UTEP NOTES | C-USA NOTES
THE KICKOFF
UTEP (0-3) and NM State (0-4) will collide in the 96th meeting between the long-time rivals in the FirstLight Federal Credit Union Battle of I-10. Kickoff is at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22 in the Sun Bowl. It's "Hall of Fame Weekend," as David Bishop (men's golf), Camilla Carrera (softball), Jareica Hughes (women's basketball), Willie Worsley (men's basketball) and Barron Wortham (football) will be honored as the 16th UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame induction class. Wortham played football for the Miners from 1990-93 and is UTEP's all-time leader for tackles (566) and tackles for losses (45). He and Raymond Morris are the only players to lead the Miners in tackles in four separate seasons. Wortham was a first-team All-American and the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. Wortham played seven years in the NFL and started for the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. On the field, the Miners will look to get back on track against their I-10 rivals after suffering their first loss to the Aggies in nine years in 2017. UTEP coach Dana Dimel gets his first taste of the rivalry on Saturday, while NMSU's Doug Martin will be coaching against the Miners for the sixth time.
SATURDAY'S OPPONENT
The Aggies have struggled following up their breakthrough 2017 season, dropping their first four games to Wyoming (29-7), Minnesota (48-10), Utah State (60-13) and New Mexico (42-25). NM State posted a 7-6 mark a year ago and made its first bowl appearance in 57 years; the Aggies toppled Utah State in the Nova Home Loans Arizona Bowl, 26-20. NMSU returned 17 starters (eight offense/nine defense) but lost some key skill players in QB Tyler Rogers (4,016 yards passing/27 TDs last season), RB Larry Rose III (939 yards rushing) and WR Jaleel Scott (1,079 yards receiving). Redshirt-freshman QB Josh Adkins will make his first career start against the Miners on Saturday. The Spring Branch, Texas, native came on in relief of starter Matt Romero against New Mexico and completed 12-of-21 passes for 168 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. The Aggies got off to a fast start against the Lobos, leading 14-0 and 17-7, but were outscored 35-8 over the final three periods. The Aggies had a slim lead in yardage (368-325) but committed five turnovers (leading to 21 points for UNM) and 15 penalties for 114 yards. Senior Johnathan Boone (187 yards) and junior Drew Dan (183 yards) are the Aggies' top receivers to date. NMSU has had difficulties running the football, averaging 64.3 yards per game. Overall the Aggies are averaging 263.5 yards of total offense per contest (199.3 passing). NMSU averages 13.8 points per game, while opponents average 44.8 ppg and 435.5 ypg. The defensive leaders for the Aggies are senior LB Terrill Hanks (54 TT/four TFL) and senior DB Ron LaForce (47 TT). Hanks is second in the nation in tackles per game (13.5), and LaForce is eighth (11.8). NMSU has one of the top punters in college football in junior Payton Theisler. He ranks 21st nationally in average (43.9) with eight punts traveling 50+ yards.
THE SERIES
UTEP holds a 57-36-2 edge in the longest-running series in school history. The Miners had posted a school-record eight consecutive wins over the Aggies before NMSU scored a 41-14 victory in Las Cruces a year ago. The Miners hold a 38-16-1 advantage in games played in El Paso. UTEP has won 10 of the last 11 games between the rivals in the Sun Bowl including the last four matchups, all by at least 13 points.
THE LAST MEETING
Larry Rose III rushed for 144 yards and scored three touchdowns, leading NM State to a 41-14 victory over UTEP on Sept. 23, 2017, at Aggie Memorial Stadium. Rose compiled 189 all-purpose yards with two rushing touchdowns and one receiving. Tyler Rogers completed 26-of-43 passes for 283 yards with a pair of scores for the Aggies. The Miners tried two different quarterbacks (Ryan Metz in the first half, Mark Torrez in the second half). They finished with 227 yards of offense, including 81 on their only scoring drive in the first quarter. Their other touchdown came on a 26-yard fumble recovery by Trace Mascorro late in the game. Metz threw three interceptions in the first half and finished 6-of-18 passing for 54 yards. Torrez was 4-of-16 passing for 38 yards with two picks and also rushed seven times for 31 yards. After the teams traded interceptions on their second offensive series, the Aggies drew first blood when Rose broke free for a 40-yard touchdown run. The Miners tied it up with an impressive 12-play, 81-yard drive as Quardraiz Wadley rushed four times for 30 yards in the sequence. Metz targeted his tight ends on the drive as Josh Weeks and David Lucero reeled in passes of six and 11 yards respectively. The Aggies responded by scoring the next 34 points, surging to a 41-7 lead. Wadley gained 77 yards on 19 carries to lead the Miners. NM State put up 462 yards of offense and applied pressure defensively, collecting seven tackles for losses, three sacks and four quarterback hurries. The Aggies' offensive efficiency was buoyed by a 9-for-17 effort on third down, compared to UTEP's 2-for-15.
CONNECTIONS
UTEP senior WR Kavika Johnson and sophomore FB Forest McKee are Las Cruces natives who attended Oñate HS and Mayfield HS, respectively. The Aggies have six El Paso products in junior DL Jacob Arellano (Socorro HS), freshman OL David Ash (Eastwood HS), freshman WR Ivan Avina (Eastlake HS), freshman K Isaac Garcia (Franklin HS), freshman DL Dorian Vega (Americas HS) and freshman DB Mica Ward (Chapin HS). Miner sophomore RB Joshua Fields and junior OL Markos Lujan are graduates of Americas HS. UTEP freshman DB Deaumonjae Banks, freshman DE Chuck Tuiolemotu and freshman LB Anthony Ulmer went to Chapin HS. UTEP freshman DB Marcus Jenkins and freshman OL Robert Lazarin attended Eastlake HS. UTEP sophomore OL Greg Long and sophomore QB Mark Torrez are Eastwood HS grads. UTEP freshman LB Elijah Ruiz and freshman DB Justin Rone played their prep ball at Franklin HS. UTEP junior LB Thomas Lash played previously at Santa Barbara City College, as did NMSU senior OL Isaac McClain and senior OL Billy Sharmoug. Both teams have a player from Queensland, Australia, on their roster --Miner junior punter Mitchell Crawford and Aggie senior LS Tim O'Donnell.
LAST GAME
Ty Chandler rushed for 158 yards, including an 81-yard touchdown burst in the third quarter, as Tennessee topped UTEP, 24-0, on Sept. 15 at Neyland Stadium. Jarrett Guarantano completed 12-of-16 passes for 168 yards for the Vols in the first matchup between the teams in 28 years. The defense kept the Miners in the game until early in the fourth quarter, when Guarantano capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with a four-yard TD pass to Jauan Jennings. UTEP wasn't able to get its offense untracked. The Miners finished with seven first downs and 134 yards, including 39 passing. Kai Locksley completed 9-of-22 passes for 39 yards, and rushed nine times for 24 yards. UTEP fell just shy of 100 yards rushing (95) as Treyvon Hughes and Quardraiz Wadley tied for the team lead with 33 yards apiece. Tennessee picked up 345 yards on the ground and 512 total, but the Vols weren't able to gain separation on the scoreboard until deep into the second half. The Miners registered four tackles for losses, a couple of sacks and recovered a pair of fumbles to stall Tennessee drives. The Vols amassed 259 yards at the break but led just 10-0. A 38-yard field goal by Brent Cimaglia with 2:39 remaining in the first quarter opened the scoring. Early in the second quarter, the Vols took advantage of a short field and moved 36 yards on three plays, capped by a three-yard rushing TD by Tim Jordan. The Miners got the ball to start the second half, but went three and out and on the next play, Chandler broke free for the 81-yard TD and a 17-0 lead. A.J. Hotchkins registered a game-high 10 tackles for UTEP.
TYING THE RECORD
Senior DB Nik Needham recorded his first pass break-up of the season last week at Tennessee. It was the 25th of his career, tying him for first place in school history with Jahmal Fenner, who played for the Miners from 2001-04. Needham is third on the team in tackles this season (18) and is tied for the team lead with three tackles for losses.
DOMINANT START
Graduate transfer LB A.J. Hotchkins has registered double-digit stops in two of the first three games. The Oregon import was credited with 13 tackles in the opener versus Northern Arizona, and added 10 more last week at Tennessee. Hotchkins has 31 tackles on the season; his 10.3 average rates 24th nationally and fifth in Conference USA. The 31 tackles are the most by a Miner in three games to start a season since Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith had 42 in the first three contests of 2009. He is on pace to tally 124 stops in 2018. That would mark the most tackles by a UTEP defender since Troy Collavo posted 125 during the 2006 season. UTEP has had a 100-tackle player just twice in the last eight seasons following a 25-year run with at least one Miner hitting the century mark from 1985-2009.
GOING SOLO
Senior DB Kahani Smith is tied for 26th nationally, and ranks second in Conference USA with 17 solo tackles. Old Dominion's Lawrence Garner is the league leader with 21. Smith is second on the team with 25 stops overall.
GETTING TO THE QB
The Miners posted two sacks for the second consecutive game at Tennessee last week. One was credited to junior LB Dylan Parsee, the first of his career, while the other went to senior DE Mike Sota, who leads the team with two sacks (Sota also got to the QB in the opener versus Northern Arizona). Sota hasn't started this season, but is also tied for the team lead with three tackles for losses. With five sacks in only three games, the Miners are almost halfway to their 2017 season total (11). And Sota's two sacks are more than all but one player (Alvin Jones) logged a year ago. Sota is tied for 10th in C-USA with 0.67 sacks per contest.
A BETTER PERFORMANCE
Although they yielded 512 yards, the Miners turned in a better defensive effort last week at Tennessee.Five of the plays - an 81-yard TD run by Ty Chandler, a 53-yard pass from Jarrett Guarantano to Josh Palmer, a 29-yard pass from Guarantano to Brandon Johnson, a 28-yard rush by Madre London and a 23-yard rush by Jeremy Banks -- accounted for 42 percent (214) of the yards. UTEP was able to limit the big plays the rest of the game, with only one resulting in a gain of 15 yards or more. In fact, the Vols' other 64 plays resulted in 298 yards, an average of 4.7 per play, and Tennessee was forced to punt six times on its 13 possessions overall. The Tennessee game marked the first time UTEP allowed seven points or less in every quarter since Oct. 7, 2017, versus WKU. The 24 points scored by the Vols were the fewest by a Power Five opponent against UTEP in a road game since Aug. 31, 1996, versus Arizona (23-3 loss).
CAUSING TURNOVERS
The Miners forced two turnovers, doubling their output from the first two games, at Tennessee. They recovered two fumbles in a game for the first time since Nov. 18, 2017, versus LA Tech, and for only the second time in their last 23 games dating back to the 2016 season. The Miners came out of the Tennessee game with a positive turnover margin (+2) for the first time since Nov. 4, 2017, at Middle Tennessee, and for the third time in their last 15 games dating back to the start of the 2017 season. While the Miners have caused three turnovers in three games, they are seeking their first points off turnovers in 2018. Meanwhile, opponents have scored 31 points off UTEP giveaways.
TRIMMING THE PENALTIES
One of the Miners' goals heading into the Tennessee game was to limit their penalties and, although they were whistled six times for 42 yards of infractions, it was a sign of progress. UTEP committed 10 penalties for 76 yards in week one against Northern Arizona, and eight penalties for 67 yards in week two at UNLV. The 42 penalty yards at Tennessee were the fewest for UTEP since week three of the 2017 season against Arizona (35).
DEPLETED O-LINE
UTEP's offensive struggles in 2018 can be traced to the loss of three key starters in the line -- center Derron Gatewood (knee) and tackle Greg Long (shoulder), who are out for the season, and tackle Jerrod Brooks, who missed the Tennessee game with a knee injury. The players who started at Tennessee last week -- Zuri Henry, Bobby DeHaro, Markos Lujan, Ruben Guerra and Bijan Hosseini - enter the NM State game with a total of 21 FBS starts under their belt. Eleven of those starts belong to Guerra, who has now started at three positions (center, right guard, right tackle) in three games this season.
LOCKSLEY'S 100-YARD NIGHT
In rushing for a team-high 119 yards at UNLV on Sept. 8, junior QB Kai Locksley became the first UTEP quarterback to eclipse the century mark since Blaire Sullivan gained 104 yards versus FIU on Nov. 16, 2013. The 119 rushing yards are the most by a UTEP quarterback since Shawn Gray had 141 yards versus Fresno State on Nov. 12, 1994. Locksley joins Sullivan, Gray, Kevin Ward and Lorne Sam as the only Miner signal-callers to compile 100 yards rushing in a game since 1980. Locksley scored TDs on runs of one and 20 yards against the Rebels. Locksley is the first UTEP quarterback to rush for two touchdowns in a game since James Thomas II did so versus NM State on Sept. 20, 2008.
LOCKSLEY, THE LEADING RUSHER
Kai Locksley is UTEP's leading rusher with 193 yards, 21 more than his closest pursuer Quardraiz Wadley. While it's very early in the season, Locksley has a chance to become only the third UTEP quarterback to pace the squad in rushing since 1980. The others are Kevin Ward in 1982 (813 yards) and 1983 (608), and Shawn Gray in 1992 (402). Locksley has 47 of the Miners' 101 rushing attempts (47 percent) for 193 yards this season. Locksley is tied for 12th nationally and leads C-USA in quarterback rushing yards. His 64.3 rushing yards per game also lead the league and are tied for 11th in the country among signal callers.
LOCKSLEY TAKING A BITE OUT OF OFFENSE
Kai Locksley has accounted for 114 of the Miners' 184 total offensive plays (62 percent) through three games. At his current pace, he would be responsible for 456 plays this season which would be the eighth-top total in school annals. Locksley has also accounted for 22 of the Miners' 41 first downs this season either with his legs or his arm.
WADLEY MAKING PLAYS
Junior RB Quardraiz Wadley is averaging 8.3 yards every time he touches the ball this season (198 yards/24 plays). He rushed for 96 yards on only seven carries (13.7 ypc) at UNLV. It marked the second-most yards in his college career; he picked up 156 yards versus Army in 2017. Wadley tied for the team lead with 33 yards rushing at Tennessee last week.
HUGHES EMERGES
Junior RB Treyvon Hughes has had an eventful UTEP career. He spent the 2015 season at running back, missed the 2016 campaign due to injury, then was moved to linebacker in 2017. Now he's back at tailback and was a major contributor last week at Tennessee. He led the team in rushing (33 yards) for the first time in his career and picked up a couple of first downs with runs of 18 and 12 yards.
A GROUNDED ATTACK
Of the Miners' 751 yards in 2018, 462 have come via the rush (62 percent) and 289 have come via the pass (38 percent). UTEP is averaging 96.3 yards passing per game, which would be its lowest figure since 1980 (83.6 passing ypg). It has become more customary in recent years for UTEP to gain more yards on the ground than through the air. This also happened in 2013 (2,216 rush/1,959 pass), 2014 (2,701 rush/1,858 pass) and 2016 (2,226 rush/2,204 pass). Before that, the Miners went 18 consecutive seasons with more passing yards than rushing yards following the 1994 campaign, when they generated 1,980 yards by the run and 1,666 by the pass.
RUNNING FOR TDS
Through three games, UTEP has four rushing touchdowns and no passing touchdowns. It marks the first time since 1983 that the Miners have played their first three games of a season without a passing TD.
TRACKING METZ
Senior Ryan Metz, who has split time with Kai Locksley at quarterback in the first three games, ranks No. 10 on the program's all-time completion list with 282. Metz is 16 completions away from the No. 9 spot. Metz has also tossed 23 scores during his career, needing one to crack the program's top 10 list. Metz has also been responsible for 26 touchdowns, needing eight to crack the school's top 10 list.
SEEING RED
The Miners are a perfect 4-for-4 in red zone scoring opportunities this season with two touchdowns and two field goals. Opponents are 10-for-14 (71.4 percent) in the red zone with seven TDs, three field goals, a missed field goal, a turnover and two clock expirations. UTEP is tied for first in the FBS in red zone efficiency, and tied for 33rd in red zone defense.
MR. SPECIAL TEAMS
WR Terry Juniel has had an exceptional start to his senior year at UTEP, as he has accumulated a team-high 232 all-purpose yards (164 kickoff returns, 52 punt returns, 16 receiving). He had 124 all-purpose yards against Northern Arizona, the second most in his career (he tallied 142 against NM State on Sept. 3, 2016). Juniel now has 1,491 all-purpose yards (one rushing, 323 receiving, 306 punt returns, 861 kickoff returns) in his UTEP career.
AMONG THE LEADERS
Behind Terry Juniel, UTEP is averaging 27.3 yards on kickoff returns to rank 16th in the nation. The Miners are second in Conference USA in kickoff returns behind North Texas (33.4 avg.). The UTEP record for kickoff return average is 27.3 ypr by the 1996 squad. Individually, Juniel rates 18th in the FBS in kickoff return average, and second in C-USA behind Rice's Austin Walter (28.0). He is also the C-USA leader in punt returns (5.8 avg.).
NEW FACES IN THE KICKING GAME
UTEP has gotten good production out of a pair of special teams newcomers, Aussie punter Mitchell Crawford and true freshman kicker Gavin Baechle. Crawford had a season-long 51-yard punt at UNLV. He punted 12 times for 471 yards at Tennessee. The 12 punts are tied for sixth in school history by an individual player, and are the second-top total (the record is 13 punts by four players). Baechle has handled kickoffs and booted six of eight into the end zone.
FILLING IT UP
Senior Jason Filley has been money since taking over as the Miners' kicker five games into the 2017 season. The El Paso native and Coronado High School graduate is 4-for-5 on field goals and a perfect 11-for-11 on PATs since. He has scored a total of 23 points. Filley kicked a career-long 33-yard field goal at UNLV.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
There are nine programs in the FBS, including UTEP, that have sons playing for their fathers. UTEP first-year head coach Dana Dimel has his son, Winston, at fullback. The other eight programs include UAB (head coach Bill Clark and son Jacob), Colorado (head coach Mike Macintyre and son Jay), Tulsa (head coach Philip Montgomery and son Cannon), Navy (head coach Ken Niumatalolo and son Ali'i), TCU (head coach Gary Patterson and son Blake), Middle Tennessee (head coach Rick Stockstill and son Brent), Clemson (head coach Dabo Swinney and son Will) and Old Dominion (head coach Bobby Wilder and son Derek). Winston previously played at Kansas State (2015-17) where his father was the offensive coordinator. The younger Dimel earned a spot on the 2018-19 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List after garnering All-Big 12 honors each of the last three years.
THE GRADUATES
Eight players on the 2018 roster are graduate students. They are OL Jerrod Brooks, FB Winston Dimel, OL Derron Gatewood, LB A.J. Hotchkins, QB Ryan Metz, DL C.J. Reese, DL Michael Sota and TE Josh Weeks.
GETTING IT DONE IN THE CLASSROOM
Twenty players on the 2018 roster were named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll this spring for sporting grade point averages of 3.0 or better. They are RB Ronald Awatt, DL Christian Buckingham, QB Alex Fernandes, K/P Jason Filley, RB Reynaldo Flores, LB Stephen Forester, WR Keynan Foster, OL Derron Gatewood, LB Kalaii Griffin, DL Christian Johnson, OL Robert Lazarin, FB Forest McKee, QB Ryan Metz, FB Jonathan Millan, DL Jimmy Quemado, LS Jake Sammut, DB Kahani Smith, LB Sione Tupou, LB Anthony Ulmer and K Brady Viles. Fernandes and Flores were recipients of C-USA Academic Medals for logging GPAs of 3.75 or higher.
NEXT UP
UTEP will open Conference USA play at UTSA on Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. MT. The Miners are 5-8 in C-USA openers, but have dropped their last eight after winning their first five from 2005-09. UTSA has served as the Miners' first C-USA opponent twice; UTEP dropped its 2013 and 2015 league lid lifters to the Roadrunners by the score of 32-13 and 25-6, respectively. Both games took place in the Sun Bowl.
