ATLANTA -- UTSA is off to a 3-0 start for the first time in the program's brief history. The Roadrunners beat Georgia State 38-14 today at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Evans Okotcha rushed for a school-record three touchdowns and UTSA ran past Georgia State, 38-14, on Saturday night at the Georgia Dome.
Okotcha had 49 yards on the ground to help the Roadrunners, who improved to 3-0 and now are riding a four-game winning streak dating back to last season, rush for 225 yards against the FBS transitional Panthers (0-3). David Glasco II had a team-high 55 yards rushing on just four carries, while Eric Soza and CheRod Simpson added 51 and 35, respectively.
As a team, UTSA tallied a season-high 442 yards of total offense, with 217 coming through the air, and doubled-up Georgia State on first downs, 26-13.
The Roadrunners got on the board first after a 47-yard run by Glasco II on the opening drive helped set up a 26-yard field goal by Sean Ianno.
The Panthers answered with an 84-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline from Ben McLane to Albert Wilson on their first possession.
Kenny Harrison returned the ensuing kickoff a program-record 84 yards to set up a 5-yard scoring jaunt up the middle by Okotcha and give UTSA a 10-7 lead with 8:01 left in the first quarter.
The Birds tacked on another score when Soza found Aaron Grubb in the back of the end zone on third and goal late in the opening stanza for a 17-7 advantage.
Okotcha got his second TD of the evening on a one-yard dive with 5:31 remaining in the second to stake UTSA to a 24-7 halftime edge.
The Roadrunners added a pair of TDs in the third to help put the game out of reach.
Soza connected with Marcellus Mack in the back corner of the end zone from 20 yards to put UTSA up, 31-7. Okotcha then struck paydirt once again from one yard out to make it 38-7 with 6:33 left in the third.
A late TD pass from Ronnie Bell to Wilson provided the final 24-point margin.
"I felt like if everyone played their best today, we could win this game," head coach Larry Coker said. "I am very proud of our coaches and the game plan they put together, and I'm really proud of the way our guys executed today. This was a good road win against a solid team."
UTSA scored on six of its first seven drives and was 6-for-6 in the red zone at one point, finishing 6-for-8 after two late drives resulted in turnovers on downs. The Birds also converted four turnovers into a pair of scores and now have created seven scores off 10 opponent miscues this season.
Mack entered the game with two catches for 20 yards this season and six for 54 for his career, but finished with team highs of four receptions and 52 yards.
Soza,who finished 17-of-24 for 206 yards and a pair of TDs, completed passes to 10 different receivers, including three for 39 yards to Okotcha.
The UTSA defense limited Georgia State to 86 rushing yards and 307 total with 53 coming on the final drive of the contest. Crosby Adams, Eric Brown and Brian King all had INTs, while Brown also forced a fumble that Darrien Starling recovered.
The Roadrunners return home to host Northwestern Oklahoma State next Saturday, Sept. 22. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Alamodome.
