UTEP Athletics

UTEP to Host Middle Tennessee in the “90th Homecoming Game” Saturday Night

10/27/2022 10:14:00 AM

UTEP Notes | MT Notes

EL PASO, Texas – UTEP, coming off a thrilling victory, will host Middle Tennessee in the "90^th Homecoming Game" on Saturday night. The Miners and Blue Raiders are set for a 7 p.m. kick in Sun Bowl Stadium.

Tickets for the battle are available by calling (915) 747-UTEP, emailing at tickets@utep.com, visiting www.UTEPMiners.com/tickets, or dropping by the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – 201 Glory Road in Brumbelow Building). A family 4-pack will get you four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks and a large popcorn for $48.

The Miners have won three of their last four games, and four of the last six contests overall. UTEP is 3-1 in the Sun Bowl in 2022, and has won 10 of the last 12 games played in the "915."

The Miners are taking on the Blue Raiders for the first time in four seasons. MT also makes its return to the Sun City for the first time since 2018. UTEP is 1-3 versus Middle Tennessee overall, and 1-1 in the "915." The Miners defeated the Blue Raiders 24-21 on Nov. 29, 2014.

UTEP (4-4, 2-2 C-USA) rallied to defeat Florida Atlantic 24-21 after Gavin Baechle nailed a 27-yard field goal as time expired. The Miners found themselves down 14-6 late in the third quarter, but outscored the Owls 18-7 down the stretch to secure the victory. For Baechle, the field goal was no. 51 – a new school record. He's also connected on 15 consecutive field goals, the most since the 2008 season by a UTEP kicker. Deion Hankins rushed for a career-high 138 yards on 17 carries (8.1 avg.). His career-long 72-yard dash to the FAU five-yard line sparked UTEP's offense and led to a Gavin Hardison five-yard rushing score, followed by Trent Thompsons's two-point conversion, to tie the game 14-14. It was Hardison's first career rushing TD. Reynaldo Flores followed that with his first career receiving score when Hardison found him on a four-yard pass into the end zone that put UTEP up 21-14 early in the fourth. FAU tied the game with 4:36 left in the game, but Hardison drove the Miners 65 yards on 13 plays that resulted in one of the biggest field goals in program history.

Middle Tennessee (3-4, 0-3 C-USA) is coming off a bye week. Prior, the Blue Raiders lost their third consecutive game, falling 35-17 against WKU. MT had upset no. 25 Miami in Coral Gables on Sept. 24, to start the season 3-1. MT fell at James Madison 44-7 on Sept. 3, but bounced back to win at Colorado State 34-19, against Tennessee State on Sept. 17. In its most recent game against WKU in Murfreesboro, Chase Cunningham threw for 228 yards (32-51), a TD and INT, while rushing for a team-high 29 yards and a score. Izaiah Gathings tallied 42 yards on three receptions and a TD.

Middle Tennessee has been one of the top teams nationally in forcing turnovers. The Blue Raiders have tallied 10 interceptions, ranking tied 10^th nationally. MT's three touchdown returns on INTs ranks tied first nationally.

"Middle Tennessee is a team that has played a difficult schedule. The teams that they've played in our conference are good football teams and so they have lots of team speed. I mean, all you must do is go back and watch their game against Miami where they just got after it from the very get go and won decisively against Miami," UTEP Head Coach Dana Dimel said.  "They're one of the best teams in the country at causing turnovers. I think they're in the top 10 in the country in turnovers caused but they've also had three games where they've had a turnover on the offensive team's first possession that they're going against. They can make a dramatic impact on the game early. They're a very good athletic defensive football team with really good team speed across the board."

The Miners have been no slouch in forcing turnovers as they rank tied fifth in FBS and second in C-USA with nine fumble recoveries. UTEP also ranks third nationally and first in C-USA with 12 forced fumbles.

UTEP (4-4, 2-2) vs. Middle Tennessee (3-4, 0-3)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 29
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Sun Bowl Stadium (45,971)
Twitter Updates: @UTEPFB

TV: ESPN+
PxP: Erik Elken
Analyst: Jacob Boggs

Radio: ESPN 600 El Paso
PxP: Jon Teicher
Analyst: Cole Freytag
Sideline: Mando Medina

A BIT OF HOMECOMING HISTORY
UTEP is 40-48-1 all-time in homecoming games. The Miners defeated Old Dominion 28-21 in last year's contest. Prior to that victory, UTEP had lost its previous five homecoming games. The Miners are looking for their first back-to-back winning homecoming games since defeating Colorado State in 2011 and Tulane in 2012. The Miners had won five straight from 2008 thru 2012.

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with Erik Elken calling the action with former UTEP LB Jacob Boggs(1999-2000) providing analysis. The action returns to 600 ESPN El Paso with "The Voice of the Miners" Jon Teicher calling play-by-play in his 42^nd season. 'Teich' is joined by former UTEP WR Cole Freytag (2012, 2014-16) in the booth providing analysis in his first season and Mando Medina reporting from the sidelines. The action can also be heard on the UTEP Miners app.

SERIES VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE
MT leads the all-time series 3-1. The Miners and Blue Raiders have split the two meetings in the Sun Bowl. UTEP defeated MT 24-21 on Nov. 29, 2014 in the El Paso. The victory propelled the Miners to a 7-5 mark that year. The Blue Raiders won the contest 48-32 in the last meeting on Nov. 10, 2018 in the Sun Bowl. UTEP and MT first met on Nov. 30, 2013 in Murfreesboro – Blue Raiders won 48-17. The other meeting came on Nov. 14, 2017 in an MT 30-3 win in Murfreesboro.

SCOUTING MIDDLE TENNEESSEE
MT (3-4, 0-3 C-USA) is currently on a three-game losing streak. The Blue Raiders opened the season with a 44-7 loss at James Madison but rebounded to win their next three games. MT won at Colorado State 34-19, defeated Tennessee State 49-6, and upset no. 25 Miami in Coral Gables. MT followed with three straight losses – falling against UTSA 45-30, at UAB 41-14 and most recently WKU 35-17 on Oct. 15. Starting QB Chase Cunningham has thrown for 1,792 yards on 178-of-270 passing (65.9 percent) with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. He's added three rushing scores. RB Frank Peasant leads the team with 365 yards and six rushing scores. Izaiah Gathings leads the team with 39 receptions (352 yards, 1 TD), while Jaylin Lane leads the team with 506 yards (36 rec.) and two scores. Teldrick Ross leads the defense with 52 tackles, while Decorian Patterson has picked off a C-USA high four passes. The defense has scored three touchdowns. MT has also intercepted 10 passes, ranking tied 10^th nationally. The Blue Raiders rank ninth nationally and first in C-USA in red zone defense. MT averages 28.0 points per game and gives up 31.6. MT averages 360.4 yards of total offense and yields 426.4 on defense.

SCHOOL RECORD
Senior K/P Gavin Baechle connected on his 51^st career field goal, setting a school record on Oct. 22 against FAU. Baechle's big field goal make was also the game winner with no time remaining against the Owls. Reagan Schneider (50 FGM, 2003-2006) previously held the record for 16 seasons.

FIRST WALK-OFF WIN SINCE 2010
Gavin Baechle hit a game-winning 27-yard field goal to clip FAU 24-21 on Oct. 22. It was the first walk-off victory since Sept. 25, 2010 when Dakota Warren hit an 18-yard FG to defeat Memphis 16-13 in the Sun Bowl.

15 IN A ROW
Gavin Baechle has hit 15 consecutive field goals after missing his very first attempt of 2022. It's the longest streak of his career and ties the longest streak by a Miner player since Jose Martinez who converted 15 straight field goals during the 2008 campaign.

BAECHLE LEADING THE WAY
Senior K/P Gavin Baechle is first in Conference USA with 15 made field goals and ranks tied second nationally. Baechle is 15-for-16 on the season. Baechle leads C-USA in field goals made per game (1.9). His 93.8 percent (15-16) ranks second in C-USA.

DEION "TANKINS" RUNS WILD ON "MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY"
Redshirt sophomore RB Deion Hankins rushed for a career-high 138 yards on 17 attempts (8.1 avg.) in UTEP's win over FAU on Oct. 22. Hankins's previous high was 119 yards at Charlotte in 2020. Hankins added a career-long 72-yard run that set up a game-tying TD in the third quarter.

HANKINS REACHING THE CENTURY MARK
Deion Hankins tallied his fifth career 100-yard rushing effort against FAU (138 yards). Hankins hit 112 yards at Charlotte a few weeks back. Hankins gained 113 against SFA on Sept. 5, 2020, 118 yards at ULM on Sept. 26, 2020, and 119 at Charlotte on Oct. 24, 2020.

THE RUN THAT SPARKED THE OFFENSE
Deion Hankins's career-long 72-yard dash to the FAU five-yard line in the third quarter sparked UTEP's offense after the Miners were down 14-6. UTEP tied the game on the next play as Gavin Hardison rushed for a five-yard TD and tossed the successful two-point conversion. Hankins's previous long was a 45-yard dash at FAU last season. It was also UTEP's longest rush play of 2022.

GAMES IN OCTOBER
UTEP is 5-2 in games played in October the last two years after defeating FAU on Oct. 22. It's been a huge improvement from the previous five seasons where the Miners were 2-17 in games played in the month of October from 2015 to 2020.

CLOSE CONFERENCE WIN
UTEP defeated Florida Atlantic by three points (24-21) on Oct. 22. It was the first Conference USA victory by three points or less since Oct. 22, 2016 when UTEP won at UTSA 52-49 in five overtimes.

FIRST TIME SINCE 2009
UTEP has compiled 400+ yard of total offense in each of its first four Conference USA games for the first time since the 2009 season. This season, UTEP gained 400 yards against North Texas, another 425 at Charlotte, 501 yards at LA Tech, and 412 yards of offense versus FAU. Back in 2009, the Miners started the first six games with 400+ yards – 581 vs. Houston, 442 at Memphis, 446 vs. Tulsa, 607 at UAB, 486 at Tulane, 627 at SMU).

FIRST CAREER RUSHING TD
Redshirt junior QB Gavin Hardison scored a TD on a five-yard rush during the third quarter in UTEP's 24-21 win over FAU on Oct. 22. It was the first rushing score of his career.

RUN, GAVIN, RUN
Gavin Hardison has rushed for a career-high 80 yards in 2022. Most recently, Hardison rushed for 22 yards against FAU, 29 at LA Tech on Oct. 8 and added a career-high 50 yards rushing on five carries at Charlotte on Oct. 1. He's rushed for 121 yards the last four games.

FIRST CAREER RECEIVING TD
Redshirt senior RB/WR Reynaldo Flores hauled in a four-yard touchdown reception against FAU on Oct. 22. It was Flores's first career receiving score. Overall, he's tallied three TD's (2 rush, 1 rec.).

TYRIN'S RECEIVING RANKINGS
Redshirt sophomore WR Tyrin Smith ranks fourth Conference USA with 686 yards receiving. Smith ranks seventh in C-USA with 46 receptions and ranks fourth in yards per game (85.8). Nationally, Smith ranks 18^th in receiving yards.

SMITH'S CONSISTENCY
Tyrin Smith tallied 70 yards on seven receptions in the Miners' win over FAU. Smith has now caught a pass in 20 consecutive games dating back to Sept. 4, 2021 against Bethune-Cookman (4 rec., 76 yards). Smith has also registered at least two receptions in his last 14 games.

TYRIN'S CAREER-LONG RUSH
Tyrin Smith rushed for a career-high 15 yards on his only attempt against FAU. For the season, Smith has gained 34 yards on three carries.

FUMBLEROOSKI
UTEP's defense ranks tied fifth nationally and second in Conference USA with nine fumble recoveries, while leading C-USA and ranking third nationally with 12 forced fumbles.

LEADER OF THE SACK
Senior DE Jadrian Taylor leads UTEP and Conference USA with 7.0 sacks after tallying 2.0 sacks against FAU on Oct. 22. Taylor also registered a sack at no. 9 Oklahoma, 3.0 at Charlotte and another one at LA Tech. Taylor has 13.5 career sacks after posting 6.5 last season. Nationally, Taylor ranks tied for third.

LEADER OF THE PACK
Jadrian Taylor leads UTEP and Conference USA with 9.0 tackles for loss. Taylor tallied a career-best tying 3.5 tackles for loss against FAU.

JT SETS CAREER BEST
Jadrian Taylor was credited with a career-high eight tackles during UTEP's win over FAU on Oct. 22. His previous best was six versus LA Tech last season.

CAREER HIGH FOR CAL
Redshirt junior LB Cal Wallerstedt tallied a career-high and team-high 11 tackles against FAU on Oct. 22. It surpasses his previous high of nine stops. Wallerstedt ranks third on the team with 55 tackles.

TY'REKE'S CAREER DAY
Redshirt senior S Ty'reke James recorded his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery (returned 26 yards) in UTEP's win over FAU on Oct. 22. James added a career-high seven tackles against the Owls. James's previous high was five tackles done twice (last being at Charlotte).

UP NEXT
UTEP will hit the road for a contest at Rice on Thursday, Nov. 3. The Miners and Owls will kick off at 6 p.m. CT/5 MT as the game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. UTEP will have its second bye week (Nov. 12) following the Thursday night game.

For complete coverage of UTEP Football, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPFB (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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