SAN ANTONIO, TX — The UTSA Roadrunners overcame an early 14-point deficit and survived a wild fourth-quarter shootout Saturday night, defeating Navy 38-34 at the Alamodome to secure bowl eligibility and remain unbeaten in American Conference play.
Quarterback Owen McCown delivered an outstanding performance, throwing for 359 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. But it was a spectacular 41-yard touchdown catch-and-run by running back A’Marion Peterson that ultimately proved decisive, giving UTSA the lead with 2:24 remaining.
The contest featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter alone, as both offenses repeatedly found ways to exploit the opposing defense. The Roadrunners improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the American Conference, while Navy fell to 2-4 and 1-3 in league play.
“We don’t really care what the score is. We just got to go execute the next play,” McCown said.
That mentality proved essential against a Navy team that refused to go away.
The Midshipmen struck early behind the dynamic running ability of quarterback Jackson Gutierrez, a San Antonio native and John Jay High School graduate. Gutierrez opened the game with a 53-yard run that put Navy in position to score. He finished the drive himself, powering through the defense for a four-yard touchdown to give the Midshipmen a 7-0 advantage.
Navy continued to apply pressure in the second quarter. Backup quarterback Braxton Woodson broke free for a 43-yard run, setting up Gutierrez for another rushing touchdown. Gutierrez squeezed between defenders for a five-yard score, extending Navy’s lead to 14-0 with 14:15 remaining in the first half.
Gutierrez’s ability to create plays with his legs presented a significant challenge for the Roadrunners throughout the night.
“He’s a freak of an athlete. He’s hard to get down. Gutierrez was really productive. He’s awesome. He’s a freaking stud,” UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor said.
Gutierrez, who grew up playing for his father and competed in four sports during high school, demonstrated why the Roadrunners held him in such high regard. He finished with 143 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, while completing three of seven passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
UTSA responded with an explosive offensive stretch of its own. McCown connected with D.J. Allen Jr. for a 21-yard completion before delivering a deep pass down the right sideline to Mekhi Anderson. Anderson secured the 40-yard reception, turned toward the end zone, stepped over a fallen defender and raced the final six yards for a touchdown.
The Roadrunners continued their comeback when McCown found tight end Brandon Young Jr. near the end zone. The 6-foot-7 junior from Mansfield, Texas, elevated over a defender and stretched toward the corner to complete the scoring play, tying the game at 14.
UTSA then recovered its own 14-yard onside kick, giving the Roadrunners another opportunity to seize momentum.
The teams exchanged scores over the next several minutes, with Navy missing an extra point. UTSA carried a narrow 21-20 advantage into halftime after an entertaining first half filled with explosive plays.
The offensive fireworks continued after the break. UTSA added a field goal at the 8:03 mark of the third quarter to extend its lead to 24-20.
Navy answered with one of the game’s biggest plays. Gutierrez connected with sophomore tight end Jordan Collins on a 22-yard pass before Collins broke away from the pursuing defenders and raced the remaining distance for a 92-yard touchdown. The score put the Midshipmen back in front, 27-24.
As the fourth quarter unfolded, neither team could establish lasting control.
With 9:04 remaining, McCown found redshirt senior wide receiver A.J. Wilson Jr. for a 22-yard completion on fourth-and-three, keeping the drive alive. UTSA capitalized shortly afterward when Will Henderson III surged through the middle and stretched the ball across the goal line while being pulled down by a defender.
Henderson’s touchdown restored the Roadrunners’ advantage at 31-27 with 8:17 left. He finished with a team-high 78 rushing yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.
Navy answered with a trick play that briefly put the Midshipmen back in front. With 7:30 remaining, Woodson connected with Gutierrez on a 63-yard pass down the left sideline, taking the ball to the UTSA 1-yard line.
On the ensuing play, the quarterbacks lined up close together before the snap, creating confusion for the defense. Gutierrez initially faked a run to the left while Woodson took the snap, headed right and crossed into the end zone untouched.
The touchdown gave Navy a 34-31 lead and set the stage for a dramatic finish.
UTSA took possession at its own 25-yard line with 4:50 remaining, knowing it needed another scoring drive to reclaim the advantage.
McCown delivered under pressure, finding Peterson near the 36-yard line. Peterson broke three tackles, accelerated down the right sideline and avoided two additional defenders before completing a 41-yard touchdown reception. The score gave UTSA a 38-34 lead with 2:24 left and ultimately proved to be the game-winning play.
Navy still had an opportunity to respond, but its next possession ended after the Midshipmen failed to convert on fourth-and-16.
UTSA subsequently turned the ball over on downs with just eight seconds remaining, giving Navy one final chance. However, the Midshipmen could not complete a pass before time expired, allowing the Roadrunners to escape with the victory.
McCown completed 28 of 38 passes for 359 yards and three touchdowns, finishing without an interception. His ability to distribute the ball and deliver in critical situations helped UTSA overcome Navy’s early advantage and withstand the late-game swings.
For the Roadrunners, the victory represented more than another entry in the win column. At 6-1 overall, UTSA has reached the six-win threshold for bowl eligibility while maintaining its perfect record in American Conference competition.
Navy, meanwhile, will look to regroup after a frustrating loss in which its explosive rushing attack and creative play-calling kept the game competitive until the final seconds.
Up Next:
Navy returns home Saturday to begin a four-game homestand against North Texas, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Central time.
UTSA will leave the state for the first time this season and begin a two-game road stretch next Saturday against Tulane. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central time.
