SAN ANTONIO — In an exciting clash on Saturday, Owen McCown led the UTSA Roadrunners to a 44-36 victory over the Memphis Tigers, throwing four touchdown passes during the game.

Memphis, who came into the match with a 7-2 record and competing in the American Athletic Conference, started strong by scoring on their first four possessions. They built a 24-14 lead midway through the second quarter. However, the Roadrunners, sitting at 4-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play, bounced back impressively, responding with 30 consecutive points.

In a previous game against Tulsa, UTSA had suffered a heartbreaking 46-45 defeat after relinquishing a 28-point advantage. During this match against Memphis, they had to fend off a late rally from the Tigers, who closed the gap to eight points with two touchdowns in the final two minutes. The closing minutes featured some tense moments, including an onside kick by Memphis that was ultimately unsuccessful, allowing UTSA to run out the clock.

McCown followed his record-setting performance from the prior week, where he threw for 434 yards, with a solid outing against Memphis. He completed 20 of 37 passes for a total of 280 yards along with four touchdowns.

In the latter stages of the first half, UTSA achieved a program-record 54-yard field goal thanks to Tate Sandell. This was immediately followed by McCown’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer, leveling the score at 24 points each. McCown regained the lead for the Roadrunners early in the third quarter with another 4-yard touchdown pass, this time to Houston Thomas.

With 9:39 remaining, Memphis found themselves down by 10 points and failed on a crucial fourth-and-5 attempt from their own 36-yard line. UTSA capitalized on this mistake just five plays later when Brandon High powered in from two yards out, extending their lead to 41-24.

Houston Thomas was a standout for the Roadrunners with two touchdown catches, while Chris Carpenter also made significant contributions, amassing 108 receiving yards. On the Memphis side, quarterback Seth Henigan had an impressive day, completing 35 of his 52 passes for 454 yards, falling just short of his career high, with four touchdowns to his name and one interception. DeMeer Blankumsee made a mark with 142 receiving yards and two touchdowns, but his game was marred by a left leg injury sustained during a celebration of his 69-yard touchdown. Roc Taylor added 111 receiving yards of his own, but the Tigers struggled in the rushing department, finishing with just 62 yards.

Despite receiving votes in the Associated Press poll, Memphis’s four-game winning streak was halted with this loss.