Roadrunners Pull Away from Lumberjacks Late in Alamo City, 24-10

Saturday, September 19

San Antonio, Texas

2:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin

0-2

UTSA

2-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Stephen F. Austin

UTSA

Roadrunners Pull Away from Lumberjacks Late in Alamo City, 24-10

9/19/2020 6:55:00 PM | Football

Box Score

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Lumberjack football team went blow for blow with FBS foe UTSA on Saturday inside the Alamodome, but came up just a bit short in a 24-10 decision. The result moved SFA's record to 0-2 overall on the young season, but was marked by a strong defensive effort from the Lumberjacks that kept the game close from wire-to-wire.

Trailing by a 17-0 margin after a slow first half, the Lumberjacks scored right before the end of the first half and added a field goal in the third quarter to pull within a score of the hosts, but UTSA pulled away in the fourth quarter, adding a pair of late touchdowns to cull the comeback bid.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Trae Self completed 21-33 attempts for 285 yards and one touchdown pass, while adding 22 yards rushing as well.
• Xavier Gipson tallied 94 yards on six receptions and brought in SFA's lone touchdown of the contest.
• Myles Heard had an incredible day on the defensive side of the ball, totaling 13 tackles, one interception and one fumble forced.
• SFA's defense recorded three takeaways and forced four punts by the Roadrunners.

FIRST QUARTER
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Roadrunners marched down the field and into the redzone as part of a 9-play, 64-yard drive. The Lumberjacks held firm once there, however, and nearly earned a pick in the endzone by sophomore Willie Roberts. UTSA would be forced to settle for a 28-yard field goal to go ahead by a 3-0 score.

Neither team was able to score in the remainder of the first quarter, as SFA's most promising drive of the stanza stalled out after a 25-yard pass completion from Trae Self to Xavier Gipson.

SECOND QUARTER
The Roadrunners would cap off a drive that began in the first quarter to open the second, scoring off a quarterback keeper from three yards out to go ahead 10-0.

Later, the hosts would score again, this time on a 9-play, 63-yard drive that was capped off by a four-yard touchdown strike to put the Roadrunners up, 17-0.

Getting the ball back with 35 ticks before the half, the 'Jacks used a 17-yard scamper by Self and a 45-yard strike downfield to Remi Simmons to get to the 10-yard line with seven seconds left. After a timeout, the Lumberjacks found the endzone on a touchdown reception by Gipson from Self to cap off the short, explosive drive. Self stood tall in the pocket to deliver the scoring pass, even as a UTSA defender delivered a big hit on the quarterback.

THIRD QUARTER
After trimming the lead to 17-7 heading into the halftime intermission, the 'Jacks got the ball to begin the second half but were forced to punt. On the ensuing UTSA possession, however, Amad Murray hit UTSA QB Frank Harris as he threw a deep ball, and Myles Heard picked off the resulting throw to give SFA the ball back.

After the 'Jacks punted the ball away and UTSA began another drive into the SFA side of the field, Heard came up big again, knocking the ball loose from a UTSA receiver in the red zone and setting up a recovery by Brevin Randle to give SFA the ball back with 10 minutes left in the quarter.

Self then took a shot downfield to a streaking Gipson on 2^ndand four, connecting with the speedster for a 47-yard strike to put SFA close to the red zone once more. The 'Jacks advanced the ball to the 15-yard line, before closing the gap with a 32-yard field goal by Chris Campos with 6:06 left to go.

Getting the ball back after yet another defensive stop by the defense, the 'Jacks started another drive from the five-yard line. Self connected with Gipson for a 17-yard gainer, then hit Larry Jones with a pass that Jones took for 40 yards to give the 'Jacks a new set of downs at the UTSA 39 heading into the final quarter of play.

FOURTH QUARTER
After the Lumberjack drive stalled, Max Quick pinned the Roadrunners back at their own 14-yard line to begin their drive with just over 13 minutes to play. SFA's defense forced a three and out by the Roadrunners to get the ball back with 12:31 remaining, but the 'Jacks couldn't keep the drive alive and punted back to the hosts.

UTSA then marched down the field with several big running plays, eventually gashing the 'Jacks for a 23-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 24-10 with 7:08 remaining in the game.

On SFA's ensuing drive, an untimely fumble gave UTSA the ball back with a two score lead and 6:14 left on the clock. From there, the Roadrunners were able to run out the remaining time to end the contest.

UP NEXT
SFA returns to action next weekend in Fort Worth, as they travel to face SMU on Saturday at 6:00 p.m.