UTEP built a 24-point lead in the second half before holding off a feverish San Diego State rally and edging the Aztecs, 34-17, in the 2006 season opener on Thursday night at Qualcomm Stadium.
Jordan Palmer completed 19 of 28 passes with three touchdowns and four interceptions for the Miners. Palmer passed for 205 yards as UTEP compiled 243 yards of total offense.
Early on, the scrambling ability of Aztec signal-caller Kevin O'Connell gave the Miners fits. O'Connell had three rushes for first downs in the first quarter. His 28-yard scamper on third and six on the Aztecs' first offensive possession set up Garrett Palmer's 46-yard field goal, putting San Diego State ahead 3-0.
UTEP dominated the second quarter to take a 14-3 lead into the locker room. The Aztecs were held to 36 yards in the period. Palmer connected with tight end Jamar Hunt for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Miners a 7-3 lead. On the next possession, UTEP marched 36 yards on three plays, ending with Marcus Thomas' five-yard run into the end zone. Florida State transfer Lorne Sam made his first impact of the 2006 season on the drive. Sam came in at quarterback and ran for seven yards on the first play of the series. Then he handed off to Thomas for back-to-back runs of 19 and five yards.
Safety Quintin Demps picked off O'Connell on the opening drive of the second half, and the Miners capitalized with their third touchdown of the night. Palmer hit Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. for an 11-yard score, the 20th TD of Higgins' career. It moved Higgins into sole possession of second place on the UTEP career touchdown receptions list, eight behind the record-holder Lee Mays (28). The extra point attempt by Reagan Schneider was no good, ending a string of 95 consecutive made PATs by the senior kicker.
Higgins finished the night with six receptions for 82 yards and one score.
Later, lineman Alfonso Auelua recovered a fumble by O'Connell in the end zone, extending the Miners' advantage to 27-3.
San Diego State's offense received a boost when O'Connell was pulled and sophomore second-stringer Darren Mougey was inserted into the game. Mougey directed the Aztecs on three straight touchdown drives to close the gap to 27-24. He scored on runs of one and 14 yards, then handed off to Lynell Hamilton for a one-yard TD.
Mougey rushed for 41 yards -- including two TDs -- and passed for 178 (12 of 16) in limited action in the third and fourth quarter.
Once again Demps saved the day for the Miners, intercepting Mougey on the Aztecs' next drive to set up Palmer's seven-yard touchdown pass to Jake Sears for a 34-24 lead.
A 35-yard field goal by Palmer drew SDSU to within a touchdown (34-27) with 1:59 to go. But the Miners recovered the onside kick to preserve the victory.
UTEP will host Texas Tech next Saturday (Sept. 9) at 7 p.m., the first meeting between the Miners and the Red Raiders since 1998 and the first matchup between the schools in El Paso since 1963.
Postgame Notes
Captains were Palmer, Schneider and linebacker Jeremy Jones ... the Miners are 15-2 under coach Mike Price when scoring 30 points or more ... UTEP moved to 38-46-5 all-time in season openers, including 9-30-2 on the road ... the Miners have won back-to-back road openers for the first time since 1986-87. UTEP beat New Mexico State in its 2005 road opener, 34-17 ... UTEP is 1-0 in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1987-88, and only the fourth time since 1957 ... UTEP now trails the San Diego State series 18-4 and snapped a seven-game losing skid at the hands of the Aztecs ... first-time starters for the Miners were WR Daniel Robinson and LG Cameron Raschke on offense, and RT Ricky Van and SAM LB Jason McQuay on defense ... UTEP is 4-3 all-time in the month of August ... true freshmen who played in the game for included DB Cornelius Brown, LB Aaron Sims, DB Melvin Stephenson II and RB Jason Williams ... redshirt freshmen who saw action included OL Mike Aguayo, DB Braxton Amy, DB Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, LB Landon Goodwell, DL Chris Moore, OL Cameron Raschke and DL Steve Riddick.
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