UTSA's Second Greatest Conference Game

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Previously in the series: Honorable Mention | Game 10 | Game 9 | Game 8 | Game 7 | Game 6 | Game 5 | Game 4 | Game 3

The magical 2021 season was nearing its conclusion when UTSA welcomed UAB to the Alamodome on Nov. 20, 2021. UTSA was 10-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. All they needed to clinch a spot in the conference championship game would be a win over the UAB Blazers.

It wouldn't be easy. Since their football rebirth in 2017, UAB had become the kings of Conference USA West, winning the division three years in a row in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Blazers had won the conference championship game in 2018 and 2020.

In order to be the best UTSA would have to beat the best. In 2021 UAB was as good as they had been in recent years. The Blazers entered the Alamodome on Nov. 20 with a 7-3 record overall and 5-1 in conference play. UAB's only conference loss had come on Oct. 23 at home against Rice.

As the afternoon of Nov. 20 moved toward the 2:30 p.m. kickoff, fans of both UTSA and UAB made their way into the Alamodome. The attendance on Nov. 20 would be announced as 35,147. It was the fifth largest crowd in UTSA football history. Little did any of them know the history they would witness.

UTSA BATTLES BACK FROM EARLY DEFICIT

UTSA won the coin toss and deferred their option to the second half. UAB received the opening kickoff. On the second play of the game the Blazers had second and nine from their own 26. UAB's Dylan Hopkins connected with Tre Shropshire for a 74-yard touchdown to give the visitors a 7-0 lead with 14:08 left in the first quarter.

The Roadrunners responded on their second drive of the game. Frank Harris threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Zakhari Franklin with 4:16 left in the first quarter. Hunter Duplessis added the extra point to tie the score at 7-7.

UAB retook the lead, 14-7, with eight seconds left in the first quarter when Hopkins threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Shropshire.

UTSA tied the score at 14 on their next drive when Sincere McCormick scored on an eight-yard run with 10:24 left in the second quarter. The Roadrunners had gone 75 yards in 11 plays in a drive that started with the quarter.

The Blazers retook the lead less than five minutes later. Hopkins ran for an eight yard touchdown and UAB went back in front 21-14 with 5:41 left in the second quarter.

UTSA had an answer to the Blazers but it was a Hunter Duplessis field goal from 51 yards out. Duplessis made the kick at the 2:18 mark of the second quarter and UTSA trailed 21-17. UAB added a 23-yard field goal on the final play of the half to take a 24-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.

UTSA COMPLETES THE COMEBACK TWICE

The third quarter began with UTSA receiving the kickoff. The Roadrunners drive started at their own 25. It ended with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Harris to Franklin with 14:09 left in the third quarter. Duplessis added the extra point and UTSA had tied the score at 24-24.

If the offenses ruled in the first half it was the defenses that took over in the second half. After UTSA tied the score at 24 the next five combined drives ended either with punts or by way of Jamal Ligon intercepting a pass from Hopkins in the third quarter.

UTSA took their first lead of the afternoon with 1:21 left in the third quarter when Duplessis kicked a 49-yard field goal. The Roadrunners 27-24 lead would carry over into the fourth quarter.

UAB retook the lead on their second drive of the fourth quarter. The Blazers scored on a DeWayn McBride 16-yard touchdown run with 5:19 left in the game. UAB added the extra point to lead 31-27.

The Roadrunners next drive took 12 plays and 3:27 off the clock but didn't result in points. UAB would get the ball back with 1:52 to play and a four point lead. It would be up to the Roadrunner defense to give the offense a chance.

UTSA's defense did their part, forcing UAB to punt after a three-and-out. The Blazers had gotten to a fourth and one but chose to take the delay of game and punt on 4th and 6 instead of trying for the one yard that might have won them the west.

Harris and the offense took the field at their own 23 yard-line with 1:06 left to play and trailing 31-27. Harris completed four of his six pass attempts on the final drive and ran for nine yards. The Roadrunners had third and goal at the UAB one with just a few seconds left. Harris ran to his left and threw over the outstretched arms of a Blazer defender into the arms of tight end Oscar Cardenas in the end zone. Cardenas came down with the touchdown and pandemonium ensued in the Alamodome.

THE WEST IS WON IN SAN ANTONIO

The clock had struck zero during the Cardenas catch but the refs looked at the play and realized there would have to be three seconds put back on the clock. Hunter Duplessis kicked the extra point to give UTSA the 34-31 lead and then kicked off to the Blazers.

UAB fielded the final kickoff at their own 10 and after a lateral at their own 17 ended with the ball at their own 15 and no time on the clock. Now the celebration could officially begin in the Alamodome.

With the last second touchdown UTSA had handed the city of San Antonio its biggest sporting moment since the Spurs fifth championship in 2014. The fanbase would have to wait 13 days before they could return to the Alamodome for the Conference USA Championship game. Most of the 35,147 in attendance departed the Alamodome hoping UTSA would be 12-0 when they returned for the conference championship game.

It didn't work out that way as UTSA saw its undefeated season end a week later at the house of horrors in Denton. That loss was quickly forgotten the next time the Roadrunners took the field at the Alamodome. All of that was to come. For a while on November 20, 2021 UTSA was 11-0 overall, 7-0 in conference USA and the west division champions.

NEXT WEEK: The greatest conference game in UTSA football history

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