UTSA wins the West Division with a 34-31 win over UAB

The play is called “eleven oh”.

Six seconds left.

No time outs.

Down four points.

One yard to go.

Against the three-time reigning West Division Champion UAB Blazers.

This play could secure the 2021 West Division champion for the Roadrunners.  UTSA would either walk away with a 10-1 record or would stay undefeated at 11-0.

The play is called “eleven oh”.

After the first half the Roadrunners needed to find answers.  The UTSA defense, usually stingy at home had been gashed in the air and on the ground throughout the first half.  And the scoreboard showed it with the Runners trailing for the first time at the half in the Alamodome all season, 24-17.

UTSA started the second half strong with a 75 yard drive in 3 plays capped by a 54 yard touchdown pass from Frank Harris to Zakhari Franklin to tie the score at 24.

The UTSA defense forced the Blazers offense into a 3 and out.

Hunter Duplessis added a 49 yard field goal (after kicking a 51 yard field goal in the first half) to take a 27-24 lead late in the third quarter.

The UTSA defense held off the Blazers, but could not put insurance points on the board.

Then with 5:19 left in the game, UAB broke through the UTSA defense on a 16 yard touchdown run and the Roadrunners were down 31-27.

Frank Harris worked his offense down to midfield but a questionable incomplete pass call, followed by a pass that came up short on fourth down turned the ball over to the Blazers.  UTSA had 2 time outs. A UAB first down and it would be over.

Three plays later the UAB had a fourth down opportunity with less than 1 yard. Instead of going for the conversion, the Blazers ran all the time they could off the clock and punted.

UTSA had 1:06 left on the clock, no time outs and 77 yards to cover.

An incomplete pass.

Then Harris hits Tight End Oscar Cardenas for 28 yards.

Harris finds JT Clark for 6 yards.

Then Clark again for 33 yards at the UAB 10 yard line. Clark gets out of bounds.

First and goal. 10 yard line.

Harris rolls left, and runs toward the goal line. And is stopped. on the one-yard line with 9 seconds after an injured player for the Blazers clears the field.

2nd and Goal from the one. Harris rolls left and misses Joshua Cephus in the endzone. 6 seconds remain.

The play is “eleven oh”.

It’s a simple play action pass with Cardenas faking a block then racing to the back of the endzone and looking for the pass from Harris.

The snap is low and Harris has to scramble to corral the ball from under the feet of Running Back Sincere McCormick. The UAB Linebacker recovers on the play action meant to fool him and draw him in and floats back as Harris releases the ball. UAB’s Noah Wilder tips the ball and Cardenas adjusts to make the catch. 33-31 UTSA. Three seconds left on the clock.

Duplessis kicks the extra point, then squibs the ball down to the UAB kick returners. As UTSA tackles the ball carrier 35,147 Roadrunner fans explode in exaltation.

The UTSA Roadrunners are West Division Champions and will host the Conference USA Championship game in the Alamodome on December 3rd at 6pm.

The UTSA Roadrunners are undefeated at 11-0.

And it all happened with a play called “eleven oh”.