It’s amazing how much can change in a matter of 14 days.
After the University of North Texas (4-2) offense marched 98 yards to pay dirt and the win — quarterback Mason Fine hit Rico Bussey, Jr. on a wheel route that went for a 22-yard score — Saturday night at Apogee Stadium, the UTSA Roadrunners (3-2) find themselves on the outside looking in the Conference USA standings.
It was the second straight loss for the Roadrunners after starting the season with three wins. The bigger picture is that the last two games have been against conference foes that have made UTSA winless when it counts the most.
“We didn’t’ do the things necessary [to win]. If you can’t get a first down [in the offensive’s final drive] and you can’t stop somebody from going 98 [yards], then we’re not deserving of victory. The outcome was as it should be, unfortunately,” a visibly angry coach Frank Wilson said after the loss to UNT.
A DEFENSIVE ISSUE
Lauren Landes/Texas HS Football
After their first three games of this season, the Roadrunners were ranked number one in C-USA in defensive yards (269.8) and points per game (13.6) allowed.
The last two starts have told a different story. The once impenetrable unit struggled as UTSA has given up a whopping average of 415.5 yards, four touchdowns and 30 points per contest. It hasn’t just been one aspect of their game as in that same span, opposing offenses averaged 130.5 rushing yards and passed for 283 yards per game. The defense is going to need to tighten up and get back to early-season form if the Roadrunners are to have a chance to compete for the conference championship and a bowl bid.
THE RUNNING GAME HAS SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY
In the first three games of this season, UTSA’s running attack was dominant, averaging a conference-leading 248 yards a game with Jalen Rhodes heading that charge. He accounted for an average of 112 yards each start.
In their two losses, the Roadrunners’ ground attack has dropped to 138 yards a game with Rhodes only contributing 49.5 of those yards and a pedestrian 2.85 yards per carry. This lack of productivity does not help sustain drives to keep opposing offenses off the field.
THE PASSING GAME IS THE BRIGHT SPOT
Not all is lost on the offensive side, as UTSA continues to light up the scoreboard averaging 33.4 points per contest.
In the last two outings, the Roadrunners scored 26 points against UNT and 29 points against Southern Mississippi averaging 291 passing yards per game. Dalton Sturm notched a total of five touchdown tosses in those matches and receivers Greg Campbell, Jr. (Humble, TX) and Josh Stewart (College Station, TX) emerged as dual threats combining for a 153-receiving yards average and a score.
The aerial attack will need to continue for the Roadrunners to keep their season alive.
WHAT’S NEXT
Lauren Landes/Texas HS Football
Wilson gets an opportunity to right the ship as his Roadrunners face teams with losing records – Rice Owls (1-5) and UTEP Miners (0-6) – in the next two weeks. Both the Owls and the Miners have trouble scoring points and stopping opposing offenses.
If the Roadrunners’ defense can get back on track, UTSA will still have a shot to be in the conference championship mix. A loss to either opponent will likely end their chances of accomplishing this goal.
It will be interesting to see if the Roadrunners can turn it around in the next 14 days.
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