BCSNN — UTSA delivered its most dramatic finish of the season Thursday night, rallying behind A’Marion Peterson’s third rushing touchdown — a 1‑yard score with 15 seconds remaining — to defeat South Florida 31–24 at the Alamodome in American Conference play.

Peterson’s game‑winner capped a 10‑play, 75‑yard drive engineered by quarterback Owen McCown, who kept the possession alive with a clutch 19‑yard scramble on third‑and‑five. McCown later added an 8‑yard keeper before Will Henderson III broke free down the right sideline for a 26‑yard burst to the USF 1‑yard line with 18 seconds left, setting up Peterson’s decisive plunge.

The Roadrunners (5–1, 2–0 American) trailed 17–10 at halftime but dominated the second half, outgaining USF 271–87 over the final 30 minutes and piling up 174 rushing yards after the break. The comeback marks UTSA’s best six‑game start since 2021 (6–0) and its second 2–0 conference start in four seasons.

UTSA erased its halftime deficit with a 10‑point third quarter, beginning with an eight‑play, 75‑yard march capped by Peterson’s second touchdown. A 30‑yard run from Mekhi Anderson and completions to David Amador II and TJ West set up the 1‑yard score. Michael Petro then drilled a 41‑yard field goal to give UTSA its first lead at 20–17.

Petro added his third field goal of the night — a 31‑yarder with 8:21 remaining — to extend the margin to 23–17. But South Florida answered with its most composed drive of the evening, a 12‑play, 75‑yard series capped by Michael Van Buren Jr.’s 11‑yard touchdown pass to D.J. Crowther. Nico Gramatica’s extra point put the Bulls ahead 24–23 with 1:56 left.

That set the stage for UTSA’s decisive drive, powered almost entirely on the ground. The Roadrunners churned out 70 of the 75 yards rushing, with Henderson accounting for 42 and McCown adding 27. Peterson finished the night with 92 yards on 12 carries and a school record‑tying three touchdowns.

McCown completed 22 of 31 passes for 209 yards and added 52 rushing yards, guiding an offense that totaled 486 yards, including 277 on the ground. Henderson finished with 86 yards on 13 carries, while Amador II led all receivers with nine catches for 70 yards.

Defensively, Owen Pewee and Joel Rogers shared the team lead with eight tackles apiece. UTSA held USF to just 31 rushing yards and six first downs in the second half, repeatedly closing lanes and forcing the Bulls into long‑yardage situations.

South Florida (4–2, 1–2 American) opened the game with a crisp 10‑play, 65‑yard drive capped by Crowther’s 15‑yard touchdown run. UTSA responded immediately with Peterson’s 53‑yard touchdown dash on third‑and‑one, finishing a five‑play, 78‑yard drive.

The Bulls reclaimed the lead late in the first quarter on Bryson Rodgers’ 42‑yard touchdown catch, and UTSA answered with a 13‑play drive ending in Petro’s 26‑yard field goal. Gramatica’s 24‑yard kick in the final minutes of the half sent USF into the break ahead 17–10.

But the second half belonged to UTSA, which controlled possession, dictated tempo, and leaned on its rushing attack to wear down the Bulls. The Roadrunners finished with 16 second‑half first downs to USF’s six and held the ball for long stretches during their comeback.

Van Buren completed 16 of 29 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns for USF. Crowther added 83 rushing yards and a score on 20 carries, while Rodgers caught five passes for 72 yards.

UTSA returns to the Alamodome next Saturday, Oct. 17, hosting Navy at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.