In the 2025 First Responder Bowl, the game was all about response.
The UTSA Roadrunners stared down an immediate 14-0 deficit to the FIU Panthers, as their streak of winning seasons stood in peril. But UTSA rebounded in calm and collected fashion in Dallas, piling on 38 unanswered points in an eventual 57-20 victory over former Conference USA brethren FIU.
The 37-point domination marked the Roadrunners’ third bowl victory in program history and third in the last three seasons. Each one of those triumphs
was anchored by quarterback Owen McCown. On UTSA’s opening series of the night, the quarterback attempted a first down scramble but prior to the sticks, FIU safety Antonio Patterson delivered a textbook Brian Dawkins-esque hit to McCown’s shoulder, dislodging the quarterback’s helmet 10 yards behind him.
But McCown recovered from that hit to deliver a 295-yard, 3-touchdown masterclass on an 18-of-28 showing. McCown connected on three 20+ yard touchdown receptions — one to running back Will Henderson III, one to wide receiver Devin McCuin, and one to tight end Patrick Overmyer. The quarterback claimed MVP honors of the First Responder Bowl, helping UTSA clinch its sixth-consecutive winning season while taking full advantage of a depleted FIU defensive backfield.
Assisting McCown was tight ends coach Hunter Rittimann. The 29-year old assumed play-calling duties for the first time in his young coaching career, taking the reins after previous offensive coordinator Justin Burke left for Kentucky. Rittimann’s offensive coordinator audition went swimmingly as the Roadrunners posted 57 points and 481 yards of offense (310 in the first half). UTSA exhibited tremendous balance under the new play-caller as well, considering six different players notched a touchdown in the offensive masterclass. Three of those scores belong to running back Will Henderson III, who shined as the primary option in place of the injured Robert Henry Jr.
FIU established a 14-0 lead in under six minutes of action. Quarterback Joe Pesansky guided the Panthers down the field, finishing with a 19-yard touchdown strike to a diving Kyle McNeal for a quick 7-0 lead. Then after forcing a Roadrunner punt, Maguire Anderson made history. The return man set a new bowl and Conference USA record with a 97-yard punt return, evading several UTSA tacklers en route to FIU’s first special teams touchdown since 2021.
UTSA responded with a 57-6 run to conclude the contest. The Roadrunners turned the double-digit deficit into a lead on the opening play of the second quarter and then expanded the margin from there. UTSA created a commanding 31-14 lead by halftime, and when FIU finally answered with a touchdown in the third quarter, the Roadrunners still managed points. Ahamad Chapman returned an interception on a 2-point attempt to the other end zone.
The Roadrunner defense struggled with penalties but otherwise enjoyed a spectacular outing against a scalding FIU team that won 4-straight to conclude the regular season. UTSA feasted in the backfield with 10 quarterback pressure and eight tackles for loss, with inside linebacker Shad Banks Jr. leading the charge in his final collegiate game. The Panthers finished a jarring 1-of-10 on fourth downs — and a fourth down failure was the result of nine out of their 13 drives Friday night.
FIU (7-6, 5-3 CUSA) suffered its second-worst loss of the season by the final margin, but the Panthers can still hang their heads high. Despite the bitter finish, FIU produced its first winning season since 2018. First-year head coach Willie Simmons restored order in the 305, and the Panthers hope the culture sustains — just as it has at UTSA throughout the 2020s decade.
UTSA (7-6, 4-4 American) now has six winning seasons in six years under head coach Jeff Traylor. Traylor and the Roadrunners are now regulars at emerging in these critical games. Heading into 2023, UTSA had never won a bowl game in school history. Now, the 14th-year FBS program rides a 3-game bowl win streak. Traylor sprinted down the sideline to avoid a Gatorade bath before he was eventually tackled by a horde of blue jerseys, gleefully celebrating a spectacular finish to the 2025 campaign.
