The top 10 countdown of greatest conference games in UTSA football history moves to the fourth best game
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Game Number 4: UTSA at Louisiana Tech, Oct. 23, 2021
The 2021 UTSA football team will long be remembered by the Roadrunner fanbase. In the 11th season of football, the Roadrunners reached new heights and raised the bar of success for the program.
Along the way the Roadrunners had to overcome several obstacles and make new history. One of those moments that saw history made and an obstacle overcome came on October 23 when the Roadrunners traveled to Ruston to take on the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs.
UTSA was riding high on a 7-0 start overall and a 3-0 start to conference play. The Roadrunners had recently earned their first ranking in program history, cracking the top 25 in both the coaches poll and the AP poll. The flipside of the coin was the fact that UTSA had never won in Ruston. In four previous trips the Roadrunners had been outscored 182-106.
Something would have to give. Either the Roadrunners would keep the dream undefeated season going and in the process get their first win in Ruston or the Roadrunners bad luck at Joe Aillet would continue. Louisiana Tech was going through a bit of a down year as they entered the game against UTSA with a 2-4 record overall and 1-1 in conference.
Louisiana Tech had scheduled their annual homecoming game for the week of UTSA's visit in 2021. The Bulldog fans who made their way into Joe Aillet Stadium no doubt believed that Louisiana Tech would get their third win of the season and give UTSA its first loss of the season.
ROADRUNNERS START STRONG IN RUSTON
UTSA won the opening coin toss and elected to defer their option to the second half. Louisiana Tech received the opening kickoff. The Bulldogs opening drive started at the Bulldogs 18 yardline. Six plays later the Bulldogs were celebrating after a 47-yard touchdown pass from Austin Kendall to Smoke Harris. Louisiana Tech's Jacob Barnes added the extra point and the Bulldogs led UTSA 7-0 with 12:20 left in the first quarter.
The Roadrunners first drive of the night started at their own 25. On the first play of offense UTSA attempted a run play with a handoff to Sincere McCormick. The Bulldogs were able to tackle McCormick for no gain. The very next play UTSA quarterback Frank Harris stepped back to pass and connected with Zakhari Franklin. Franklin didn't stop until he was in the endzone. Hunter Duplessis added the extra point and UTSA had tied the score at 7-7 with 11:44 left in the first quarter.
Much of the rest of the first quarter was marked by punts as the defenses clamped down on the offenses. Louisiana Tech was able to retake the lead, 10-7, with a 35-yard field goal at the 3:37 mark of the first quarter. By the time the first quarter ended UTSA would have the ball, first and goal to go, at the Louisiana Tech six yard line.
Thanks to being at the Bulldog six when the first quarter ended it didn't take long for UTSA to punch it in. Just 38 seconds into the second quarter, McCormick scored from two yards out. Duplessis added the extra point and UTSA led 14-10 with 14:22 left in the second quarter.
Louisiana Tech missed a field goal on their next possession. The Roadrunners took over at their own 28 yard line. 10 plays later the Roadrunners were on the board with another touchdown when Harris connected with Franklin from 10 yards out. UTSA led 21-10 with 3:12 left in the second quarter. When halftime came the score would still be sitting at 21-10 in favor of UTSA.
UTSA COASTS TO VICTORY IN SECOND HALF
The Roadrunners opened the second half with the ball after receiving the kickoff. It was a short first drive for UTSA's offense as they went three and out. Louisiana Tech had a chance to cut into the Roadrunners 11-point lead. It didn't turn out that way.
Louisiana Tech's first drive of the third quarter got to midfield before it was ended by UTSA's Dadrian Taylor. Taylor intercepted a Bulldog pass and returned it 49 yards for a pick-six. Duplessis added the extra point and UTSA's lead increased to 28-10 with 12:36 left in the third quarter.
UTSA's lead of 28-10 stood for the rest of the third quarter. The Roadrunners quickly added to the lead in the fourth quarter. On second and seven from the Louisiana Tech 47, McCormick took the handoff and carved his way through the Bulldog defense to score a touchdown. Duplessis was good on the extra point and UTSA led 35-10 with 13:46 left in the fourth quarter.
At that point the Bulldog fans who had seen enough started making their way toward the exits. The Roadrunners were not done scoring touchdowns. It was as though years of built up frustration from the Roadrunners was finally being released.
On the kickoff following the McCormick score, the Bulldogs fumbled and the Roadrunners recovered at the Louisiana Tech 22. Harris ran for 21 yards on the first play and McCormick ran the remaining one yard for his second touchdown of the night. There was 12:38 left in the fourth quarter and UTSA led 42-10.
Louisiana Tech scored a touchdown on their next drive but were unable to convert the two-point conversion. The score now stood at 42-16 in favor of the Roadrunners with 9:31 left in the fourth quarter.
UTSA added a 38-yard field goal with 1:06 left in the fourth quarter to give the game its final total of 45-16.
A STREAK IS SNAPPED AND THE DREAM SEASON CONTINUED
The win over Louisiana Tech on October 23, 2021 allowed UTSA to improve to 8-0 in a season for the first time in program history. It was also the first time UTSA had started 4-0 in conference play.
UTSA climbed up to 22 in the coaches poll and 23 in the AP poll following the win over Louisiana Tech. The Roadrunners would continue to climb up the rankings, reaching as high as number 15 in the coaches poll and 18 in the AP poll after beating Southern Miss in November.
It was the third game in a row that UTSA scored at least 40 points. The Roadrunners would push that to four in a row two weeks later when they beat UTEP 44-23. UTSA eventually started the season 11-0 and 7-0 in conference. That was still to come. In the moment, after the win over Louisiana Tech, there was just the relief at finally having won a game in Ruston.
Just two days before the game in Ruston, UTSA accepted an invitation to play in the American Athletic Conference starting in 2023. With Louisiana Tech staying in Conference USA, the game on October 23, 2021 is probably the last time UTSA will visit Ruston for the foreseeable future. The Roadrunners picked a good time to get their first win at Joe Aillet Stadium.
NEXT WEEK: The third greatest conference game in UTSA football history
FORUMS: UTSA Boulevard | Roadrunner Way
