2021 Ryan Conference USA Football Championship Game
Conference Championship
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers UTSA Roadrunners
(8–4) (11–1)
41 49
Head coach: 
Tyson Helton		 Head coach: 
Jeff Traylor
1234 Total
Western Kentucky 1031315 41
UTSA 1414147 49
DateDecember 3, 2021
Season2021
StadiumAlamodome
LocationSan Antonio, Texas
MVPSincere McCormick
FavoriteWestern Kentucky by 3
RefereeKevin Randall[1]
Attendance41,148
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBSSN
AnnouncersRich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), and Jenny Dell (sideline)
2021 Conference USA football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Western Kentucky xy  7 –1   9 –5  
Marshall  5 –3   7 –6  
Old Dominion  5 –3   6 –7  
Middle Tennessee  4 –4   7 –6  
Florida Atlantic  3 –5   5 –7  
Charlotte  3 –5   5 –7  
FIU  0 –8   1 –11  
West Division
UTSA xy$  7 –1   12 –2  
UAB  6 –2   9 –4  
North Texas  5 –3   6 –7  
UTEP  4 –4   7 –6  
Rice  3 –5   4 –8  
Southern Miss  2 –6   3 –9  
Louisiana Tech  2 –6   3 –9  
Championship: UTSA 49, Western Kentucky 41
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant

The 2021 Conference USA Football Championship Game was a college football game played on December 3, 2021, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It was the 17th edition of the Conference USA Football Championship Game and determined the champion of Conference USA (C–USA) for the 2021 season. The game began at 6:00 p.m. CST and aired on CBS Sports Network. The contest featured the hosts and West Division champion UTSA and the East Division champion Western Kentucky. Sponsored by tax services and consulting firm Ryan LLC, the game was officially known as the Ryan Conference USA Football Championship Game.

Teams

The 2021 C–USA title game matched the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (WKU), champions of the East Division, against the UTSA Roadrunners, champions of the West Division. This was the third meeting between the teams, with the series even at one win apiece.[2] With both teams relatively new to Conference USA – UTSA having joined in 2013 and Western Kentucky in 2014 – and situated in opposite divisions, they did not meet for six years after their initial meeting (a WKU victory by 38 points) in 2014.[3] Entering the title game, the teams' second—and most recent—meeting came in the 2021 regular season, when UTSA defeated Western Kentucky by six points.[4]

This was Western Kentucky's third appearance in the Conference USA Football Championship Game, after victories in 2015 and 2016, while UTSA made their first appearance.[5]

Western Kentucky

Under the direction of third-year head coach Tyson Helton,[6] Western Kentucky began their season with a sound defeat of UT Martin, as Bailey Zappe passed for seven touchdowns in the Hilltoppers' 38-point victory.[7] WKU's success was rather short-lived, though, as a four-game losing streak followed. Losses to Army,[8] Indiana,[9] No. 17 Michigan State,[10] and UTSA[4] – three of the four by six points or fewer – put the Hilltoppers in a 1–4 hole just a few weeks into the month of October. Road wins at Old Dominion[11] and FIU[12] and a homecoming victory over Charlotte brought the Hilltoppers close to a .500 record, which they would go on to achieve the following week against Middle Tennessee.[13] Western Kentucky extended their win streak further with victories against Rice and Florida Atlantic, putting their record at 7–4.[14][15] Their final regular season game, a road contest against Marshall on November 27, would ultimately decide the C–USA East Division title, with both teams in a position to clinch a spot in the championship game with a victory.[16] Western Kentucky won 53–21[17] and clinched the division title and a championship game berth as a result.[18]

UTSA

The Roadrunners, led by second-year head coach Jeff Traylor, opened their season with a week one road upset of Illinois. This marked UTSA's second win against a Power Five team[19] and their first win against a Big Ten opponent.[20] UTSA's home opener saw the Roadrunners pound Lamar 54–0, which was the first shutout in school history.[21] The Roadrunners earned their first conference victory the following week against Middle Tennessee[22] and finished their non-conference schedule with an upset victory over Memphis[23] (which included a school-record 21-point comeback[24]) and a narrow victory against a winless UNLV team.[25] After another narrow victory against Western Kentucky,[4] the Roadrunners beat Rice in a blowout on homecoming,[26] earning them their first national ranking when they entered the AP Poll at No. 24 the following day.[27] Victories against Louisiana Tech and UTEP followed;[28][29] the Roadrunners fell out of the poll following the first win but re-entered at No. 23 in time for their November 13 contest against Southern Miss, which they also won.[30] Now 10–0, UTSA clinched the West Division title and their spot in the championship game with a three-point defeat of UAB in their penultimate game.[31] In their final regular season game, a road contest against North Texas, the Roadrunners were unable to complete their undefeated regular season, as the Mean Green dominated to win 45–23 and knock UTSA's record to 11–1.[32]

Game summary

First half

Scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. CST start, the game began on CBS Sports Network at 6:06 p.m., with the opening kickoff from Hunter Duplessis being returned to the Western Kentucky 22-yard line. The Hilltoppers started their opening drive with a pair of incomplete passes but it took just three additional plays for quarterback Bailey Zappe to find Mitchell Tinsley for a 60-yard touchdown pass, giving the Hilltoppers an early lead. UTSA responded with a touchdown drive of their own; after taking the ball with a touchback, the Roadrunners moved the ball into WKU territory within five plays and capped the drive with a 24-yard Frank Harris touchdown run several plays later. Taking possession after the kickoff at their own 34-yard line, Western Kentucky's ensuing drive was propelled by a 45-yard connection from Zappe to Tinsley that took the ball into the red zone, though the drive stalled from there and the Hilltoppers settled for a 33-yard field goal, which put them back in front by three points. On UTSA's ensuing drive, the Roadrunner offense drove into opposing territory in three plays and ended up finding themselves facing a 4th & 1 on the Western Kentucky 22-yard line; Sincere McCormick carried the ball for two yards to convert it and later carried the ball for the same distance to score a touchdown and give UTSA their first lead. Hunter Duplessis' ensuing kickoff went through the end zone for another touchback, and Western Kentucky reached UTSA territory relatively quickly. The Hilltoppers reached the UTSA 1-yard line but failed to gain yardage on three of the next four plays and converted a 34-yard field goal on 4th down.[33]

The UTSA offense did not let up to begin the game's second quarter. Starting their possession on their own 25-yard line, it again took the Roadrunners three plays to reach midfield, and they converted a third down shortly thereafter to prolong the drive. A 24-yard pass from running back Brenden Brady to wide receiver Zakhari Franklin gave UTSA the ball inside the WKU 10-yard line, and Brady scored on a six-yard rush on the following play. Western Kentucky's ensuing drive was the first in the game to not result in points being scored, as the five-play series resulted in a 53-yard field goal missed wide left by placekicker Brayden Narveson. UTSA responded quickly; McCormick scored on a 65-yard touchdown rush on the very next play, increasing UTSA's lead to 28–13, in what would end up being the final score of the first half. The teams traded punts on each of their next drives; Western Kentucky lost a net total of one yard in the game's first three-and-out, and UTSA managed to pick up 33 yards but punted on 4th & 13 near midfield. The Hilltoppers had a chance to narrow the Roadrunners' lead at the end of the second quarter, but Narveson's 53-yard attempt, his second from that distance, was unsuccessful, leaving seven seconds on the clock. UTSA kneeled the ball and went to halftime leading 28–13.[33]

Second half

UTSA received the ball to begin the second half but was unable to move the ball effectively and were forced to punt for the second time. This ended up benefitting them, however, as Western Kentucky's return man, Jerreth Sterns, muffed the punt. The ball was recovered by UTSA, who scored a touchdown two plays later. Things would worsen for Western Kentucky on their next drive; after a Noah Whittington rush went for no gain on the first play, Bailey Zappe's pass was intercepted by Antonio Parks on the second, and Sincere McCormick scored from 17 yards out on the next play, making the score 42–13. The Hilltoppers would put an end to UTSA's streak of 28 unanswered points on their next drive, as WKU drove all the way to the UTSA 12-yard line before facing a 4th & 6, which they converted to score their first touchdown since the game's opening drive. UTSA faced a fourth down on their next drive as well; however, they were unable to convert with one yard to gain, and Western Kentucky took possession at their own 47-yard line. After starting with a false start, WKU reached UTSA territory in three plays, and would go on to score a 13-yard passing touchdown. The third quarter came to an end during UTSA's following drive, after the Roadrunners had driven to the WKU 42-yard line.[33]

UTSA was unable to score from this drive; it ended with a missed 46-yard field goal attempt from Duplessis. From there, Western completed a 50-yard pass to reach the UTSA 21-yard line and scored on a one-yard Kye Robichaux receiving touchdown, cutting the deficit to eight points. UTSA responded with a touchdown of their own, as Frank Harris found De'Corian Clark for a 28-yard score on the drive's tenth play. The Hilltoppers got the ball back with just over six minutes to play at their own 28-yard line; they stalled initially but were able to convert a 4th & 6 to keep the drive alive. Five plays later, Bailey Zappe completed a pass to Jerreth Sterns for a 34-yard touchdown, which narrowed UTSA's lead to eight points once again. Western Kentucky's defense was able to force a punt on UTSA's final drive of the game, which gave the Hilltoppers the ball back on their own 22-yard line with just over one minute on the clock, with a chance to tie the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion. The Hilltoppers converted another fourth down, this time at their own 24-yard line, and were able to move the ball to the UTSA 47-yard line. They had to attempt a Hail Mary, but the ball was intercepted, securing an eight-point victory for UTSA.[33]

Scoring summary

2021 Ryan Conference USA Football Championship Game
Period 1 2 34Total
Western Kentucky 10 3 131541
UTSA 14 14 14749

at Alamodome • San Antonio, Texas

  • Date: December 3, 2021
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: n/a (game played indoors)
  • Game attendance: 41,148
  • Referee: Kevin Randall
  • TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst), and Sherree Burruss (sidelines)
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP Western Kentucky UTSA
1 14:04 5 78 0:56 Western Kentucky Mitchell Tinsley 60-yard touchdown reception from Bailey Zappe, Brayden Narveson kick good 7 0
1 11:49 7 75 2:15 UTSA Frank Harris 24-yard touchdown run, Hunter Duplessis kick good 7 7
1 10:07 6 51 1:42 Western Kentucky 33-yard field goal by Brayden Narveson 10 7
1 4:59 14 75 5:08 UTSA Sincere McCormick 2-yard touchdown run, Hunter Duplessis kick good 10 14
2 14:57 15 59 5:02 Western Kentucky 34-yard field goal by Brayden Narveson 13 14
2 11:50 9 75 3:07 UTSA Brenden Brady 6-yard touchdown run, Hunter Duplessis kick good 13 21
2 9:10 1 65 0:11 UTSA Sincere McCormick 65-yard touchdown run, Hunter Duplessis kick good 13 28
3 11:13 2 14 0:45 UTSA Zakhari Franklin 14-yard touchdown reception from Frank Harris, Hunter Duplessis kick good 13 35
3 10:16 1 17 0:08 UTSA Sincere McCormick 17-yard touchdown run, Hunter Duplessis kick good 13 42
3 8:17 8 66 1:59 Western Kentucky Mitchell Tinsley 12-yard touchdown reception from Bailey Zappe, Brayden Narveson kick good 20 42
3 3:01 7 53 2:17 Western Kentucky Jerreth Sterns 13-yard touchdown reception from Bailey Zappe, 2-point pass incomplete 26 42
4 11:01 5 71 1:10 Western Kentucky Kye Robichaux 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass good 34 42
4 6:18 10 75 4:43 UTSA De'Corian Clark 28-yard touchdown reception from Frank Harris, Hunter Duplessis kick good 34 49
4 3:58 9 72 2:20 Western Kentucky Jerreth Sterns 34-yard touchdown reception from Bailey Zappe, Brayden Narveson kick good 41 49
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 41 49

Statistics

Team statistics

Team statistical comparison[34]
Statistic Western Kentucky UTSA
First downs2628
First downs rushing314
First downs passing2213
First downs penalty11
Third down efficiency5–138–15
Fourth down efficiency3–32–3
Total plays–net yards76–56884–556
Rushing attempts–net yards16–(−9)54–304
Yards per rush−0.65.6
Yards passing577252
Pass completions–attempts36–6021–30
Interceptions thrown20
Punt returns–total yards1–(−2)0–0
Kickoff returns–total yards6–1600–0
Punts–total yardage1–383–126
Fumbles–lost3–10–0
Penalties–yards6–458–85
Time of possession23:1636:44

Individual statistics

Western Kentucky statistics[34]
Hilltoppers passing
C–A Yds TD INT
Bailey Zappe36–5957742
Hilltoppers rushing
Car Yds TD Avg
Noah Whittington41503.8
Bailey Zappe7500.7
Kye Robichaux2412.0
Jerreth Sterns1202.0
TEAM2−35
Hilltoppers receiving
Rec Yds TD Avg
Jerreth Sterns10179217.9
Mitchell Tinsley9173219.2
Adam Cofield458014.5
Daewood Davis355018.3
Malachi Corley54008.0
Kye Robichaux138038.0
Ben Ratzlaff119019.0
Noah Whittington111011.0
Josh Sterns1404.0
UTSA statistics[34]
Roadrunners passing
C–A Yds TD INT
Frank Harris19–2821820
Brenden Brady1–12400
Joshua Cephus1–11000
Roadrunners rushing
Car Yds TD Avg
Sincere McCormick3620435.7
Frank Harris118117.4
Brenden Brady62113.5
TEAM1−2
Roadrunners receiving
Rec Yds TD Avg
Zakhari Franklin667111.2
De'Corian Clark459114.8
Joshua Cephus335011.7
Sincere McCormick335011.7
Oscar Cardenas224012.0
Leroy Watson111011.0
Brenden Brady111011.0
Frank Harris110010.0

References

  1. ↑ "Officiating crews for the 2021 college football conference championship games". footballzebras.com. November 30, 2021. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  2. ↑ "2021 UTSA Roadrunners Football Game Notes – Game No. 6 vs. WKU" (PDF). UTSA Roadrunners Football. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  3. ↑ "UTSA vs. Western Kentucky – Game Summary". ESPN. November 22, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "UTSA 6–0 after outgunning Western Kentucky, 52–46". ESPN. October 9, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  5. ↑ "2021 Football Facts, History, and Records" (PDF). Conference USA. pp. 21–22. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Tyson Helton Coaching Record". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Zappe Throws for Seven Scores, 424 Yards in WKU Debut; Hilltoppers Win, 59–21". Western Kentucky University Athletics. September 2, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  8. ↑ Jackson, Kaylah (September 13, 2021). "Takeaways: Army nabs close win against Western Kentucky, 38–35". SB Nation. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  9. ↑ Osterman, Zach (September 25, 2021). "3 reasons IU beat Western Kentucky: Good Michael Penix, strong Stephen Carr, a close call". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  10. ↑ Alter, Marlowe (October 2, 2021). "Michigan State defeats Western Kentucky, 48–31". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  11. ↑ Sprague, Trent (October 16, 2021). "Old Dominion falls to Western Kentucky, 43–20". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  12. ↑ Henry, Eric C. (October 23, 2021). "Western Kentucky scores 24 straight en route to a 34–19 victory over FIU". SB Nation. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Zappe leads Western Kentucky past Middle Tennessee, 48–21". ESPN. November 6, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Zappe throws 5 TDs, Western Kentucky wallops Rice, 42–21". ABC News. November 13, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  15. ↑ Londergan, Joe (November 20, 2021). "Western Kentucky Dominate FAU For Sixth Straight Win". Underdog Dynasty. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  16. ↑ "WKU vs Marshall Prediction, Game Preview". College Football News. November 27, 2021. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Marshall misses out on league title game with 53–21 loss to Western Kentucky". WV MetroNews. November 28, 2021. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Zappe leads WKU past Marshall for C-USA East title". Lexington Herald-Leader. Associated Press. November 29, 2021. p. 10B. Retrieved August 4, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "UTSA holds off Illinois in Saturday night thriller". UTSA Athletics. September 4, 2021. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  20. ↑ Kissack, Tristen (September 4, 2021). "UTSA holds off Illinois for first-ever Big Ten win". SB Nation. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  21. ↑ "UTSA dominates Lamar 54–0 for first-ever shutout". CBS Sports. September 11, 2021. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  22. ↑ Joyce, Cecil (September 18, 2021). "Texas-San Antonio 27, MTSU 13: 5 things we learned about the Blue Raiders in C-USA opener". The Daily News Journal. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  23. ↑ "Memphis Stunned by UTSA as Home Field Winning Streak Ends". American Athletic Conference. September 25, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  24. ↑ "UTSA rallies past Memphis, completes largest comeback in school history". UTSA Athletics. September 25, 2021. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  25. ↑ Macdaniel, Sumner (October 3, 2021). "UTSA Outlasts UNLV 24–17, Starts 2021 Season 5–0". SB Nation. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  26. ↑ "UTSA routs Rice, reaches 7–0 for first time in team history". ABC News. Associated Press. October 16, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  27. ↑ Luca, Greg (October 17, 2021). "UTSA earns No. 24 spot, marking first national ranking". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  28. ↑ "No. 24 UTSA beats Louisiana Tech 45–16 for 8th straight win". ESPN. October 23, 2021. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  29. ↑ Martinez, Alejandro (November 7, 2021). "UTSA beats UTEP to become 1 of only 4 undefeated teams". San Antonio Report. Archived from the original on November 29, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  30. ↑ DiLullo, Mikey (November 13, 2021). "Southern Miss football falls short, unable to complete the upset of UTSA". Hattiesburg American. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  31. ↑ "No. 15 UTSA scores late to beat UAB 34–31, clinch division". Yahoo. Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  32. ↑ Bromberg, Nick (November 27, 2021). "Undefeated no more: No. 22 UTSA loses 45–26 to North Texas". Yahoo! Sports. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  33. 1 2 3 4 "Western Kentucky vs. UTSA – Play-By-Play". ESPN. December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  34. 1 2 3 "Final Statistics: 2021 Conference USA Championship" (PDF). Conference USA. December 3, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
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