UTEP’s
Jordan Palmer completed 16 of 22 passes for 218 and two touchdowns, while Howard Jackson rushed for 89 yards on 16 carries as the Miners got past San Jose State 38-20 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, Calif., Saturday.
The Miners caused five turnovers and racked up 372 total yards. The UTEP defense limited the Spartans to 305 yards on offense, including 132 yards on the ground.
UTEP (6-2, 4-1 WAC) scored the game’s first 14 points. Josh Chamois reached the end zone on a one-yard run with 13:24 remaining in the first quarter, and Palmer hit Jayson Boyd for a 23-yard touchdown with 6:19 left in the period.
San Jose State (2-5, 1-3 WAC) drew to within 14-7 on a nine-yard run by Tyson Thompson with 4:43 to go in the first quarter.
The Miners led 14-7 at the break despite giving up 205 yards of offense to the Spartans, including 122 rushing. San Jose State lost two fumbles in the opening half, including one at the Miner one-yard line.
UTEP, which had the ball for 3:16 in the second quarter, ended the half with 201 yards of offense. Palmer completed his first eight pass attempts before being picked off by Brian Nunez in the final seconds of the half.
The Miners converted a pair of turnovers interceptions by Thomas Howard and Phillip Moss into 10 third-quarter points.
Following the Howard pick, UTEP moved 60 yards on seven plays, capped off by Palmer’s nine-yard pass to Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. for a score.
The Miners capitalized on Moss’ interception with Reagan Schneider’s 20-yard field goal.
UTEP led 24-7 heading into the fourth quarter after limiting San Jose State to seven yards in the third period.
The lead grew to 31-7 just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter, when Howard recovered a fumble by Thompson in the end zone. Jeremy Jones forced the fumble for the Miners.
After the Spartans closed to within 31-13, Jackson’s 80-yard kickoff return set up Palmer’s sixyard TD run for a 38-13 advantage.
UTEP freshman Marcus Thomas also added 37 yards on six carries on the ground in the second half. Boyd finished with five receptions for 46 yards and Aaron Givens had four catches for 32 yards.
The Miners are idle next week and will host Rice and SMU in back-to-back home games beginning on Nov. 13.
Postgame Notes
With six wins, the Miners are bowl-eligible and have duplicated their win total from the last three years combined...UTEP clinched only its fourth winning season since 1971...the Miners finished 5-0 in October for only the third time in school annals (1932, 1988)...UTEP has won three straight WAC away games for the first time since 2000...the Miners tied the school record for WAC road wins (three)...San Jose State lost for the first time in three home games following victories over Morgan State (47-28) and Rice (70-63)...the UTEP-San Jose State series is tied 5-5. The Miners snapped a three-game losing streak at the hands of the Spartans...Chamois has had four carries this season, with three resulting in touchdowns...UTEP’s second touchdown drive for 92 yards tied the second-longest for the Miners this season. UTEP had a 98-yard drive and a 92-yard drive earlier this year, both against Weber State...Higgins has now registered a touchdown reception in six straight games...Reagan Schneider’s 47-yard field goal attempt with 4:32 left in the third quarter was wide right. It was his first miss of the season following 12 consecutive makes...UTEP had a season high with five takeaways...Bryce Benekos completed his first pass of the season on a fake field goal attempt...UTEP had a season high with eight penalties for 78 yards.
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