Panthers can’t hold off Roadrunners, fall 16-13 in San Antonio

By: Jorge Corrales/Staff Writer

The Panthers traveled to the Alamodome on Saturday night to take on the University of Texas at San Antonio for the first time in school history, but they were unable to get over .500 as they fell to the Roadrunners, 16-13.

Both teams got off to slow starts offensively.The Roadrunners were unable to capitalize on two first quarter turnovers by freshman quarterback Alex Mcgough. McGough fumbled and threw an interception early but the defense was able to bail him out.

The Panthers recovered a muffed punt by the Roadrunners on the UTSA 28 yard line that led to a 15-yard touchdown pass from McGough to tightend Jonnu Smith. It was Smith’s fourth touchdown reception on the year and it gave the Panthers a 10-0 lead. He leads all of Conference-USA with 34 receptions in 2014.

The Roadrunners were able to break through late in the half. Running back Javeon Williams punched in a 2-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds left. The score was set up by two long runs by redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Robinson. Robinson entered the game for the Roadrunners after starting quarterback Blake Bogenschutz went down with an apparent wrist injury.

UTSA struck first in the second half with a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 10-10 with 8:08 left in the third quarter.

The Panthers left some points on the board late in the third quarter. With 4 minutes left, running back Alex Gardner fumbled on the one-yard line on a first down run. The Roadrunners gave the ball right back after Richard Leonard forced and then recovered a fumble on the FIU 36 yard line. The takeaway led to a short field goal by Austin Taylor. The Roadrunners then answered with a 27-yard field goal with 2:44 left.

Wide receiver Glenn Coleman fumbled the ensuing kickoff which gave UTSA the ball on the FIU 26-yard line with just over a minute left. UTSA kicker Sean Ianno nailed his third field goal of the night to give the Roadrunners a 16-13 lead with 55 seconds left.

McGough’s hail mary attempt was picked off as time expired. He finished the game 11 of 25 through the air for 141 yards. He also threw a touchdown pass and an interception.

Despite the loss, the Panthers defense was sturdy once again, forcing three Roadrunner turnovers which led to all 13 Panthers points.

Freshman quarterback Austin Robinson stepped in and had himself a game. Robinson threw for 144 yards and hit on 14 of 17 attempts. He also led the Roadrunners with 64 yards rushing.

The loss puts the Panthers at 3-4 overall and 2-1 in C-USA. It also deals a big blow to their bowl game hopes. Next up for the Panthers is their homecoming game against the 6-0 Thundering Herd of Marshall University. Gametime on Oct. 18 is set for 6 p m.