on their next possessions and then lost the ball on turnovers. The UTSA turnover came with six seconds left in the first quarter and resulted in a North Texas field goal that cut the score to 7-3 with 14:09 left in the second quarter.
Both defenses kept the offenses off the board the rest of the second quarter and halftime arrived with UTSA still leading 7-3.
ROADRUNNERS BUILD LEAD AND HANG ON
The third quarter began with both teams getting a chance at points. North Texas attempted a field goal on their first drive but missed it. UTSA took the ball after that miss and drove down for a touchdown. The Roadrunners went up 14-3 with 6:49 left in the third quarter when Eric Soza scored on a two-yard run.
UTSA kept the 14-3 lead the rest of the third quarter. North Texas cut the Roadrunners lead to eight, 14-6, with a 21-yard field goal at the 13:35 mark of the fourth quarter.
Soza and the Roadrunners responded with a 12-play 75-yard drive that took 5:29 off the clock. The drive ended with Soza scoring on a 10-yard run with 8:06 left to play in the fourth quarter. Ianno added the extra point and UTSA led 21-6. The fans from San Antonio who had braved the cold in Denton began to warm to the idea that UTSA might pull off the upset.
North Texas had other ideas. The Mean Green responded to the UTSA touchdown with one of their own, a six-yard touchdown pass with 5:38 left to play.
UTSA had a chance to add to their lead on their next drive but Ianno was unable to convert a 46-yard field goal attempt with 1:12 to play. The Mean Green took the ball down eight at their own 29 with hope of possibly tying the game.
The Mean Green got to the UTSA three yard line with time for one more play. North Texas threw toward the endzone but the ball ended up in the hands of UTSA's Bennett Okotcha. Okotcha returned the interception to the UTSA 28 before he was tackled. Then the celebrations began.
A HISTORIC WIN FOR THE ROADRUNNERS
As the Roadrunners celebrated with the traveling fans there was a realization across the whole stadium. In one fell swoop the Roadrunners had ended the Mean Green's chances of winning the Conference USA West Division while also keeping their hopes, as well as those of Rice and Tulane, alive.
It all came down to the final Saturday. If UTSA could beat Louisiana Tech and have Tulane beat Rice, the Roadrunners--in just their third year of football and first year in the conference--would be the division champions.
UTSA held up their end of the deal and beat Louisiana Tech the next weekend. Rice took down Tulane to advance to the Conference Championship game. The Owls went on to beat Marshall in the conference championship game for their first outright conference championship since they won the Southwest Conference in 1957.
North Texas eventually won a division title in 2017. The Roadrunners had to wait until 2021 to win their first division title. UTSA's win on that cold day in November 2013 remains the only time the Roadrunners have won in Denton as Apogee Stadium turned into a house of horrors for the Roadrunners in later years.
With both teams heading into the American Athletic Conference next season the Roadrunners will have chances in the future to win again in Denton. Perhaps that next win will be just as memorable as the first.
NEXT WEEK: The fourth greatest conference game in UTSA football history
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