SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Senior running back
Jesse Valenzuela rushed for a 20-yard touchdown for his first score of the season but the HCU football team dropped a 45-7 decision to American Athletic Conference member UTSA inside the Alamodome on Saturday afternoon.
HCU (1-3) received the opening kickoff and after a 12-yard pass from
Cutter Stewart to
AJ Wilson, the Huskies stalled and punted. UTSA (2-2) moved the ball into the red zone to the HCU eight-yard line. A third-and-seven pass attempt was broken up by
Semaj Brown, forcing the Roadrunners into a 26-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 9:37 on the clock.
The Huskies started their next possession at their own 25, moving the ball methodically down field and finding themselves with a third-and-two at the UTSA 39. HCU ran an option with the toss from Stewart to Hill fell to the ground with UTSA's Jimmori Robinson recovering at the UTSA 46. The Roadrunners marched down field for a touchdown, covering 54 yard on nine players in 4:05.
Jesse Valenzuela took the ensuing kickoff 48 yards from the end zone, setting the Huskies up with good field position. HCU moved the ball, including a fourth-and-one conversion, and reached the UTSA 29-yard line. After a one-yard loss on a
Darryle Evans rush, a Stewart pass on fourth-and-10 saw the Huskies turn the ball over on downs.
The Huskies forced a punt on the next Roadrunners possession, starting at their own 25 on the next drive. A 36-ard completion from
Eli Brickhandler to Wilson on second down moved the chains into UTSA territory for a first-and-10 at the 40. A roughing the passer penalty on UTSA on second on second down moved the ball into the red zone and the Huskies found themselves with a fourth-and-one at the UTSA nine-yard line.
Reed Chandley connected on a 26-yard field goal but a holding penalty on the Huskies moved the ball back to the UTSA 19. Chandley's attempt from 36 yards out was blocked with the hosts recovering at the 50.
UTSA moved the ball 50 yards with Brandon High scoring on a nine-yard run to make it a 17-0 ballgame with 6:18 left in the half. A face mask penalty on UTSA on the kickoff set HCU up with the ball on its own 35. A brilliant one-handed catch on the sideline by Wilson moved the ball 22 yards for the Huskies to the UTSA 40 with another UTSA face mask penalty moving the ball down to the 25.
After a five-yard pass from Brickhandler to
Drake Martinez, Valenzuela rushed to the left side and scampered 20 yards for a diving touchdown just inside the pylon, bringing the score to 17-7 with just over four minutes left in the half.
UTSA put together a pair of quick scoring drives in the final four minutes, however, and HCU went into the locker room at the half trailing 31-7.
The HCU offense stalled in the second half with the Huskies managing just 16 yards of offense. UTSA, meanwhile, scored twice more in the second half with 223 yards of offense.
Taylor Behl and
Zymir Cobbs each registered eight tackles for the Huskies while
Zavion Evans and
Semaj Brown each had six. Evans also had a sack, the first of his career.
Khary Crump came up with an interception in the end zone, taking the ball away from a UTSA receiver for his second pick in as many weeks.
Rufus Toe also was credited with the first sack of his career while Brown had one pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.
Wilson continues to lead the HCU receiving corps, hauling in four catches for 71 yards. Valenzuela led the HCU running backs with 22 yards on five carries with the touchdown while freshman
Xai'Shaun Edwards rushed four times for 19 yards. Brickhandler finished the day 7-of-12 for 83 yards and Stewart threw for 44 yards on 6-of-12 passing.
HCU leaves the state of Texas for the only time this season next weekend, heading to Terre Haute, Ind. for a matchup against the Indiana State Sycamores on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 12:00 p.m. CT.
