CONWAY, S.C. — In a dominant performance, Owen McCown led UTSA to a decisive 44-15 victory over Coastal Carolina in the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday, throwing for 254 yards and one touchdown. The Roadrunners opened the game with a commanding 27 points, making it clear they were in control early on.
UTSA (7-6) surged ahead in the second quarter, scoring three consecutive touchdowns that gave them a 21-0 advantage. McCown completed 14 of 17 passes in the first half, which included a 6-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Overmyer. Additionally, McCown showcased his mobility with a 35-yard touchdown run, breaking through two tackles close to the end zone, while Brandon High contributed with a 9-yard rushing touchdown.
On the other side, Coastal Carolina (6-7) struggled in the first half, managing just 140 total yards, with a significant portion of that (60 yards) coming from their last drive before halftime. Early on, the Chanticleers faced challenges, punting on five straight possessions; their longest drive only consumed seven plays and yielded 25 yards.
As the second half began, UTSA maintained momentum with field goals on their first two drives. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina’s offense repeatedly faltered, going three-and-out on their first two possessions. UTSA’s defense continued to shine as Jakevian Rodgers snagged his first career interception during Coastal Carolina’s third drive, marking the 23rd consecutive game the program has achieved at least one interception and one sack.
CCU finally found the end zone when Bryson Graves caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Tad Hudson on the opening play of the fourth quarter. However, the celebration was short-lived, as UTSA’s Chris Carpenter electrified the crowd with a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, extending their lead to 34-7.
This game marked the largest victory margin in the five-year history of the Myrtle Beach Bowl, highlighting UTSA’s overall dominance throughout the contest.
Coastal Carolina was faced with significant challenges as they were missing key players, including starter Ethan Vasko and backup Noah Kim. This left third-string quarterback Tad Hudson to make his first career start. Despite the obstacles, Hudson managed to throw for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, completing 17 of 26 passes. Vasko and Kim had collectively tallied 2,353 yards, 18 touchdowns, and nine interceptions during the season prior to their absence.
UTSA’s rushing attack thrived in the game, racking up 257 yards and three touchdowns, even without their leading rusher Robert Henry, who had previously accumulated 107 yards and seven touchdowns on 130 carries. Both McCown and High, alongside Will Henderson III, each contributed a rushing touchdown to the team’s impressive performance.
