Nov. 24, 2008
UTEP-East Carolina Notes (PDF)
The Basic Facts
With bowl eligibility on the line, UTEP (5-6, 4-3 C-USA) plays its final regular season game of the season at East Carolina (7-4, 5-2 C-USA) on Friday. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. MST at 43,000-seat Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The game will be nationally televised by CBS College Sports.
UTEP is 2-3 on the road this season, including 1-2 in C-USA action with losses at Tulsa and Houston and a win at Southern Miss.
With a victory, the Miners would be bowl-eligible for the first time since 2005. With a loss, UTEP would extend a truly bizarre streak. The Miners haven't ended a season with a victory since 1986. UTEP also hasn't won its final road game in a season since 1991.
This is UTEP's first trip to Greenville and the Miners' second-longest road trip of the year at 1,680 miles (Buffalo was 1,690 miles). The Miners will depart for Greenville on Wednesday morning.
UTEP is 3-1 in Friday games under coach Mike Price (beat Houston and Tulane in 2005, beat UAB and lost to Tulsa in 2006).
The Series
East Carolina won the only previous matchup between the teams, 45-42 in overtime at the Sun Bowl last season. UTEP entered the game with a 4-2 record before finishing 4-8 with a six-game losing streak.
The Last Meeting
Rob Kass hit Juwon Crowell for a game-tying 34-yard touchdown as time expired in regulation, and East Carolina outlasted UTEP in overtime, 45-42, on Oct. 13 at the Sun Bowl.
UTEP took a 39-32 lead on a 31-yard run by Marcus Thomas with 34 seconds remaining in the game. But East Carolina drove 71 yards on five plays to knot the score.
The Miners went ahead 42-39 on a 45-yard field goal by Jose Martinez in overtime before the Pirates marched 25 yards on four plays to capture the victory, capped by Kass' one-yard touchdown run.
Kass completed 18-of-32 passes for 219 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions for the Pirates, who spoiled UTEP's 76th Homecoming game. Trevor Vittatoe completed 38-of-55 passes for 409 yards with three TDs and an interception to lead the Miners.
UTEP finished with 589 yards of offense, and East Carolina racked up 507 yards. The Miners led 19-18 at the half, but were outscored 14-3 to start the third quarter as the Pirates built a 32-22 cushion. UTEP scored 17 straight points to forge the 39-32 lead.
Thomas rushed for 103 yards on 22 carries and UTEP had a pair of 100-yard receivers, Jeff Moturi (12 catches-113 yards) and Lorne Sam (nine catches-127 yards).
Chris Johnson ran for 126 yards on 23 attempts for East Carolina, and Jamar Bryant reeled in seven receptions for 133 yards.
Last Action
Houston rallied from a 28-9 third quarter deficit to beat UTEP, 42-37, last Saturday at Robertson Stadium. Trailing 28-16 heading into the final period, the Cougars outscored the Miners 26-9 and put up 306 yards of offense in the fourth quarter. Case Keenum's one-yard touchdown run with 41 seconds left put Houston ahead for good.
UH finished with 700 yards of offense led by Keenum, who completed 41 of 51 passes for 480 yards. Bryce Beall rushed for 167 yards and Tyron Carrier had 265 all-purpose yards (141 receiving) to spark the Cougars.
Trevor Vittatoe completed 27 of 45 passes for 362 yards and four TDs, and Kris Adams reeled in six passes for 111 yards and three scores for the Miners.
East Carolina clinched the C-USA Eastern Division title with a 17-13 triumph at UAB. The Pirates trailed 13-10 before Brandon Simmons scored on a two-yard touchdown run with 2:20 remaining, capping a nine-play, 55-yard drive. It marked East Carolina's third win in four games following a three-game losing streak. The Pirates overcame five turnovers to knock off the Blazers.
UTEP in the National Stats
UTEP is fifth in the country in turnover margin (1.27), 15th in passing offense (281.6 ypg), 21st in passing efficiency (144.62), 23rd in scoring offense (34.0 ppg), 30th in total offense (409.8 ypg), 34th in net punting (36.7 avg.) and tied for 49th in sacks (2.0 avg.). UTEP's top-100 individual national rankings are as follows: Kris Adams, 42nd in receiving yards per game (76.6) and tied for 70th in scoring (7.1 ppg); Cornelius Brown, tied for 81st in interceptions (0.3 avg.); Josh Ferguson, 51st in kickoff returns (23.5 avg.); Jose Martinez, third in field goals (1.8 avg.) and tied for 14th in scoring (9.3 ppg); Jeff Moturi, 88th in receiving yards per game (58.4) and 90th in receptions per game (4.4); Kyle Petersen, 17th in punting (43.4 avg.); Adam Vincent, tied for 22nd in tackles (9.2 avg.); and Trevor Vittatoe, 16th in passing efficiency (149.08) and 22nd in total offense (267.5 ypg).
UTEP in the C-USA Stats
The Miners are first in C-USA in turnover margin (1.27), fourth in scoring offense (34.0 ppg), passing efficiency (144.7), passing offense (281.5 ypg) and punting (36.7 avg.), and fifth in kickoff returns (20.8 avg.). Individually, Kris Adams is fourth in scoring touchdowns (7.1 ppg), tied for sixth in scoring (7.1 ppg) and 10th in receiving yards per game (76.5); Cornelius Brown is tied for sixth in passes defended (0.9 avg.); Josh Ferguson is tied for sixth in forced fumbles (0.2 avg.); Jose Martinez is first in field goals (1.8 avg.), field goal percentage (.769) and kicking scoring (9.3 ppg), second in scoring (9.3 ppg) and third in PAT percentage (.977); Kyle Petersen is fourth in punting (43.4 avg.); Robert Soleyjacks is first in fumble recoveries (0.4 avg.); Adam Vincent is second in tackles per game (9.2); and Trevor Vittatoe is fourth in passing efficiency (149.1) and passing average per game (269.2 ypg), and sixth in total offense (267.5 ypg).
Vittatoe Sets Record For TD Passes
QB Trevor Vittatoe threw for four touchdown passes last week at Houston, giving him 31 on the season to shatter Jordan Palmer's school seasonal record. Palmer had 29 touchdown passes during the 2005 season. The 31 TD passes for Vittatoe are the seventh-best total in Conference USA history behind Tulsa's Paul Smith (47 in 2007), Tulsa's David Johnson (40 this year), Houston's Case Keenum (38 this year), Rice's Chase Clement (36 this year) and Tulane's Shaun King (36 in 1998), and Tulane's J.P. Losman (33 in 2003).
Vittatoe is Pretty Efficient Too
Trevor Vittatoe's 149.08 passing efficiency rating is second-best in school history behind Jordan Palmer's 149.60 figure in 2006. Vittatoe has passed for 30 touchdowns with only three interceptions over the last 10 games. Overall he has just six picks in 377 pass attempts, or one for every 63 throws. He has averaged 113 pass attempts between interceptions over the last 10 contests. Vittatoe would have the second-lowest seasonal percentage of interceptions (1.59) in C-USA history behind Louisville's Stefan Lefors, who fashioned a 1.17 rate (3 interceptions/257 pass attempts) in 2004.
Noting Vittatoe
* Trevor Vittatoe is only the fourth quarterback in school history to have multiple 400-yard passing games (409 versus East Carolina in 2007, 410 versus SMU in 2008). The others are Sammy Garza and Jordan Palmer (three each) and Brooks Dawson (two). Vittatoe is the only player on the list to have two 400-yard games prior to his junior year.
* Vittatoe is fourth on the Miners' all-time passing list with 6,062 yards behind Palmer (11,084), Billy Stevens (6,485) and Garza (6,130). Vittatoe is also third in total offense with 6,043 yards behind Palmer (11,041) and Garza (6,056). Vittatoe's 56 career passing touchdowns rate second in school annals behind Palmer's 88.
* Vittatoe has thrown for three or more touchdowns in eight straight games, a UTEP record. His eight consecutive games with 250+ yards passing is also a school standard.
* Vittatoe is the only player in school history to toss five TD passes in a game both as a freshman (Rice `07) and sophomore (Louisiana-Lafayette `08).
* Vittatoe has seven career 300-yard games, tied for the second-best total in UTEP annals behind Palmer's 16. Stevens also had three 300-yard games.
* Vittatoe has thrown 56 TD passes the last two years, a school record. The previous school mark was 55 TD passes over two seasons by Jordan Palmer in 2004 and 2005 and again in 2005 and 2006.
* Vittatoe's 6,062 yards passing since 2007 are the most by a freshman and sophomore in school history, and the third-most in back-to-back years. Palmer had 7,098 yards passing in 2006 and 2007, and 6,321 in 2004 and 2005.
* With 31 TD passes and only six interceptions this season, Vittatoe is poised to become the first signal-caller in school history to compile multiple years with 25+ TD passes and less than 10 picks. Rocky Perez achieved the feat once with 26 TD passes and six INTs in 2000.
* Vittatoe's .570 career completion percentage (447-of-784) is second in the school record book behind Palmer (.596) and Garza (.591).
* With 39 more passing yards, Vittatoe will become only the second player in school history to put together two 3,000-yard seasons, joining Palmer in 2005 (3,503) and 2006 (3,595).
Adams, Moturi Pack a Heck of a 1-2 Punch
Receivers Kris Adams and Jeff Moturi have combined to make 89 catches for 1,484 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. With 22 combined TD catches, Adams and Moturi have the third-top total among duos in the country. Rice's Jarett Dillard (19) and James Casey (9) have 28 TD catches combined, and Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree (18) and Eric Morris (7) have 25 combined.
More notes on Adams and Moturi:
* Adams' 13 TD catches tie him for the second-best seasonal total in school history behind Lee Mays' 15 in 2000. Moturi had 13 TD receptions in 2007. Moturi's nine TD catches this year tie him for 10th place on the seasonal chart.
* Moturi has 22 career TD catches, placing him third in school annals behind Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. (32) and Mays (28). Adams is tied for 10th with 13 receptions for scores.
* Moturi has a chance to become the first player in school history to post consecutive seasons with 10 or more TD catches. In fact, only Higgins (10 in 2004 and 13 in 2006) can boast 10 or more TD catches in two separate seasons.
* UTEP will also have two receivers with 10+ touchdown catches in a season for the first time in school history if Moturi gets one more.
* Adams is the fourth Miner to have a pair of games with three touchdown receptions in one season (he had three versus SMU and at Houston), and the third to do so in back-to-back games. Other Miners to have two games with three TD catches in a season: Higgins in 2006 (versus New Mexico State and UAB), Volley Murphy in 1967 (versus New Mexico and BYU), David Karns in 1966 (versus North Texas and Texas-Arlington), and Chuck Hughes in 1965 (versus North Texas, New Mexico and Xavier).
* Adams has four 100-yard games this season, already placing him in a tie for 12th place on the UTEP career chart. Moturi has five 100-yard games (tied for ninth all-time).
* With 113 career catches, Moturi needs six to tie Chris Marrow for 10th place in school history. With 1,533 yards, he needs 94 to tie J.J. Rowlett for 10th place.
* Adams has scored 13 touchdowns over the last eight games, and Moturi has scored eight TDs over the last six contests.
* Adams caught an 85-yard TD pass from Trevor Vittatoe versus SMU, the longest play from scrimmage for the Miners in the Mike Price era.
No Mistakes Here
The Miners have posted consecutive games without a turnover for the first time since 1988 (at Tulsa and versus Utah), and the fourth time in the modern era of football (since 1965). UTEP also achieved this feat in 1973 (at Wyoming and versus New Mexico State) and 1983 (at New Mexico and versus Weber State).
UTEP has had four turnover-free games in 2008, with three coming on the road (at Southern Miss, at Tulsa, at Houston). It marks just the second time in the modern era that UTEP has had four error-free performances (1988 was the other), and the first time that the Miners have done it three times away from home.
UTEP now has tallied eight turnover-free contests in the Mike Price era, matching Charlie Bailey for the most by any coach in the modern era.
The Miners have lost two games this season without committing a turnover, something that happened in three other seasons since 1965 (1973, 1993 and 1998).
Turnover Margin Climbs to +14, Fifth in the Country
The Miners have now collected 26 takeaways against only 12 giveaways this season for a sparkling turnover margin of +14 (1.27 per game). That figure rates fifth nationally. Oklahoma and Florida are tied for first in the country in turnover margin (1.64), with Wake Forest and Baylor tied for third (1.36).
UTEP is tied for 16th in the country in turnovers gained. The Miners are tied for 22nd in the nation in interceptions (14). UTEP has committed the fewest turnovers in C-USA (12), and is tied for ninth in the FBS in that department.
The Miners have forced four or more turnovers in four games this season for the first time since 2004. UTEP's +6 turnover margin versus SMU on Nov. 15 ranks first in the modern era of football at the school.
Martinez a Three-Time Groza Star
Jose Martinez is the only player in the country to be selected a Lou Groza Star of the Week three times this season. Martinez was honored on Sept. 29, Nov. 3 and Nov. 17. Miami's Matt Bosher, Florida State's Graham Gano, Navy's Matt Harmon, Air Force's Ryan Harrison, Utah's Louie Sakoda, Wake Forest's Sam Swank and Alabama's Leigh Tiffin are each two-time recipients.
Martinez tied the school record by making five field goals and tallied 18 points against SMU. He also hit five field goals versus East Carolina a year ago. Reagan Schneider shares the school record for field goals in a game after connecting on five against Houston in 2005.
Martinez a Semifinalist for Groza Award Again
K Jose Martinez, one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award in 2007, is one of 20 semifinalists for the award in 2008. He is 20-for-26 on field goals this year and 42-for-43 on PATs.
He had his school record streak of 15 consecutive field goals made snapped at Houston last week. The previous school record was 12 makes in a row by Chris Jacke in 1988.
Although Martinez has missed six field goals this season, five have come from 50+ yards and two have come from 60+ yards. He is 19-for-20 on field goal attempts from 50 yards and in.
Martinez is the only Groza Award finalist from `07 to repeat as a semifinalists this year (Arizona State's Thomas Weber and Indiana's Austin Starr returned in 2008 but did not make the list). This year's list of finalists will be announced in early December.
Martinez Climbing Career Charts Too
Jose Martinez is now 37-for-46 on field goals and 86-for-89 on PATs for a total of 197 points in two seasons at UTEP. He is sixth on the Miner career scoring list. Marshall Young is fifth with 202 points. Martinez ranks second in school history in field goal percentage (.804), and fourth in kicking points, field goals, PATs and PAT percentage (.966).
On the single-season lists, Martinez is second in kicking points (102), fifth in points, second in field goals, fourth in PATs (42) and seventh in PAT percentage (.977).
Martinez Makes a Little History
Although he missed tying the NCAA record for longest field goal without a tee by one yard, Jose Martinez's 64-yarder against UCF on Sept. 27 was a C-USA and school record. The previous C-USA record was a 57-yard field goal by Martinez against Houston last season. The previous school record was a 59-yard field goal by Keith Robinson versus Rice in 2002.
Martinez made a 70-yard field goal in practice earlier this season. He has missed from 65 and 66 yards this year.
Seeing Double
UTEP had two wideouts record multiple touchdown receptions at Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 8, as Kris Adams and Jeff Moturi each reached the end zone twice. The last time this happened was on Sept. 25, 1965, when Chuck Hughes had three TD catches and Bob Wallace had two in the Miners' 35-14 win at New Mexico.
Price Notches 30th Win at UTEP
The Miners' 36-10 triumph over SMU was Mike Price's 30th victory as head coach of the Miners. Price is 30-29 in his fifth season in El Paso, significant because only eight coaches before him (out of 23) have posted winning marks in the Sun City. Price already ranks fourth in school history in wins behind Mack Saxon (66), Mike Brumbelow (46) and Bobby Dobbs (41). Overall Price, the 1997 National Coach of the Year at Washington State, is 159-151 in his 27th year as a collegiate head coach.
Jackson Joins 100-Yard Club
Terrell Jackson became the third Miner to have a 100-yard rushing game this season at Louisiana-Lafayette on Nov. 8 with 14 carries for 105 yards. He follows in the footsteps of James Thomas II (142 yards versus New Mexico State) and Donald Buckram (107 yards against Tulane). The last time UTEP had three players with 100-yard rushing games in a season was in 2002 (Howard Jackson twice, Matt Austin and Sherman Austin once).
Vincent Leads Stop Troops
Senior LB Adam Vincent has quietly put together strong numbers for the UTEP defense this season. He is second in Conference USA in tackles per game (9.2) and has produced 101 stops in 11 games. Over the last eight games, Vincent has totaled 79 tackles (9.9 avg.) with double-digit takedowns on seven occasions.
Miners Wrap Up Home Slate With 3-3 Mark
UTEP finished 3-3 in its six home games this season, including 3-1 in Conference USA play. The Miners lost two home games by a total of six points to New Mexico State (34-33) and Rice (49-44). The Miners have gone .500 or better at home in five straight seasons -- all under Mike Price -- for the first time since the Sun Bowl's inception in 1963.
Miners Have Balanced Attack in `08
UTEP has been led in rushing by four players in 11 games -- Donald Buckram four times, Terrell Jackson and James Thomas II three times and Vernon Frazier once. The last time four different players led UTEP in rushing over the course of a season was 2003, when Matt Austin, Howard Jackson, Jimmy Smith and quarterback Jordan Palmer took turns heading up the ground game.
The Miners have been led in receiving by four different players this season as well -- Kris Adams seven times, Jeff Moturi twice, and Jamar Hunt and Tufick Shadrawy once apiece.
Who's Not Here
UTEP has lost six players to season-ending injuries -- DBs Braxton Amy and Roddray Walker, DL Brandis Dew, LB Royzell Smith, OL Rod Huntley and RB Jason Williams. All but Dew are expected back in 2008, and all but Walker have started games for the Miners.
The Miners will also likely be missing starting C Robby Felix this week. He suffered a mild stroke following the SMU game -- ending a string of 46 consecutive games started.
New Kids on the Block
Fifteen freshmen have seen action for the Miners already this season, including nine true freshmen -- Antwon Blake, Michael Farrar, Josh Flores, Ramonte Harris, Jamie Irving, Negale Miller, Bernard Obi, Daniel Palmer and Nick Sampson. Only two true freshmen -- Isaiah Carter and Craig Wood -- played for the Miners in all of 2007.
Bell in the Two-Deep, But Not in the Media Guide
Junior DB Dustin Bell isn't included in the 2008 UTEP media guide, but is listed second on the depth chart at right corner. Bell originally signed with the Miners as a wide receiver in the spring of 2006 before spending the last two seasons at Bakersfield College. He played his prep ball at Wilmer Hutchins High School in his hometown of Dallas, earning All-State and district MVP honors his senior year. He had 93 catches for 1,770 yards and 27 touchdowns in his high school career, leading Wilmer Hutchins HS to district titles his sophomore and senior campaigns. He was also an All-District baseball and basketball player. Bell compiled 70 tackles and 10 interceptions in two years at Bakersfield College. Bakersfield had the top-rated defense in the Western State Conference during the 2007 season, limiting the opposition to 256.3 yards per game. Bell's younger brother Derrius is a sophomore defensive back at SMU.
Eye-Popping Offensive Numbers Under Price
Since Mike Price took over as head coach for the 2004 season, UTEP has played 59 games and scored 30+ points thirty-eight times -- a school record. The Miners have had seventeen 40-point games under Price, another school standard. UTEP has racked up 23,823 yards of offense under Price (403.8 avg.), including the top two seasonal outputs in school annals -- 5,074 yards in 2007 and 5,073 yards in 2005. UTEP's 32.5 ppg average under Price is also tops among all coaches in school history.
