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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
UTEP Defense
Ruben R. Ramirez
3
Louisiana Tech LAT 2-4 , 1-1
19
Winner UTEP UTE 6-1 , 3-0
Louisiana Tech LAT
2-4 , 1-1
3
Final
19
UTEP UTE
6-1 , 3-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LAT Louisiana Tech 0 3 0 0 3
UTE UTEP 14 2 3 0 19

Game Recap: Football |

UTEP Bowls Over LA Tech, 19-3


UTEP 19, LA Tech 3 Game Book | Postgame Notes | Photo Gallery

EL PASO, TEXAS – The bowling lanes are open for the UTEP Miners!
 
They reached the coveted six victories with a 19-3 rout of LA Tech on Saturday night in the Sun Bowl.  The Miners (6-1, 3-0 C-USA) are 3-0 in Conference USA play for only the second time ever, and 6-1 for the first time since 2005.
 
The Miners jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on the strength of two Deion Hankins rushing touchdowns.  A 36-yard punt return by Justin Garrett set up UTEP's second score of the night.
 
That would prove to be more than enough points to beat the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-1 C-USA) as the Miner defense turned in another sensational performance.  The Miners limited LA Tech to 278 yards as the Bulldogs were a combined 3-for-14 on third and fourth down.  The Bulldogs were able to penetrate the Miner 30-yard line five times but those drives resulted in a turnover on downs, a missed field goal, a field goal and two interceptions.  The Miners simply would not allow LA Tech to score a touchdown.
 
LA Tech was held to its fewest points ever in a Conference USA game.
 
"The performance by the defense might be the best I've ever seen in a football game that I've been involved in," UTEP coach Dana Dimel said.  "I'm excited for the guys.  LA Tech had two weeks to prepare for us, and we overcame all of that."
 
Jadrian Taylor spearheaded UTEP's dynamite defensive effort with six total tackles and 3.5 sacks.  The Miners tallied four sacks, six tackles for losses and three interceptions – one apiece by Tyrice Knight, Torrey Richardson and Tyson Wilson.
 
"I'm really proud of the defense and really proud of the way the offense took it to them early," Dimel said.  "We had 36:43 of possession time. That's who we are and what we do."
 
UTEP's lead grew to 16-0 when LA Tech running back Marcus Williams Jr. was tackled by Jalen Rudolph in the end zone for a safety early in the second quarter – marking the first time in school history that the Miners have registered a safety in back-to-back games.  Joshua Sloan's 62-yard punt pinned the Bulldogs at their own one-yard line.
 
LA Tech got on the scoreboard with 6:56 to go in the half on a 25-yard field goal by Jacob Barnes. 
 
The Miners reinstated a two-possession margin on a 41-yard field goal by Gavin Baechle with 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
 
The defensive performance was so awesome that it didn't matter that the Miners turned over the football four times.  They won a game with four turnovers for the first time since 2006.
 
There were plenty of highlights for UTEP offensively, however.  Gavin Hardison threw for 283 yards (his most versus a C-USA opponent), and Jacob Cowing went over 2,000 yards for his career with 166 yards receiving.  The Miners finished with 388 yards and left some points on the field that they wouldn't need.
 
Following their second and final bye week of the season, the Miners will play at Florida Atlantic on Oct. 30 at 4 p.m. MT.  UTEP's next home game is on Nov. 6 versus UTSA at 2 p.m.  Tickets are available by calling (915) 747-UTEP or by visiting www.utepminers.com/tickets.  
 
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