Peterson's 179-yard rush carries UTSA past North Texas

A'marion Peterson rushed for 179 yards and scored four touchdowns on Saturday to lead the University of Texas at San Antonio to a 35-16 victory over North Texas. The win gives the Roadrunners a share of first place in the American Conference.

Peterson carried the ball only 11 times, yet he accounted for nearly half the team's total offense. His career-high rushing performance included runs of 47, 38, and 46 yards, along with a short burst from the two-yard line. These scores built a comfortable margin that held through the final minutes of the game.

UTSA established its lead early when cornerback RJ Lester Jr. intercepted Tayven Jackson and returned the ball 9 yards for a touchdown. The play occurred with 9:33 remaining in the first quarter. North Texas responded with a 31-yard field goal by Dominic De Freitas, but Peterson's first touchdown quickly erased that effort to make the score 14-3.

The Mean Green attempted a comeback in the second half after starting quarterback Tayven Jackson exited the game with an injury. He later appeared on the sideline with his arm in a sling. Backup quarterback Chris Jimerson Jr. connected with Max Reese on a 16-yard pass to cut the deficit to 21-10. Jimerson later ran for a 9-yard score, but a failed two-point conversion left the gap at 21-16.

Peterson sealed the outcome in the final 3 1/2 minutes with two more long scores. The result extends UTSA's record to 8-2 and snaps a six-game win streak for North Texas, which had averaged 51 points per game in those victories. The Roadrunners have now won five of the last six matchups against the Mean Green.

Memphis, the third team in the conference lead, also sits at 5-1 in conference play but does not face either UTSA or North Texas this season. The teams remain tied at the top of the standings.

Both teams return to action on Saturday. North Texas will travel to Tulane, while UTSA hosts UAB on the road.