UTEP Miners

Oct. 30, 2007

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UTEP Hits the Road For Three of Last Four

UTEP (4-4, 2-2 C-USA) will play three of its last four games away from El Paso, beginning on Saturday when the Miners face Rice (1-7, 1-3 C-USA) in Houston. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MST (2 p.m. CST). The Miners are playing their fourth consecutive game against a team that went to a bowl last season. Rice finished 7-6 in 2006 and lost to Troy, 41-17, in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. The Owls have a new head coach -- David Bailiff -- after Todd Graham defected to Tulsa. Bailiff previously was the head coach at Texas State University from 2004-06, compiling a 21-15 record while leading the Bobcats to their first Southland Conference championship and the semifinals of the NCAA Division 1AA playoffs in 2005. The Miners are 1-2 on the road this season. UTEP is playing its first road game since Sept. 29, a 48-45 overtime triumph at SMU. Rice, meanwhile, is playing just its fourth home game of the season. The Owls are 0-3 at Rice Stadium with losses to Nicholls State (16-14), Texas Tech (59-24) and Memphis (38-35). Rice has lost three straight games since recording its first victory of the season at Southern Miss, 31-29, on Oct. 3. UTEP has dropped two consecutive games for the second time in 2007. Saturday marks the fourth-annual National College Football Day, created by the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. On the first Saturday in November of 1869, Rutgers and Princeton staged college football's first game. Series Notes The series is deadlocked 5-5. Rice holds a 3-2 advantage in games played in Houston. The last three matchups between the state rivals have all been decided by seven points or less. The winning team has scored 30+ points in each of the last five encounters between the Miners and the Owls. In fact, high-scoring games have been a trademark of the UTEP-Rice series. The average total number of points scored in the previous 10 games of the series has been 60.7.

The Last Meeting

Jordan Palmer passed for 313 yards and four touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as Rice spoiled UTEP's 75th Homecoming game, 37-31, on Nov. 4, 2006 in the Sun Bowl. The Miners trailed 30-10 at the half, before mounting a furious rally which fell just short. UTEP trimmed the deficit to six points (37-31) halfway through the fourth quarter, but Quinton Smith helped the Owls run out the clock. Smith, who rushed for a game-high 171 yards, picked up 36 on the final drive to end the Miners' chances for a comeback. UTEP scored the first points of the game early in the first quarter after Reagan Schneider drilled a 49-yard field goal. The Owls responded with 14 straight points, courtesy of a pair of touchdown tosses by Chase Clement. Palmer brought the Miners back to within four points (14-10) after connecting with Marcus Thomas on a 25-yard scoring strike. Rice did not flinch, countering with two more touchdowns and a safety to assume the commanding 20-point lead at the break. Smith was a thorn in the Miners' side on both scoring drives. He plunged in from one yard out to cap an 80-yard drive. That was followed by a 64-yard touchdown reception off a screen play. The Owls tacked on two more points after Ryan Hotchkiss' punt was blocked and the ball went out of the back of the end zone. An inspired Miners squad came out of the locker room to start the second half. Emeri Spence partially blocked a punt to give UTEP great field position, and two plays later Palmer hooked up with Daniel Robinson on a 28-yard touchdown pass. Smith put the Owls back up by 20 points after a 14-yard touchdown run, but the Miners were not done. Palmer directed a pair of long scoring drives, each one punctuated by a touchdown pass.

The Last Meeting in Houston

Jordan Palmer passed for 387 yards to become UTEP's all-time total offense leader, triggering the Miners' 38-31 victory at Rice on Oct. 29, 2005. Palmer, who threw for three touchdowns, ended the night with 6,137 yards on his resume to eclipse previous record-holder Sammy Garza (6,056 yards, 1983-86). The Miners survived a major scare from the winless Owls, who dropped their 13th consecutive game dating back to 2004. Like 2004's double-overtime thriller in El Paso, the 2005 matchup between the teams went down to the wire. The Miners were ahead by 18 points (28-10) at the half, but had to snuff out a Rice drive in the final minute to preserve a seven-point lead. UTEP's Reggie Miles, Jr. stopped Rice running back John Wall at the four-yard line for a one-yard loss on fourth and one in the final minute to save the victory. The Miners dented the scoreboard on their first offensive play, as Palmer completed a 54-yard pass to Chris Francies. Francies, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games with bruised ribs, had four catches for a career-best 126 yards receiving. Leading 14-10, UTEP ended the opening half with a pair of scoring runs by Tyler Ebell for a 28-10 advantage at the intermission. Palmer threw interceptions on the Miners' first two drives of the second half, and Rice converted both into touchdowns to get back into the game. After UTEP extended its advantage to 38-24, a 31-yard pass from Chase Clement to Jarett Dillard on fourth and 10 with four minutes left sliced the margin to 38-31.

Last Game: Houston 34, UTEP 31

Terrance Ganeway scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 7:01 remaining in the game, giving Houston a 34-31 victory over UTEP in a key Conference USA game on Oct. 27 in the Sun Bowl. The Cougars piled up 520 yards of offense to gain the upper hand in C-USA's Western Division race. UTEP slipped a game and half behind Houston with its second straight three-point loss at home. UTEP was unable to pick up a first down on its last two offensive series. The Miners started their final drive with 2:06 left, but Trevor Vittatoe's sideline pass to Lorne Sam on fourth down and a yard to go fell incomplete.

The Miners scored back-to-back touchdowns to start the second quarter in building their largest lead of the night, 17-7. Sam threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jamar Hunt, and Vittatoe connected with Joe West for a 34-yard score. But the Cougars responded with 13 consecutive points of their own, capped by a pair of short by field goals by T.J. Lawrence, to go ahead 20-17 early in the third quarter. UTEP regained the lead, 24-20, on a 19-yard pass from Vittatoe to Jeff Moturi with 3:02 remaining in the third period. Case Keenum's five-yard TD pass to Perry McDaniel with 12:22 to go in the game put Houston back in front, 27-24. But UTEP answered with a seven-play, 80-yard drive, ending with Vittatoe's 35-yard TD pass to Moturi, to forge a 31-27 cushion with 8:57 left. Marcus Thomas rushed 28 times for 178 yards for his school-record fifth straight 100-yard game to lead UTEP. Vittatoe had a tough night, completing only eight of 23 pass attempts for 134 yards, but he did toss three TD passes. Moturi was the Miners' leading receiver with four catches for 94 yards, extending his streak of games with a touchdown catch to seven. Keenum hurt the Miners with his passing (13-for-20, 116 yards) and running (10 carries for 72 yards). Anthony Alridge ran for 204 yards on 27 attempts for the Cougars, who gained 306 yards on the ground. Houston played a turnover-free game after beginning the night with 21 giveaways in seven contests.

UTEP in the NCAA Stats Through the games of Oct. 27, the Miners rated 16th nationally in punt returns (13.9 avg.), 17th in turnover margin (0.88), tied for 19th in scoring offense (35.8 ppg), 20th in passing efficiency (142.48), 23rd in total offense (438.3 ypg), 30th in rushing offense (183.4 ypg), tied for 33rd in sacks allowed (1.5 avg.), 37th in passing offense (254.9 ypg) and 38th in kickoff returns (23.0 avg.). Individually, sophomore DB Braxton Amy was 42nd in tackles per game (9.6); senior DB Quintin Demps was 16th in punt returns (14.1 avg.); junior K Jose Martinez was tied for 43rd in field goals (1.3 avg.); sophomore WR Jeff Moturi was 32nd in receiving yards per game (82.4); senior RB Marcus Thomas was fifth in scoring (11.1 ppg), eighth in rushing (126.6 ypg) and 39th in all-purpose yardage (139.4 ypg); and freshman QB Trevor Vittatoe was 21st in passing efficiency (143.94).

UTEP in the C-USA Stats

Through the games of Oct. 27, UTEP led Conference USA in punt returns (13.9 avg.). The Miners were tied for second in scoring offense (35.8 ppg), and third in kickoff returns (23.0 avg.), passing efficiency (142.5), total offense (438.2) and turnover margin (0.88). The Miners' Cornelius Brown was tied for third in interceptions (0.4 avg.) and fourth in passes defended (1.3 avg.); Quintin Demps was tied for third in interceptions (0.4 avg.) and fifth in kickoff returns (24.4 avg.); Jose Martinez was second in kicking scoring (8.0 ppg) and tied for third in field goals (1.3 avg.); Jeff Moturi was third in receiving yards per game (82.4) and fifth in receptions per game (5.1); sophomore WR Fred Rouse was fourth in kickoff returns (24.5 avg.); Marcus Thomas was third in scoring (11.1 ppg) and fourth in rushing (126.6 ypg); and Trevor Vittatoe was third in passing efficiency (143.9) and fifth in passing average (229.8 ypg).

Did You Know ...

UTEP is first in Conference USA in passing efficiency for league games only (157.1). The Miners have completed 62 percent of their passes for 1,233 yards (308.3 avg.) in conference games, with 13 TD passes and only three interceptions. UTEP also leads the league in red zone offense for conference games only. The Miners are 15-for-15 in the red zone against C-USA opponents, with 14 touchdowns and one field goal. Southern Miss is the only other C-USA school with a 100 percent success rate in the red zone in league games (14-for-14, 12 TDs and one field goal). Senior RB Marcus Thomas is second in the league in rushing for conference games only (155.5 ypg) behind Tulane's Matt Forte (228.5 ypg). Sophomore WR Jeff Moturi is second in receiving for C-USA games only (111.5 ypg) behind Houston's Donnie Avery (147.0 ypg). Freshman QB Trevor Vittatoe is second in passing for conference games only (279.2 ypg) behind Tulsa's Paul Smith (350.6 ypg). Vittatoe is also second in passing efficiency (152.3) behind Houston's Blake Joseph (181.8).

Thomas Breaks Own School Record

Senior RB Marcus Thomas has broken his own school record by rushing for 100+ yards in five straight games. Thomas had four consecutive 100-yard rushing games in 2005. Howard Jackson also had four 100-yard performances in a row in 2003. Over the last five games Thomas has run for 727 yards (145.4 avg.) and nine TDs. Last week's Houston game marked the first time this season that Thomas hasn't reached the end zone, dropping him from first in the nation in scoring to fifth. He is averaging 11.1 points per game.

Thomas Closing in on 1,000 Yards

Marcus Thomas is just 114 yards shy of 1,000 for the year. He stands to become the seventh Minet player to compile 1,000 yards rushing in a season, joining Robert Elliott (1977), John Harvey (1987), Howard Jackson (2003-04), Toraino Singleton (1994-95), Paul Smith (1999) and Fred Wendt (1948). Thomas ranks sixth in school history in rushing yardage (2,335), fourth in 100-yard games (nine) and fifth in rushing touchdowns (22). His 12 rushing touchdowns in 2007 are tied for the third-top seasonal total in Miner history. Thomas has led the Miners in rushing in his last 23 games dating back to 2005.

Moturi is Going Streaking Too

Sophomore WR Jeff Moturi extended his string of games with a touchdown reception to seven by reaching the end zone twice against Houston. Moturi had a pair of second-half scores versus the Cougars, reeling in TD passes of 19 and 35 yards from Trevor Vittatoe. Moturi's TD streak is the longest by a UTEP receiver since Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. caught a touchdown pass in eight consecutive games in 2004. Before that, Lee Mays had a 10-game TD streak in 2000. Moturi has tied the school record for touchdown catches by a sophomore with 10. David Karns also had 10 in 1966, and Higgins had 10 in 2004.

On the Road Again

UTEP will be playing its first road game since Sept. 29 this week at Rice. The Miners are 9-10 in road games under Mike Price, significant because UTEP posted a 1-18 away record in the three seasons (2001-03) prior to Price's arrival. The Miners are 4-5 in Conference USA road games since joining the league for the 2005 season.

Martinez Earns Second Consecutive C-USA Player of the Week Honor

UTEP junior K Jose Martinez was chosen the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday. It marked the second straight honor for Martinez, and the fourth straight game that UTEP has had a conference player of the week. Martinez hit a 57-yard field goal, the longest in Conference USA history and third-longest in UTEP annals, against Houston last week. Martinez was also appointed the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 15 after making five field goals, tying the school record, against East Carolina. UTEP's Marcus Thomas was tabbed the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 1 after rushing for 207 yards at SMU, and Trevor Vittatoe was selected the Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 8 after throwing for 319 yards against Tulsa.

40 is 2007's Magic Number

UTEP is 3-1 when scoring 40 points or more this season, and 12-1 under Mike Price when reaching that mark. The only loss was to East Carolina, 45-42 in overtime, on Oct. 13. The Miners had been 18-4 under Price when scoring 30 points or more entering the season. But this year UTEP has lost three games when tallying 30+ points -- to Texas Tech (45-31), East Carolina and Houston (34-31).

Vittatoe Ties One Record, on the Verge of Breaking Another

Trevor Vittatoe has thrown for 16 touchdown passes this season, tying the school freshman record established by John Rayborn in 1995. With 76 yards passing at Rice on Saturday, Vittatoe will eclipse Rayborn's freshman mark for passing yardage. Rayborn threw for 1,913 yards 12 years ago, and Vittatoe has 1,838 yards passing in 2007. Vittatoe is on pace to pass for 2,757 yards and 24 scores this year, totals which would rank sixth and fifth-best respectively in school history. His passing efficiency rating (143.94), if it stands, would rate fourth in program annals. Even more impressive, Vittatoe is averaging 76 pass attempts between interceptions. He is on pace to throw only five picks this season, which would be the lowest total by a UTEP quarterback with a minimum of 200 pass attempts. Rayborn had six picks in 258 attempts in 1998, and Rocky Perez had six interceptions in 338 attempts in 2000. Perez averaged 56 pass attempts between interceptions, the current school record.

Vittatoe Especially Good in C-USA Games and the Fourth Quarter

Trevor Vittatoe has a 152.3 passing efficiency rating in conference games. Even with last week's subpar performance, he has completed 84 of 138 passes (.609) for 1,117 yards with 11 TDs and two interceptions versus league foes. He is averaging 279.3 yards passing against C-USA competition. His fourth quarter numbers in C-USA action are also impressive -- 29-of-42 (.690) for 353 yards and five touchdowns.

More on Vittatoe

QB Trevor Vittatoe became the sixth UTEP player -- and the first freshman -- to throw for 400 yards against East Carolina on Oct. 13. Vittatoe completed 38-of-55 attempts for 409 yards and three TDs versus the Pirates. The 38 completions were a school record ... Vittatoe ranks fifth among all I-A freshmen with 1,704 yards passing behind Minnesota's Adam Weber (2,145), Colorado's Cody Hawkins (2,090), North Carolina's T.J. Yates (1,907) and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford (1,872). Vittatoe's 143.9 passing efficiency rating ranks third among freshmen behind Bradford (170.9) and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick (155.5).

Miners Getting More Pressure on the QB

The UTEP defense has had six sacks over the last two games, including a season-high four last week against Houston. The Miners had a total of four sacks in the first six games of the season. UTEP defensive linemen have been credited with a total of 3.5 sacks over the last two contests -- 1.5 by sophomore DT Steve Riddick, 1.0 by junior DT Ja-Boy Leomiti, 0.5 by junior DE Jason Boyce and 0.5 by junior DT James Olalekan. The line had one sack combined in the first six games of the season.

Tough Night For the Rushing "D"

The Miners yielded 306 yards rushing to Houston last week, including 204 to Anthony Alridge. It marked the second-most rushing yards by a UTEP opponent in the Mike Price era. Rice ran for 312 yards versus the Miners in 2004, but UTEP won the game, 35-28 in double overtime. Alridge's 204 yards rushing were the most by an opposing player in the Sun Bowl since Nevada's Chance Kretschmer ran for a stadium record 327 yards against the Miners in 2001.

Scoring Records Within Reach

UTEP is averaging 35.8 points this season. The school record is 35.9 ppg, set in 1967. The Miners are on pace to score 429 points in 12 regular season games, which would tie the school standard established in 2004. The Miners scored over 40 points in four straight games for the first time in school history from Sept. 22-Oct. 13. The school record for 40-point games is five, set in 1950. Mike Price ranks first among all UTEP head coach with twenty-eight 30-point games, and second with thirteen 40-point games (Mike Brumbelow is first with 14).

Bring Your Own Defibrillator

UTEP's games haven't been for the weak of heart this season. Six of the Miners' eight contests have been decided by five points or less, including each of the last four games which have been determined by a total of 10 points. It marks the first time in school history that UTEP has played four consecutive games that were all decided by three points or fewer. The Miners have trailed in the fourth quarter in three of their four wins. UTEP has had a lead in the fourth quarter in three of its four losses, and the Miners were tied with Texas Tech, 31-31, heading into the final period. UTEP engineered the second-largest comeback in school history at SMU on Sept. 29, rallying from a 28-7 deficit to nip the Mustangs in overtime 48-45. One of the more bizarre stats of the 2007 season: UTEP is 2-4 when leading or tied at halftime, and 2-0 when trailing.

Miners Recognizing 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division

UTEP players are wearing a patch on their helmets this season in honor of the 4th Brigade Combat Team (4BCT) of the 1st Cavalry Division, headquartered in Fort Hood, Texas. The 4BCT consists of approximately 4,000 soldiers, of which nearly 3,800 are deployed to central and northern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 4BCT activation took place at Fort Bliss in October 2005. At that point the unit began individual and collective training to prepare for deployment and combat operation in the Fall of 2006. The unit will return to El Paso in full no later than mid-January 2008.

Demps Has Most Interceptions Among Active Players

Senior DB Quintin Demps is third in school history with 15 interceptions, four behind the leader Charlie West who had 19 from 1965-67. D.J. Walker had 16 picks from 1999-2002. Demps is tied with Boston College's DeJuan Tribble for first among active NCAA Division I-A players with 15 career interceptions. He is third among active players with 301 interception yards behind Indiana's Tracy Porter (400) and Arizona's Antoine Cason (307). The 301 interception yards are also a UTEP school standard, eclipsing the previous mark of 256 yards by Richie Wright from 1986-88. Demps has 117 yards on interceptions in 2007, the sixth-best seasonal total in UTEP history.

Miner Nuggets

Twenty different players have made starts for UTEP on defense this season, most recently true freshman Craig Wood last week againast Houston ... Jose Martinez is 10-for-11 on field goals and 34-for-35 on PATs this season. He opened the campaign with 28 straight made extra points ... UTEP has picked off four passes in two games this season (Texas Southern, East Carolina) for the first time since 1967, when the Miners had four interceptions versus UC-Santa Barbara and New Mexico and five at Arizona State. UTEP has 13 picks on the year and is on pace for 20, which would be its most since 1988 (22) ... UTEP has scored on 26 of 28 trips to the red zone this season, with 22 touchdowns and four field goals. The Miners are 22-for-22 in the red zone over the last six games with 19 TDs ... junior C Robby Felix has started every game for the Miners since his freshman year of 2005 (32 total).