UTSA rallies late and South Alabama wins 56-49 to close Thursday college football

Thursday's college football schedule ended with two late contests decided by seven points: UTSA rallied past South Florida 31-24, and South Alabama held off Arkansas State 56-49. Liberty beat Sam Houston 35-3, while Western Kentucky defeated Missouri State 34-13.

UTSA supplied the night's last-minute reversal. The Roadrunners lost a 23-17 lead when Michael Van Buren Jr. threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Crowther with 1:56 remaining. A'Marion Peterson restored it with a 1-yard rushing score at 0:15, his third touchdown of the game.

The winning possession depended on yards gained on the ground. Owen McCown's 19-yard scramble converted a third down near the start of the drive, and Will Henderson III's 26-yard run put UTSA a yard from the end zone. David Amador II's successful two-point pass attempt made the final margin seven. UTSA finished with 277 rushing yards and improved to 2-0 in the American Conference.

Read the UTSA-South Florida recap.

South Alabama needed a different kind of finish. Its 56-35 fourth-quarter lead shrank to 56-49 after two Arkansas State touchdowns, but the Jaguars consumed all of the remaining 6:51 on their final possession. Keenan Phillips' third-down run helped close a night in which he scored four touchdowns.

Phillips ran for 157 yards and three scores and returned a kickoff 100 yards for another touchdown. Arkansas State quarterback Trey Owens threw for 418 yards and four touchdowns, but the Red Wolves never got a final chance to tie. South Alabama moved to 2-0 in the Sun Belt.

Read the South Alabama-Arkansas State recap.

Western Kentucky's response to Missouri State's third-quarter push was more gradual. After the Bears cut the margin to 21-13, Karl Campbell made two field goals and Ajay Allen added a 39-yard touchdown run. Allen finished with 105 yards and two scores as the Hilltoppers earned their first Conference USA win of the season.

Brock Glenn supplied 231 passing yards, 95 rushing yards and two total touchdowns. WKU outgained Missouri State 464-340 and scored the final 13 points of the game.

Read the WKU-Missouri State recap.

Liberty had the widest margin of the four finals. The Flames allowed only a late first-half field goal and scored three unanswered touchdowns after the break. Ethan Vasko ran for two touchdowns, Kam Davis and Terron Kellman added rushing scores, and Deshawn Purdie threw the opening touchdown to Bryce Randolph.

The Flames gained 297 rushing yards and won their fifth straight game. Sam Houston failed on three second-half fourth-down attempts, finishing without a touchdown despite committing no turnovers.

Read the Liberty-Sam Houston recap.