SAN MARCOS, Texas — UTSA needed nearly every second Saturday to keep its unbeaten start alive.
Brandon High Jr. broke free for a 25-yard touchdown with 14 seconds remaining, completing a dramatic second-half comeback and lifting UTSA to a 31-26 victory over Texas State in the Battle for I-35 at UFCU Stadium.
The win was the 100th in UTSA football history and moved the Roadrunners to 2-0 for the first time since their 11-0 start in 2021. UTSA also improved to 6-2 all-time against Texas State.
The Roadrunners entered halftime trailing 17-7 before turning the game around after the break, outscoring the Bobcats 24-9 over the final two quarters.
But UTSA still needed one final answer.
Texas State regained a 26-24 advantage on Jacob Bonilla's 26-yard field goal with 4:36 remaining, leaving quarterback Owen McCown and the Roadrunners 82 yards from the end zone.
UTSA converted twice on fourth down during the ensuing possession. McCown first connected with David Amador II for eight yards to extend the drive and later scrambled for six yards on fourth down to move the chains again.
McCown followed with three consecutive completions, and a Texas State defensive holding penalty helped move UTSA within striking distance.
High eventually supplied the decisive play, bursting through the right side of the defense and racing 25 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Texas State had one final possession, but Xavier Walton recovered a Bobcats fumble on the final play to secure the victory.
A different UTSA emerges after halftime
UTSA struck first after Zach Morris intercepted Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson near midfield. McCown eventually found Brandon Young Jr. for a touchdown on fourth-and-goal, giving the Roadrunners a 7-0 first-quarter lead.
The Bobcats controlled much of the second quarter.
Davian Jackson tied the game with a 16-yard touchdown run following a 65-yard run by Torrance Burgess. Brad Jackson later scored on a 6-yard keeper before Bonilla connected from 51 yards as the first half expired, sending Texas State into the locker room with a 10-point advantage.
UTSA responded immediately. On its opening possession of the third quarter, Amador took a lateral and found Mekhi Anderson downfield for a 44-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to 17-14.
Cameron Upshaw Jr. intercepted Jackson on Texas State's next possession, and Michael Petro converted a 35-yard field goal to pull UTSA even at 17.
The Bobcats regained the lead on Jackson's 13-yard touchdown pass to Chris Dawn late in the third quarter, but a missed extra point kept the margin at six.
UTSA answered again. A seven-play, 65-yard drive ended with A'Marion Peterson scoring from two yards out early in the fourth quarter, putting the Roadrunners ahead 24-23.
Texas State responded with a methodical 14-play drive that consumed more than seven minutes before Bonilla's field goal gave the Bobcats their final lead.
McCown delivers when UTSA needs him
McCown completed 28 of 42 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown, doing some of his most important work during UTSA's final possession.
Will Henderson III led the Roadrunners on the ground with 80 yards on 14 carries. High finished with 47 yards and the winning touchdown on eight attempts.
AJ Wilson Jr. caught nine passes for 83 yards, while Anderson also finished with 83 receiving yards on five catches and added the 44-yard touchdown reception from Amador.
UTSA's defense forced three turnovers. Morris and Upshaw each intercepted Jackson, while Walton's recovery ended the game. Brandon Tucker led the Roadrunners with 13 tackles.
The comeback also carried a bit of symmetry for head coach Jeff Traylor. Saturday marked exactly six years since his UTSA coaching debut, a 51-48 double-overtime victory over Texas State at the same stadium.
Six years later, Traylor and the Roadrunners left San Marcos with another rivalry win — and a milestone victory for the program.
UTSA's schedule gets considerably tougher from here. The Roadrunners travel to Austin next Saturday to face No. 4 Texas at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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