Game Highlights: Kennesaw State vs UTSA (August 31, 2024)

college football is back on a beautiful Saturday in San Antonio as we go from the river walk to the Alamo doome where the UTSA road runners one of the favorites in the American kick off their campaign by hosting FBS newcomer Kennesaw State the owls beginning their inaugural season in Conference USA here today so here's the family tree in the Macs you got his dad Josh 18 NFL seasons 12 teams Uncle Luke a great player as well with five different teams over 12 years and his Uncle Randy don't forget him he was a great quarterback ATM yeah absolutely how do you live up to those expectations for sure just a remarkable story thresh Center downs from the 26 maau pumps he's got a wide open man the Houston Thomas it'll be first and goal to go for UTSA they've been methodical on this drive how the stop on Third and goal Owen maau to the end zone touchdown dein mckuin pre-season all AAC selection there's a reason why and a great start for UTSA they strike first in just three minutes here in the first quarter their opener this is going to be a nice attempt here Jack it's 72 de in here neutral conditions and can hit it good he might have a chance here from 48 yds Austin Welch the transfer from Eastern Kentucky knocks it through how about that for your first career field goal attempts as a college kicker and Kennesaw State has points on its inaugural FBS opening drive you're talking about a heavyweight up against what a a welterweight a lightweight yeah man that's a big difference that's a that's a big gap maau wide open man and On The Run it's complete actually bobbled for a moment that could have been an even bigger gain DJ Allen the TCU transfer it's second down and goal maau rolls to his right looking for the end zone and he's in another UTSA touchdown this time maau with his legs it's his first career rushing score and the road runners up 10 late in the first quarter you think Dad like that one I think he liked it a lot they're two for three so far on third down today they need the 40 maau and there's Robert Henry Jr room to run oh what a move he shakes free he's loose breaking tackles and down near the five What A Catch and run from Robert Henry Jr taking it all the way near the five a big time gain of 52 you know a quarterback is in the game when he recognize pressure but he recognizes the hot read and it's the running back coming out of the back field and there's nobody out there Jack and it turned into a foot race only he caught 19 passes for 115 a year ago maau slant caught mchan again touchdown UTSA m 's got two of them and Owen maau is shredding this owls defense here in the first half his second touchdown pass and it's so fun to watch this this young man just light up the screen and his debut is the starting quarterback for UTSA this is an RPO here he just reads it in the quarter and the receivers on the same page and how about three right there in Orange got two high safety here the middle of the F may be open maau dumps it off and that is his running back and it is Barnes with losing the football Kennesaw State jard at loose they say they have it it looks like they do and that is if it stands as kenesa State ball a gigantic play for the owls defense snap and hold good and Austin Welch who had not kicked a field goal in his college career through three years at Western at Eastern Kentucky has now delivered from 48 and 34 and Kennesaw State has more points on the board of 21-6 again if they could score a touchdown here can make it a one possession game screen pass benyard he's their guy and he's got speed down the sideline tiptoeing in bounds and now they're going to Mark him out he shoved out around the 25 they're going to spot him out well back from that but that's the kind of gamebreaking speed this guy brings to the table 31 y from Austin Welch who's already two for two today snap and hold perfect and the kick is as well Austin Welch has now delivered from 48 34 and 31 pretty good for a guy who hadn't kicked the field goal in his college career that guy's one of the Fantastic one of the great coaches in college football anywhere but spins into trouble down he goes how about Kennesaw State's defensive line Jordan Miles their top tackler returning on the D line comes up with the sack this crowd all of a sudden very very quiet Davis Bryson off play action lofting wide open TouchDown kenesa state their first one as an FBS program goes to Carson Kent the tight end from quarterback Davis Bryson and they are within a score of UTSA out of the American with 923 to go in the fourth a touchdown would give them their first lead of the game screen pass complete Gabe benyard and he's pulled down but he lost the football and UTSA scooped it up now will they officially have it and they do five of the play clock play action fake and a touchdown Oscar cardinus the outstanding tight end reels it in and stretches the UTSA lead back to two scores it had been a long time coming and finally the road runners break through and get a little breathing room here here's basically your ball game right now they need the 47 and Bryson goes down he tripped under his own feet wasn't a whole lot to do with Brandon Brown closing in finished off by James wall Jr and kennes saw State admirable effort all day long but looks like they're going to come up a little bit short and now here today in their season open to kick off 2024 he is 2 and0 as their starter and UTSA begins the campaign with a 2816 win over kennes saw State who in their first FBS game gave the road runners all they can handle and then some Jeff trailer and Brian ban in a nice Embrace but it's UTSA pulling it out to go to one0