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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
Smith, Tyrin
UTEP Athletics
24
Winner Middle Tenn. MTS 4-4 , 1-3
13
UTEP TEP 4-5 , 2-3
Winner
Middle Tenn. MTS
4-4 , 1-3
24
Final
13
UTEP TEP
4-5 , 2-3
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
MTS Middle Tenn. 10 0 7 7 24
TEP UTEP 0 10 0 3 13

Game Recap: Football |

UTEP Falls to Middle Tennessee, 24-13, on Homecoming Night


Game Book | Postgame Notes

EL PASO, Texas – UTEP's Tyrin Smith and Cal Wallerstedt produced career numbers but it wasn't enough as Middle Tennessee outscored the Miners 14-3 in the second half on its way to a 24-13 victory on Saturday night in the Sun Bowl. 
 
Smith tallied a career-best 10 receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown, while Wallerstedt led the way with a game-high and career-most 14 tackles. But UTEP (4-5, 2-3 Conference USA) was called for game-changing penalties and missed opportunities on potential gamebreakers. MT (4-4, 1-3 C-USA) put the game away and chalked up its first league win of the season on a 75-yard touchdown pass Chase Cunningham to Jaylin Lane with 7:20 remaining in the contest. 
 
"It was one of those games that was really a hard-fought game that we didn't make enough plays or do the things well enough that we needed to do to win a football game," UTEP Head Coach Dana Dimel said. "Obviously, I felt we had we didn't start fast, and we fell behind 10-0. But we found a way to get back into the game, we battled it back and tied it up with a nice drive at the end of the half, which put us in a really good position there at halftime to have the ball to start the second half. Then in the third quarter, we just didn't capitalize and didn't make plays. They're a team that's No. 7 in the country in turnovers and some of the things that we talked about all week came to fruition."
 
Two key plays that changed the momentum for the Miners included a dropped pass by Trent Thompson on the first play in the second half that would've gone for a 75-yard score, while the second was an offensive passing interference on Reynaldo Flores that was called after a potential game-tying TD by Smith early in the fourth quarter. 
 
On a positive note, Gavin Baechle, who's produced career numbers in 2022, nailed a pair of field goals – both from 47 yards out – and setting a school record with 17 consecutive made field goals. Baechle got the Miners on the board at the 11:12 mark of the second quarter, and then hit his second one to cut the deficit to four points (17-13) with 7:30 left in the contest.
 
MT got on the board first after Zeke Rankin hit a 23-yard field goal at the 12:14 mark of the first quarter. The Blue Raiders then jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a Chase Cunningham 17-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Tate Jr. at the 2:17 mark of the first quarter.
 
UTEP answered on a Baechle 47-yard field goal at the 11:12 mark of the second to get within seven points (10-3). For Baechle, it was his 16th consecutive made FG, setting a program record. The Miners drove the ball 49 yards on 11 plays. 
 
The Miners then tied the game 10-10 on a Gavin Hardison four-yard strike to Smith with 27 seconds remaining in the half. UTEP took the ball 83 yards on 14 plays. 
 
MT regained the lead in the middle of the third quarter. Cunningham threw his second score of the game, a six-yard pass to Lane at the 6:41 mark of the third to make the count 17-10. 
 
Cunningham finished 21-of-27 for 265 yards and three touchdown passes. Lane racked up 147 yards on seven receptions, while Frank Peasant ran for a team-high 96 yards on 20 carries. 
 
Wallerstedt added to his fine evening with 2.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss. He now has 5.5 sack on the season. Praise Amaewhule registered his first sack of the season and six tackles, while Jadrian Taylor tallied his eighth sack of the season. Tyrice Knight added 11 tackles, a forced fumble, breakup, and hurry. Tevita Tafuna recorded his first career fumble recovery. 
 
Hardison finished 19-of-34 for 177 yards a TD and INT. He threw his 34th career touchdown toss and is now tied for fifth on the program's all-time list. Deion Hankins led the way with 68 yards on 13 attempts (5.2 avg.). 
 
Joshua Sloan averaged 49.4 yards on five punts, including a long of 60 yards. 
 
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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