WKU Football ( 3-3, 1-1 C-USA ) dropped its second straight game to the University of Texas San Antonio Roadrunners ( 4-2, 2-0 C-USA ) 31-28 in a close one at the Alamodome Saturday evening.

We battled hard tonight, but nobody feels sorry for us, head coach Tyson Helton said. “We’re right back in conference play, we’re going to Middle Tennessee next week. We’ve got to turn the page on this one and get ready for Middle Tennessee.”

It was the two team’s first meeting with one another since UTSA came out on top in the 2021 Conference USA Championship Game, besting WKU 49-41 for the league title back in December.

Even in the loss, the Hilltopper offense was clicking throughout the four quarters. The offense put up 481 total yards through the course of the game. Graduate transfer quarterback Austin Reed put on a stellar performance, completing 35 passes for 373 yards and two touchdowns. Reed also had 48 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Sophomore receiver Malachi Corley also had himself a day. Corley totaled 11 receptions for 131 yards against the Roadrunner secondary. Redshirt senior wideout Daewood Davis also had a quality performance. Davis had eight receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.  

Although WKU had a great game offensively, the Roadrunner offense was causing problems for the Hilltopper defense. The UTSA backfield duo of Brenden Brady and Trelon Smith tore up WKU for a combined 31 carries, 150 yards and three touchdowns.

UTSA quarterback Frank Harris had a great game as well. He had 24 completions for 273 yards and a touchdown against the Hilltoppers’ secondary. Harris also put his legs to good use as he had 10 rushes for 61 yards.

First Half

WKU won the coin toss and deferred, giving the Roadrunners possession to start the game. UTSA drove down the field with ease on its first possession. The Roadrunners had a 10-play, 65-yard drive that was capped off by a 12-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Frank Harris. 

However, the Hilltoppers quickly responded with a great drive of their own. A nine-play drive, aided by a 38-yard reception from Corley, concluded with a two yard rushing touchdown from Reed, tying the score up 7-7. 

Both offenses stalled out as the next three possessions resulted in punts. The Hilltoppers’ third possession broke the 7-7 tie. WKU had an 89-yard drive that was finished off by a touchdown pass to Daewood Davis from Reed to give the Hilltoppers a 14-7 lead. 

UTSA started the next drive pinned back at its own 12. Still, the Roadrunners drove 88 yards down the field and tied the game, 14-14, on a three-yard rush from Brenden Brady.

The Hilltoppers couldn’t get anything going on their last drive of the half. WKU was forced to punt and gave the ball back to UTSA with 1:15 left in the 2nd quarter

The Roadrunners, with all three timeouts left, started the drive off at their own 28. UTSA was able to drive 57 yards to set up a 49-yard field goal attempt for kicker Jared Sackett. Sackett’s attempt was good, and the Roadrunners went into halftime up 17-14.

Second Half

The Hilltoppers started the second half off with possession, but were forced off the field going three-and-out.

UTSA took advantage of the slow second half start for WKU. The Roadrunners drove down the field on their first possession of the half, which culminated with a chaotic touchdown. Redshirt senior linebacker Derrick Smith forced a fumble at the WKU one, but the ball was recovered in the endzone by UTSA giving the Roadrunners a 10 point lead, 24-14

WKU continued the slow start on their next possession and was forced to punt the ball back to UTSA. The Hilltopper defense kept WKU in the game by forcing a three-and-out.  

The Hilltoppers’ next possession started off great. WKU was able to drive into UTSA territory, but the drive stalled out, ending on a failed fourth-and-14 attempt at the UTSA 42.

UTSA looked to put WKU out of reach as its offense drove all the way down into the redzone. However, the WKU defense stood tall and held the Roadrunners to no points on the drive. WKU was able to stop UTSA on a fourth-and-one at the Hilltopper six, shifting momentum.

The WKU offense played off the energy from the fourth-and-one stop. The Hilltoppers drove 92 yards down the field and brought the score back within three on an Austin Reed touchdown pass to junior Michael Mathison,  making the score 24-21.

The Hilltoppers tried to get tricky, attempting an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but UTSA recovered. 

The Roadrunners took advantage of the short field position and a two-play touchdown drive made the score 31-21.

The Hilltoppers quickly answered. An eight-play, 75-yard drive came to a head on a 33-yard rush from sophomore Kye Robichaux made the score 31-28 with nine minutes left in the game. 

The WKU defense gave the team a perfect opportunity to take the lead when redshirt freshman linebacker Aaron Key forced a fumble and gave the Hilltoppers possession at the WKU 39. 

The Hilltopper drive started off great as the offense took the ball into UTSA territory. However, the drive stalled and WKU was unable to convert a fourth-and-seven at the UTSA 34. 

The WKU defense was unable to get the stop it needed to put the offense back on the field. A fourth-and-two conversion for UTSA wrapped up the game as the Roadrunners went into victory formation. The final score from the Alamadome was 31-28.

The Hilltoppers will look to get back in the win column against rival MTSU next Saturday at Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.