Arizona 42, UTSA 32: What We Learned

[caption id="attachment_18253" align="alignleft" width="300"]Photo by Mike McNabb Photo by Mike McNabb[/caption] UTSA dropped its season-opener to No. 22 Arizona, 42-32 on Thursday night. What did we learn from the game? TexasFootball.com brings you a few takeaways from the game. UTSA lost to Arizona on the road, but the Roadrunners proved to everyone in the nation that 2015 isn’t the year to write off Larry Coker’s team. After losing over 30 seniors from a 4-8 team in 2014, the Roadrunners traveled to Arizona and lost, 42-32. Mistakes cost the Roadrunners all night. The game started with a Blake Bogenschutz interception that was returned by Arizona for a touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, true freshman Brett Winnegan had a touchdown return for a touchdown, but it was nullified by a penalty. The Roadrunners also missed two field goals and an extra point. A touchdown run by Jalen Rhodes in the fourth quarter almost brought UTSA within a possession of tying the game, but a dropped two-point conversion kept the Wildcat lead at 10. The good news for UTSA is that the Roadrunners showed fight against an Arizona team that entered the game ranked 22^nd in the nation and as a 31-point favorite. Bogenschutz, a redshirt freshman, set the school record for passing yards in a game. The running game showed a lot of promise, the defense did well against Nick Wilson and a vaunted Wildcat running game and the team never went away despite an early lead. Tight end David Morgan II was the star of the game for UTSA. He scored a touchdown and racked up over 100 reception yards. Sophomore wide receiver Kerry Thomas also performed well, and San Antonio native Aron Taylor scored a touchdown on his first catch of his career. Mistakes doomed UTSA in the end, however. On top of the interception return, Arizona took an Aaron Grubb faumble back for a touchdown in the third quarter. UTSA was down 21-20 at the half outscoring Arizona 20-7 in the second quarter, but missed opportunities and turnovers cost the Roadrunners a shot at an upset. Arizona’s defense scored 14 points and the UTSA special team left seven points on the field due to two missed field goals and a missed extra point. Still, UTSA put the Conference USA on notice with another great performance against Arizona. The Roadrunners almost beat Arizona in 2014, also. Last year fell apart due to quarterback injuries, but it looks like the Roadrunners found their man in Bogenschutz, a former state champion at Carthage High School. The road doesn’t get easier for UTSA in non-conference play. The Roadrunners face Kansas State at home next Saturday before a trip to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State before a home game against Colorado State. The Roadrunners were picked to finish last in their division by most outlets, but performances like this has Roadrunner fans optimistic about the prospects in 2015.