THE AI PLAYGROUND

4of17UTSA cornerback Ken Robinson (21) breaks up a pass intended for North Texas wide receiver Jyaire Shorter during the first half of an NCAA college football trò chơi for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less5of17North Texas place-kicker Ethan Mooney (0) watches his field goal against UTSA during the first half of an NCAA college football game for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less
6of177of17North Texas running back Ikaika Ragsdale (6) is stopped by UTSA cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football trò chơi for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less8of17UTSA running back Kevorian Barnes (31) runs for a touchdown past North Texas defensive back Logan Wilson (13) during the first half of an NCAA college football trò chơi for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less
9of1710of17UTSA wide receiver Joshua Cephus, right, is upended by North Texas defensive back Logan Wilson (13) after making a catch during the second half of an NCAA college football trò chơi for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less11of17UTSA running back Kevorian Barnes (31) is grabbed by North Texas linebacker Sean-Thomas Faulkner (25) during the second half of an NCAA college football trò chơi for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less
12of1713of17UTSA running back Kevorian Barnes, right, is stopped by North Texas linebacker Larry Nixon III (3) on a run during the second half of an NCAA college football game for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less14of17North Texas wide receiver Jyaire Shorter (16) makes a touchdown catch over UTSA cornerback Ken Robinson (21) during the second half of an NCAA college football game for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less
15of1716of17North Texas wide receiver Jyaire Shorter (16) celebrates after making a touchdown catch against UTSA during the second half of an NCAA college football trò chơi for the Conference USA championship in San Antonio, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.Eric Gay/APShow MoreShow Less
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SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Frank Harris threw for 341 yards & four touchdowns & ran for 49 yards & another score, lifting No. 23 UTSA to lớn its second straight Conference USA championship with a 48-27 victory over North Texas on Friday night at the Alamodome.

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UTSA knocked off North Texas for the second time in six weeks. In a game on Oct. 21, it took Harris’ 10-yard pass to De’Corian Clark with 15 seconds remaining lớn give UTSA a 31-27 victory.

“This just means a lot for the city,” San Antonio native Harris said of the consecutive titles. “We were committed here. It was something we wanted to bởi for the city và for the university. Getting it done again this season definitely means a lot. What can I say? We’re back-to-back champs.”

Sophomore back Kevorian Barnes, who got his first start because of an injury khổng lồ regular Brenden Brady, capitalized on the featured back role with 28 carries for 175 yards — both career highs — và a TD.

Not wanting a repeat of its regular-season finale a week earlier in which UTSA found itself in a 24-0 hole against UTEP, the team came out pushing from the start, scoring on the opening possession — a 27-yard bust up the middle by Barnes.

After falling behind 10-7, the Roadrunners reeled off 17 unanswered points, including 10 in the final 1:12 of the first half lớn take a 24-10 lead at the break và never trailed again.

UTSA coach Jeff Traylor didn’t flinch after the Mean Green took the early lead.

“We’ve taken way more toàn thân blows than that this season,” Traylor said. “They don’t blink, they really don’t. They just keep playing the next play. That’s just the way they’re wired.”

Traylor pointed out previous deficits against the Roadrunners.

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“They just won’t go away,” Traylor said. “It’s in their DNA; what they’re made of and how they believe in themselves."

Harris & the offense, which has scored at least 30 points in 12 of 13 games this season, kept the pressure on, rolling up 571 yards of total offense. Harris had scoring passes of 32, 14, and 39 yards to lớn senior Zakhari Franklin, & his fourth — a 16-yard toss to lớn junior tight end Oscar Cardenas — sealed the victory with 4:07 left.

“We always try to lớn take what defense gives us,” Harris said. “Last time, I wasn’t prepared for checks and stuff lượt thích that. This time I was very prepared for those; whether it was a protection check or changing a route. Coaches put the keys in my hand và I went out & executed.”

Junior quarterback Austin Aune, who engineered a scoring drive that got North Texas within 34-27 early in fourth quarter, threw for 194 yards & score, but was picked off twice. He said giving up the 17 unanswered points to end the first half was a turning point.

“They got a lot of momentum,” Aune said. “Offensively we needed to come up with touchdowns & we got field goals. WIth a good team lượt thích that, they’ve got a great offense, so we needed lớn take advantage of scoring & making more plays.”

The Roadrunners, who ran the table in conference play this season, improved to 11-2 và will await a bowl invitation. Projections include a potential bid from the New Orleans Bowl. North Texas fell to 7-6 and is bowl-eligible.

C-USA FAREWELL

The title game marked the final Conference-USA trò chơi for both programs, which are set to join the AAC beginning next season. UTSA leaves with back-to-back crowns & UNT bows out with two straight losses in the title gamet. The Mean Green lost khổng lồ Florida Atlantic 41-17 in the 2017 C-USA championship.

WILL HE, WON’T HE?

Harris, a sixth-year senior who will still have one year of eligibility, has not decided if he will come back next season as the Runners’ signal caller. He set UTSA passing records for yards in season (3,865), career (9,158) & TDs in a season (31) and career (73).

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“I don’t know what I’m going to bởi yet,” Harris said. “But it’s not about me right now. It’s about my teammates. We’re champions, I just want khổng lồ go back lớn the locker room and celebrate with my teammates.”

TRIANGLE OF TOUGHNESS

Traylor adopted a mantra for the team called the Triangle of Toughness, anchored by taking the San Antonio area code 210, and assigning the jersey numbers 2 (receiver Joshua Cephus), 1 (Linebacker Trevor Harmanson) và 0 (Harris) to lớn the toughest players & team leaders. “It’s not just some words on wall,” Traylor said of the motto signified by a hand gesture that creates a triangle with the two thumbs & forefingers. “It’s stuff we live in our hearts. They’ll take it with them the rest of their lives. I can see their children walking around their house one day doing the triangle of toughness.”

QBS FOR THE BOOKS

While Franklin was setting a UTSA record for career touchdowns, UNT’s Aune’s lone scoring toss gave him a UNT season-record 32 touchdowns passes.

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