AAC Week 8 Recap: UTSA Takes Six at Tulane, Army Walks Off Again and Messer Scores Five
Remember all that talk about ball security? Tulane spent Week 7 taking the ball away six times from Memphis, and the whole city of San Antonio spent the week wondering if UTSA could hang on to it in New Orleans. The answer came in a twist nobody saw coming: UTSA gave it away on the very first snap, then took it away from Tulane six times. The Roadrunners rolled 42-19 at Yulman Stadium to move to 7-1 and 4-0 in the American (UTSA Athletics).
It wasn’t the only wild finish of the week. Memphis erased a 24-10 deficit to beat East Carolina in overtime and clinched bowl eligibility for the 13th straight season. Army won on a 50-yard field goal as time expired at Tulsa. Florida Atlantic and Rice combined for 100 points, and North Texas scored in all three phases to stay unbeaten in league play (American Conference Week 8 postgame notebook). Here’s every game, the updated standings and our Snap Count Power Rankings. If you missed it, here’s our Week 8 preview.
UTSA 42, Tulane 19: The defense travels, and the Roadrunners roll
The start couldn’t have gone much worse. On UTSA’s first play from scrimmage, Tulane cornerback Anthony Rogers jumped a screen pass and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown. Five seconds in, it was 7-0 Green Wave (NOLA.com; San Antonio Express-News).
Then the UTSA defense took over. A’Marion Peterson tied it with a 1-yard run to finish an eight-play, 56-yard drive. Camron Cooper recovered an errant option pitch near midfield, and Peterson went 16 yards untouched on a direct snap for a 14-7 lead. Early in the second quarter, Jameian Buxton, playing in his hometown, forced a fumble on a drive that had reached the 2-yard line, and RJ Lester Jr. recovered it in the end zone. Zach Morris then recovered a fumble forced by Eddy Smith at the Tulane 46, and Owen McCown finished that drive with a 4-yard keeper to make it 21-7 (UTSA Athletics).
Tulane kicked two Cooper Helmke field goals to get within 21-13 at the half, the second as time expired after Rogers picked off McCown for the second time. The second half belonged to San Antonio. Will Henderson III capped a 72-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown run, and Brandon High Jr. finished a 13-play, 63-yard march with a 5-yard score to make it 35-13 with 2:41 left in the third. Johnnie Daniels broke an 81-yard run on fourth down to set up a Tulane touchdown, but backup quarterback Mark Wiepert answered with a 1-yard sneak with two minutes left (UTSA Athletics; NOLA.com).
The numbers that matter:
- Six takeaways: four fumble recoveries (Cooper, Lester, Morris and Elijah Newell) and two interceptions (Morris and Willie Nelson III). That ties a UTSA school record.
- Six rushing touchdowns: also a school record tie. UTSA ran 47 times for 223 yards.
- Will Henderson III, RB: 15 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD, his second 100-yard game of the season.
- A’Marion Peterson, RB: 51 yards and 2 TD. Brandon High Jr. added 50 yards and a score.
- Owen McCown, QB: 16-of-23, 173 yards, 2 INT, plus a rushing TD.
- Owen Pewee, LB: 5 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 QB hurries and a pass breakup.
- Third downs: UTSA converted 12 of 16. Tulane managed 332 total yards and 67 rushing.
Sources: UTSA Athletics, San Antonio Express-News, American Conference.
Tulane was its own worst enemy, too. The Green Wave tied a program record for turnovers in a game, and the loss snapped a 10-game home winning streak at Yulman Stadium (NOLA.com). “That was a good butt-whipping,” Tulane coach Will Hall said, according to NOLA.com. “They kicked our butt two years in a row.”
Jeff Traylor wasn’t interested in the ghosts of 2023, when UTSA turned it over five times at Yulman Stadium and lost a 13-point game with the league title on the line, as the Express-News recalled. “That was a big one for us. I never doubted we were ready for this, so it doesn’t surprise me,” Traylor said, according to the Express-News. “You guys are the ones still hanging on the last two years. I’m into this year.”
McCown credited a mindset the team built in the offseason. “This group of guys is super unique,” he said, according to the Express-News. “We don’t blink when it comes to good or bad stuff. We just roll into the next play.”
Why it matters for San Antonio: According to the American, UTSA’s 7-1 start is its best since the 2021 team opened 11-0 (American Conference). The Roadrunners are 3-1 on the road, and the only loss came at then-No. 1 Texas (AP via ESPN). We picked UTSA 27-24 in our preview. We’ll happily take the 23-point miss. Now comes a bye, then a Thursday night trip to Florida Atlantic on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN or ESPN2, then North Texas at the Alamodome for Homecoming on Nov. 14 (UTSA schedule).
Memphis 41, East Carolina 34 (OT): Tigers rally and punch a 13th straight bowl ticket
A week after its six-turnover night at Tulane, Memphis looked hungover for a half. Noah Perez kicked three field goals before halftime, and East Carolina led 16-3 at the break and 24-10 in the third quarter (ECU Athletics). Then Marcus Stokes caught fire. Jermane Hayes took a short pass 59 yards for a touchdown, Stokes hit Jemyri Davis for scores of 20 and 4 yards, and Jaylen Lewis recovered a muffed punt along the way. Stokes’ 2-yard run capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive and gave Memphis its first lead at 34-27 (Memphis Athletics).
ECU wasn’t done. Mitch Griffis, who replaced starter Emory Williams, hit Landon Sides for a 20-yard touchdown on fourth-and-9 to tie it at 34 late in regulation. Stokes scored from 5 yards out on the first possession of overtime, and Ellis Ellis Jr. picked off Griffis in the end zone to end it (ECU Athletics; Memphis Athletics). For the second straight week, ECU lost in overtime on a game-ending interception.
- Marcus Stokes, QB, Memphis: 29-of-43, 320 yards, 3 TD passing, plus 2 rushing TD
- Jemyri Davis, WR, Memphis: 7 catches, 91 yards, 2 TD
- Landon Sides, WR, ECU: 7 catches, 130 yards, 1 TD
- Noah Perez, K, ECU: 4 field goals, from 22, 30, 49 and 40 yards
“I thought our kids fought their tails off,” ECU coach Blake Harrell said, according to ECU Athletics. “Hats off to Memphis.” Memphis (6-2, 3-1) hosts Army on Saturday. ECU (3-4, 1-2) hosts Temple.
Army 38, Tulsa 35: Dawson Jones does it again
Tulsa led 35-28 in the fourth quarter before Army scored the final 10 points. Cale Hellums tied it with a 1-yard run with 1:50 left. After the defense forced a three-and-out, Army took over at its own 37 with 51 seconds left. Hellums converted a third-and-3 and broke a 16-yard run to the Tulsa 36, and Dawson Jones hit a 50-yarder as time expired (Army Athletics).
It’s Jones’ second game-winner this season, after his 25-yarder at the horn beat Tulane on Oct. 10. He also hit from 51 and 34 yards, and he’s the first Army kicker to make two field goals of 50-plus yards in one game (Army Athletics).
- Cale Hellums, QB, Army: 121 rushing yards, 3 TD, and 7-of-12 passing for 64 yards. His 16 rushing touchdowns lead FBS, and he passed 2,000 career rushing yards.
- Godspower Nwawuihe, RB, Army: season-high 135 yards on 12 carries, including a 66-yard TD
- Chris Thompson Jr., LB, Tulsa: 15 tackles
- Baylor Hayes, QB, Tulsa: 262 passing yards and 2 TD; Trequan Jones added a 59-yard TD run
Army (5-2, 4-1) has won three straight and heads to Memphis on Saturday night. Our preview pick was Army 31-24, so we got the winner, if not the drama. Tulsa fell to 4-4 and 1-3 (box score). Army also got a blocked punt from running back Tim Kloska that set up the tying touchdown.
Florida Atlantic 51, Rice 49: Easton Messer scores five in a 100-point thriller
According to the American, this was the third-highest-scoring FBS game of the season (American Conference). FAU receiver Easton Messer scored five touchdowns, two rushing, two receiving and an 82-yard punt return with 3:37 left. That was the longest punt return touchdown in program history, and it turned out to be the difference (FAU Athletics; AP via ESPN). According to FAU, his 30 points tied Devin Singletary’s program record, and he is the first Owls receiver to score multiple touchdowns both rushing and receiving in one game.
Rice made it a game all afternoon. Gael Ochoa, making his first start in place of injured Jacurri Brown, ran 12 times for 259 yards and four touchdowns on runs of 55, 52, 74 and 69 yards. His 71-yard touchdown pass to Braylen Walker made it 51-49 with 2:51 left. Rice got one last chance, but a 55-yard field goal try fell just short with less than a minute to play (AP via ESPN; box score).
- Easton Messer, WR, FAU: 12 catches, 162 receiving yards (per AP), 5 total TD, 262 all-purpose yards
- Caden Veltkamp, QB, FAU: 29-of-37, 339 yards, 3 TD passing, plus a rushing TD
- Derrick Rogers Jr., DB, FAU: blocked punt for a safety early in the second quarter
- Gael Ochoa, QB, Rice: 12 carries, 259 rushing yards, 4 rushing TD, plus a 71-yard TD pass
FAU (5-2, 2-1) visits North Texas on Thursday. Rice fell to 1-7 and 0-4.
North Texas 49, Navy 39: Mean Green score every way they can
Navy held the ball for 37:31 and ran for 363 yards, and North Texas still never trailed. Tayven Jackson completed his first nine passes and finished 17-of-23 for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Dalton Carnes returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown, and linebacker Zakye Barker went 63 yards with a fumble for another. It was UNT’s first game with an offensive, defensive and special teams touchdown since 2018, and it snapped Navy’s eight-game home winning streak (UNT Athletics).
- Justin Stevenson, WR, UNT: career-high 8 catches, 209 yards, 2 TD
- Jahiem White, RB, UNT: 20 carries, 174 yards, 2 TD (including a 59-yarder to seal it), plus 4 catches for 58 yards
- Zakye Barker, LB, UNT: 12 tackles and the 63-yard fumble return TD
- Jackson Gutierrez, QB, Navy: 228 rushing yards, 3 TD, plus 8-of-11 passing for 156 yards and a TD
“It was a three-phase win,” UNT coach Neal Brown said, according to UNT Athletics. “We made them have to play from behind and that’s not something they like to do.” North Texas (5-2, 3-0) has won four straight and hosts FAU on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Navy (2-5, 1-4) plays Notre Dame on Saturday.
Idle: UAB, USF and Charlotte
UAB (4-3, 2-1), USF (5-2, 1-2) and Charlotte (1-6, 1-2) had the week off. UAB visits USF on Halloween, and Charlotte hosts Tulane on Friday night.
American Conference standings
Through Week 8, according to the American Conference:
| Team | American | Overall | Streak |
|---|---|---|---|
| UTSA | 4-0 | 7-1 | W5 |
| North Texas | 3-0 | 5-2 | W4 |
| Army | 4-1 | 5-2 | W3 |
| Memphis | 3-1 | 6-2 | W1 |
| Florida Atlantic | 2-1 | 5-2 | W1 |
| UAB | 2-1 | 4-3 | W1 |
| South Florida | 1-2 | 5-2 | W1 |
| Tulane | 1-2 | 3-4 | L1 |
| East Carolina | 1-2 | 3-4 | L2 |
| Temple | 1-2 | 2-5 | L2 |
| Charlotte | 1-2 | 1-6 | W1 |
| Tulsa | 1-3 | 4-4 | L1 |
| Navy | 1-4 | 2-5 | L2 |
| Rice | 0-4 | 1-7 | L7 |
Snap Count Power Rankings: Week 8
Here’s how we see the American after eight weeks. Overall record first, league record in parentheses.
- UTSA 7-1 (4-0): Five straight wins, six takeaways at Tulane and the first lopsided league win of the season. The only loss is at Texas.
- North Texas 5-2 (3-0): Four straight wins and 40-plus points in four straight games. A touchdown in all three phases at Navy moves the Mean Green up to No. 2.
- Army 5-2 (4-1): Three straight wins, two of them on walk-off field goals. Army keeps winning close games.
- Memphis 6-2 (3-1): Bowl eligible after storming back from 14 down against ECU. The first half was a concern. The second half was a statement.
- Florida Atlantic 5-2 (2-1): Survived Rice thanks to Messer’s historic day, but allowing 49 points to a 1-7 team keeps the Owls at No. 5. A trip to Denton on Thursday will tell us more.
- USF 5-2 (1-2): Idle. The 4-0 non-conference run still carries weight heading into the UAB game.
- UAB 4-3 (2-1): Idle after the overtime win over ECU. A road trip to Tampa is next.
- Tulane 3-4 (1-2): From six takeaways to six giveaways in one week. A home loss by 23 points drops the Green Wave to No. 8.
- East Carolina 3-4 (1-2): Two straight overtime losses, both ending on interceptions. ECU is close, but the quarterback spot needs to settle.
- Tulsa 4-4 (1-3): Led Army in the fourth and lost on the final play. The Golden Hurricane are competitive but keep losing close games.
Others: Temple 2-5 (1-2), Charlotte 1-6 (1-2), Navy 2-5 (1-4), Rice 1-7 (0-4).
How We Rank
- Strength of schedule: We look at opponents’ winning percentage to date and for the full season, along with power ratings.
- Victory quality: Big wins and competitive results against better opponents count more. Close wins over bottom-tier teams count less.
- Weighted losses: We look at both the margin and the opponent’s strength. A competitive loss to a Power 4 team or a solid peer gets more of a discount than a blowout loss to a mid-tier American team.
Records are from the American Conference standings. Last week’s rankings are in our Week 7 recap.
Week 9 schedule (all times CT)
- Thursday, Oct. 29: Florida Atlantic at North Texas, 6:30 p.m. (ESPN)
- Friday, Oct. 30: Tulane at Charlotte, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
- Saturday, Oct. 31: Navy vs. Notre Dame (Foxborough, Mass.), 11 a.m. (ABC)
- Saturday, Oct. 31: UAB at South Florida, 11 a.m. (ESPNU)
- Saturday, Oct. 31: Temple at East Carolina, 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
- Saturday, Oct. 31: Army at Memphis, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)
UTSA is off. Times and networks are from the American Conference and were converted from Eastern. For Roadrunners fans, Thursday’s FAU-North Texas game is the one to watch: UTSA plays both of them in its next two games.
Box scores, recaps and highlights
- UTSA 42, Tulane 19: UTSA recap · NOLA.com · Express-News · AP recap (ESPN) · American Conference highlights (YouTube)
- Memphis 41, East Carolina 34 (OT): Memphis recap · ECU recap
- Army 38, Tulsa 35: Army recap · official box score
- FAU 51, Rice 49: FAU recap · AP recap (ESPN) · box score
- North Texas 49, Navy 39: UNT recap
- American Conference Week 8 postgame notebook (results, standings, Week 9 schedule)
More from SA Snap Count
- UTSA edges Navy 38-34 and clinches bowl eligibility
- ESPN is buying the 24-team playoff. Why won’t the Group of Six build its own?
- CoFL approves the ‘Continental Divide’ for 2027
- Repole, the Battlehawks and the dome dates: show us the calendar
Bye week or not, the Roadrunners talk never stops. Follow @SASnapcount210 on X for every UTSA and American Conference take.