Skip To Main Content

UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
Tyson Wilson
Ruben R. Ramirez
44
Winner UTSA TSA 9-0 , 5-0
23
UTEP TEP 6-3 , 3-2
Winner
UTSA TSA
9-0 , 5-0
44
Final
23
UTEP TEP
6-3 , 3-2
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
TSA UTSA 16 14 7 7 44
TEP UTEP 6 3 7 7 23

Game Recap: Football |

No. 16 Roadrunners Race Past UTEP, 44-23


Game Book | Post Game Notes 

EL PASO, TEXAS – Frank Harris passed for 286 yards and two touchdowns, and Sincere McCormick rushed for 169 yards as 16th-ranked UTSA gained the upper hand in the C-USA Western Division race with a 44-23 win over the UTEP Miners on Saturday night in the Sun Bowl.
 
Zakhari Franklin added 114 yards receiving and two TD's for the Roadrunners, who remained unbeaten at 9-0 overall and 5-0 in league play.
 
"Obviously, I tip my hat to UTSA tonight. They played a really good game and were flawless in their execution," UTEP Head Coach Dana Dimel said. "They brought their 'A' game. I thought we got a little bit shocked when they busted that 75-yard run going up the middle of our defense. That hasn't happened very much. It stung us a little bit. They continued to get some scores. Then we got the game back to a one-game score, but we had the penalty where we lined up offside and gave them the field goal to go 10 points ahead."
 
The Miners (6-3, 3-2 C-USA) dropped their second consecutive game and saw their six-game win streak in the Sun Bowl come to an end.
 
A total of 31,658 fans filed into the Sun Bowl, UTEP's second-largest crowd for a C-USA game since 2010.  
 
I'm pleased about the crowd tonight, gosh that was beautiful. It was an unbelievable atmosphere. I think our guys played a little tight because of the moment. I've got to get us over that.​  
 
The Roadrunners set the tone for a big first half on the second play from scrimmage, when McCormick broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run.  UTSA would go on to score the game's first 13 points.  The Miners pulled within six (13-6) on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Gavin Hardison to Tyrin Smith late in the first quarter.  But UTSA answered with another scoring spurt, 17 unanswered points, to build a commanding 30-6 edge.  The Miners made it a three-possession game (30-9) on a career-long 50-yard field goal by Gavin Baechle right before halftime. 
 
The teams played to a 14-14 deadlock in the second half.  Smith posted his first multiple touchdown game as a Miner with a 42-yard reception for a score.  Justin Garrett also reached the end zone on a seven-yard catch as Hardison threw for three touchdowns, tying his career high.
 
Hardison finished with 247 yards passing, and Jacob Cowing went over the century mark for the 11th time in his career with five receptions for 112 yards.
 
UTSA racked up 562 yards of offense with 286 passing and 276 rushing.  The Miners finished with 376 yards.
 
UTEP was short-handed in the secondary with two starters (Dy'vonne Inyang and Justin Prince) out with injuries.  Two Miners (Tyrice Knight and Tyson Wilson) led the Miners with 10 tackles apiece.
 
The Miners will be on the road for two of their last three regular season games, beginning next Saturday (Nov. 13) at North Texas at 2 p.m. MT.  The game will be streamed on ESPN+.  
 
UTEP's final home game of the season is Nov. 20 versus Rice at 2 p.m. MT.  Fans can win up to $1,000 every time the Miners score courtesy of the Speaking Rock Cash Giveaway.  The Speaking Rock Pregame Party, which opens at 11 a.m., will feature music by a Selena tribute band.  Game tickets are available by calling (915) 747-UTEP or by visiting www.utepminers.com/tickets.
 
Print Friendly Version