Miners Welcome Undefeated #22 Liberty on ‘Senior Day’ Saturday

11/22/2023 3:54:00 PM

NOTES: UTEP | LIBERTY | CUSA

EL PASO, Texas – The 2023 season will conclude when UTEP takes on undefeated no. 22-ranked Liberty on Saturday afternoon. The Miners (3-8, 2-5 Conference USA) and Flames (11-0, 7-0 CUSA) are set for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in Sun Bowl Stadium. The contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network and can be heard on 95.5 FM KLAQ.

Saturday afternoon's contest is sponsored by Las Palmas Del Sol, while tickets for 'Senior Day' are available by calling 915.747.UTEP, emailing at tickets@utep.edu, or by visiting www.utepminers.com/tickets.

Ten seniors will be honored prior to the game as DE Praise Amaewhule, TE Zach Fryar, DT Jagves Garnett, QB Gavin Hardison, OL Zuri Henry, S Trejon Hugue, OL Elijah Klein, LB Tyrice Knight, C Andrew Meyer and DT Keenan Stewart will play in the Sun Bowl for a final time.

"[These] seniors will be playing their last games this weekend for us or be involved. Of course, we've talked a lot about Gavin Hardison. And then Zach Fryar, a tight end, who's been a really, really good player for us through the years. And then the offense, the three offensive linemen that we're losing in Zuri Henry, Elijah Klein and Andrew Meyer. Those guys have just been really, really good players for someone that played for six years because of that redshirt rule and the COVID rule coming in and those guys have just been tremendous players. So we're not losing a whole lot of players on offense or defense to senior exhausting eligibility. On defense is Trejon Hugue, Tyrice Knight, Keenan Stewart, Jagves Garnett and Praise," UTEP Head Coach Dana Dimel said. "When you start naming some of those guys there, they've set records for the history of sacks and Tyrice with his tackles in the season you know just tremendous leading the country right now in solo tackles. What a great accomplishment for him and all those guys. The thing that's most special about all those guys is that every one of them I just read off has graduated and has over a 3.2 GPA. And that part of it, you know, goes a long way, and obviously had had a ton of accomplishments on the football field with what they were able to do in their achievements. So I'm really proud of those guys. Unfortunately, those guys have been with us for so long. It just hurts to lose them."

The senior class will be sent off by facing FBS' no. 1 program two categories – rushing offense (282.2 yards per game) and defensive interceptions (19). Dual-threat Liberty QB Kaidon Salter leads CUSA in touchdown passes (28) and rushing scores (11), while he's racked up over 3,200 yards of total offense.

"[Liberty is] just tremendous on the offense and they're tremendous on defense. I mean, their defensive statistics that really show there's tons of good ones, but the ones that really is their turnovers, their interceptions, their overall turnovers, their turnover margin, and their yards per play is very, very efficient with what they do," Dimel said. "That's a stat that I use a lot to measure a defense. They're good. Their tackle for losses is very good on third down defensively. Offensively you go over and talk about them, it all starts with that quarterback. He's just a great, great football player. He's so athletic he can run. He makes plays with the speed, outrun people. He throws the ball extremely well. He's the guy. He's the guy that really stirs them."

UTEP is coming off a narrow 34-30 loss at Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders capitalized on the Miners' four turnovers, scoring 13 points off those miscues. QB Cade McConnell threw for a career-high 364 yards on career bests in completions (24) and attempts (41). His favorite target WR Kelly Akharaiyi produced another solid outing, tallying 138 yards with two touchdowns. Akharaiyi has hit the 100+ yard mark for a third straight game, while he's amassed 634 yards (126.8 ypg) in his last five contest, and finding pay dirt six times during that span. Akharaiyi needs 76 yards to become only the ninth Miner in program history to register a 1,000-yard receiving campaign. Defensively, UTEP recorded a season-high eight pass breakups, while LB Tyrice Knight stuffed the stat sheet with nine tackles, a sack, career-high 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and a breakup. S Oscar Moore tallied a career-high eight tackles and intercepted his second pass in as many games.

Undefeated Liberty has rolled through its opponents, winning by an average margin of 18.8 points per game. Most recently, the Flames beat nonconference opponents in UMass 49-25 on Nov. 18 and Old Dominion 38-10 on Nov. 11. Liberty's most recent conference contest came against LA Tech in a 56-30 win on Nov. 4. It's also the first road game for the Flames since winning at WKU 42-29 on Oct. 24.

"They've been able to score a lot of points and move the ball on everybody that they've played this year and went through the season undefeated which you don't very much run across a team in week 12 that's undefeated like this," Dimel said. "And so that's an opportunity for us to try to do something special and get a home win to close out the season against an undefeated football team."

UTEP (3-8, 2-5) vs. #22 Liberty (11-0, 7-0)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 25
Time: 1:30 p.m. MT
Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Sun Bowl Stadium (45,971)
X Updates: @UTEPFB

TV: CBSSN
PxP: Alex Del Barrio
Analyst: Taylor McHargue
Sideline: Brandon Baylor

Radio: 95.5 FM KLAQ
PxP: Jon Teicher
Analyst: Cole Freytag
Sideline: Mando Medina

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Alex Del Barrio calling the action, Taylor McHargue providing analysis and Brandon Baylor reporting from the sidelines. The action is on 95.5 FM KLAQ with "The Voice of the Miners" Jon Teicher calling play-by-play in his 43^rd season. 'Teich', who just called his 500th UTEP football game on Oct. 11, is joined by former UTEP WR Cole Freytag (2012, 2014-16) in the booth providing analysis in his second season, and Mando Medina reporting from the sidelines. The action can also be heard on the UTEP Miners app.

SERIES VS. LIBERTY
Saturday's contest will mark the first meeting between UTEP and Liberty.

ABOUT LIBERTY
No. 22-ranked Liberty is coming into Saturday's contest undefeated at 11-0 overall and 7-0 in its first year of Conference USA action. The Flames, ranked 25^th nationally, bodes the nations' top rushing offense averaging over 282 yards per game. Liberty's total offense ranks fifth at 501.2 yards per contest. The Flames average 39.9 points per game, ranking eighth in FBS and first in CUSA. LU is good on the other side of the ball, leading the nation with 19 passes intercepted with two returned for touchdowns. Dual-threat QB Kaidon Salter ranks sixth in FBS and first in CUSA with 28 touchdown passes, while he's passed for 2,409 yards (fourth in CUSA). He's rushed for 823 yards on 128 carries (6.4 avg.) and a league-best 11 rushing scores. RB Quinton Cooley leads CUSA and ranks ninth in FBS with 1,168 yards rushing and has scored 10 touchdowns (second in CUSA). WR's CJ Daniels and Treon Sibley are Salter's top two targets. Sibley has 429 yards on 19 receptions with four touchdowns catches and averages a team-best 22.6 yards per catch. Daniels leads the team in receptions (38), receiving yards (819) and receiving scores (eight). Daniels's eight touchdowns rank second in CUSA. S Brylan Green leads CUSA with five interceptions, while CB Kobe Singleton has picked off four passes. DB Preston Hodge and LB Jerome Jolly Jr. each have two interceptions.

MOVIN' ON UP
RB Deion Hankins, after rushing for 48 yards at MTSU, has 2,586 yards in his career and ranks no. 7 on the program's all-time rushing list. Hankins needs 30 yards to move past RB Marcus Thomas (sixth with 2,615 yards). Hankins needs 50 yards to move past RB Toraino Singleton (fifth with 2,635 yards).

MOVING UP THE RUSHING TD LIST
RB Deion Hankins scored his 22^nd career touchdown on a two-yard rush at Middle Tennessee. Hankins is ranked seventh on the program's all-time list. RB Fred Wendt (23 TD), RB Howard Jackson (25 TD), RB Marcus Thomas (26 TD), RB Pug Gabrel (27 TD), RB Aaron Jones (33 TD) and RB John Harvey (42 TD) round out the top 10.

WHERE HANKINS RANKS
RB Deion Hankins ranks fourth in Conference USA with a team-high and single-season career-high 794 yards rushing and 72.2 rushing yards per game. Hankins averages 5.2 yards per carry, ranking 10^th in CUSA. Hankins's 174 yards rushing earlier in the season ranks second on the CUSA individual player game-highs list.

CAREER-LONG RECEPTION
RB Deion Hankins tallied a career-long 35-yard reception at Middle Tennessee. Hankins's catch and run set up his rushing touchdown in the second quarter against the Blue Raiders.

ANOTHER ONE
WR Kelly Akharaiyi tallied a game-high 138 yards on six receptions while adding two touchdown receptions at Middle Tennessee. Akharaiyi also scored on an 80-yard touchdown reception against the Blue Raiders. It's Akharaiyi's third consecutive 100-yard performance.

THREE CONSECUTIVE 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES
WR Kelly Akharaiyi posted another 100-yard game after hitting 138 receiving yards at MTSU. The week before he tallied 141 yards against WKU on Nov. 4 and recorded 126 at Sam Houston on Oct. 25. Akharaiyi is the first UTEP receiver to post back-to-back-to-back 100-yard performances since WR Jacob Cowing did so in 2021. Cowing registered 112 vs. UTSA on Nov. 6; 174 at UNT on Nov. 13; 170 vs. Rice on Nov. 20.

KELLY TIES CAREER HIGH
WR Kelly Akharaiyi tied his career best with two touchdown receptions at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 18. He also scored two touchdowns at FIU on Oct. 11.

TWO 80+ YARD PLAYS IN THE SAME SEASON
WR Kelly Akharaiyi is the first UTEP receiver to post a pair of 80+ yard plays in the same season since WR Lee Mays did so in 1999. Akharaiyi has two 80-yard touchdowns the first at FIU on Oct. 11 and the second at MTSU on Nov. 18. Mays recorded an 80-yard reception against NM State and a 90-yard reception at Oregon.

BREAKING THE CENTURY MARK
WR Kelly Akharaiyi has recorded five 100-yard receiving games as he opened the 2023 season with 102 receiving yards at Jax State on Aug. 26 and followed with 223 yards at FIU, 126 at Sam Houston, 141 against WKU and most recently 138 at Middle Tennessee.

SENSATIONAL SECOND SEASON
WR Kelly Akharaiyi, after posting 275 yards on 21 receptions his first year as a Miner, has tripled those numbers this season. Akharaiyi leads the Miners in receptions (43), receiving yards (924), yards per catch (22.2) and touchdown receptions (seven). He's also recorded the Miners' longest play, an 80-yard touchdown reception at FIU.

TRYING TO BE THE NINTH
WR Kelly Akharaiyi needs 76 yards to hit 1,000 receiving yards this season. If Akharaiyi can reach the feat, he'll be the ninth Miner to record a 1,000-yard receiving season. The list includes WR Ed Puishes (1,000 yards in 1970), WR Tyrin Smith (1,039 in 2022), WR Reggie Barrett (1,042 in 1989), WR Kris Adams (1,070 in 2010), WR Lee Mays (1,098 in 2000), WR Johnnie Lee Higgins Jr. (1,319 in 2006), WR Jacob Cowing(1,354 in 2021) and Chuck Hughes (1,519 in 1965).

THREE 1000-YARD PERFORMANCES IN A ROW
If WR Kelly Akharaiyi can hit the 1K mark in receiving yards, it'll make it three consecutive seasons a UTEP receiver has posted a 1,000-yard campaign – the first time in school history. WR Jacob Cowing posted 1,354 yards in 2021 and WR Tyrin Smith registered 1,039 in 2022. Cowing and Smith were the first pair of Miners in program history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns.

WHERE KELLY RANKS
WR Kelly Akharaiyi ranks third in Conference USA with 786 receiving yards in 2023. Akharaiyi ranks fourth in receiving yards per game (78.6), tied fifth in receiving TDs (five) and third in yards per catch (21.2).

CADE'S CAREER DAY
QB Cade McConnell made his fifth consecutive start at Middle Tennessee. McConnell set career highs in passing yards (364), completions (24) and attempts (41). He tied his career best with two touchdown passes, including an 80-yard score, also matching a career best. McConnell had an 80-yard touchdown pass at FIU on Oct. 11.

MOST PASSING YARDS SINCE '21
QB Cade McConnell threw for a career-high 364 yards at MTSU. He was the first UTEP quarterback to hit 300+ yards passing since QB Gavin Hardison threw for 320 at LA Tech on Oct. 8, 2022. McConnell's yards were the most by a UTEP signal caller since Hardison threw for 366 against Rice on Nov. 20, 2021.

CADE UNDER CENTER
QB Cade McConnell, who started as the fourth-string QB to begin the season, has started the last five games. McConnell is the team leader with 1,273 passing yards (212.2) and six touchdowns. He's completing 54.4 percent (80-147) of his passes, while he's thrown three interceptions.

FIRST SINCE VITTATOE
QB Cade McConnell, after posting his second 80-yard scoring pass at Middle Tennessee, became the first UTEP signal caller to post a pair in a single season since 2009. McConnell's first 80-yard touchdown pass came at FIU on Oct. 11. QB Trevor Vittatoe posted two 80-yard passes in '09 – versus Tulsa and Marshall.

TORRANCE'S PUNT RETURN TD
PR/RB Torrance Burgess Jr. tallied a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown at Middle Tennessee, the first of his career. It's the second punt return in as many seasons after PR/WR Marcus Bellon returned one for a score against Boise State last year.

ONE OF TWO IN CUSA
PR/RB Torrance Burgess Jr. is one of two Conference USA players to return a punt for a touchdown. LA Tech's Smoke Harris is the other.

BURGESS WITH A PURPOSE
PR/RB Torrance Burgess Jr. leads the Miners with 1,116 all-purpose yards and all-purpose yards per game (101.5). He's rushed for 620 yards and recorded 227 yards on 17 receptions. Burgess Jr. leads the team with 202 kickoff return yards and 67 punt return yards that includes a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown. A few weeks back, he tallied a career-high 134 all-purpose yards at Sam Houston. Burgess rushed for 52 yards, recorded a five-yard catch and gained a career-best 71 kickoff return yards against the Bearkats.

SECOND MOST IN CUSA
RB Torrance Burgess Jr. ranks second in Conference USA with 101.5 all-purpose yards per game and total plays (153). He ranks third with 1,116 all-purpose yards. Overall in CUSA, Burgess ranks seventh in rushing yards (620), 32^nd in receiving yards (227), fifth in in KOR (202) and sixth in PRR yards (67).

BALLARD'S BREAKOUT SEASON
WR Jeremiah Ballard, after posting 118 yards on 10 catches and a touchdown in 2022, has become one of the primary targets UTEP quarterbacks. Ballard ranks second on the team in receptions (34) and receiving yards (551), while adding his second career TD. The 6-3 redshirt sophomore most recently tallied 87 yards on four receptions at MTSU. Ballard's 87 are second most receiving yards in his career. He set his career best with 92 yards at Northwestern.

A CATCH IN EVERY GAME
WR Jeremiah Ballard, after recording four receptions for 87 yards at MTSU, has caught at least one pass in every ball game this season. He tallied a career-high 92 yards on four receptions at Northwestern, while hauling in a career-best five receptions for 75 yards against NM State. Ballard reeled in a touchdown against UNLV.

WHITE POSTS CAREER HIGHS
WR Emari White tallied career highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (36) at Middle Tennessee. White has played more as of late and has tallied 78 yards on seven receptions in 2023.

FIRST START IS A SPECIAL ONE
OL Azizi Henry made his first career start at Middle Tennessee on Nov. 18. He started opposite of his brother OL Zuri Henry. Azizi start at the right tackle position while Zuri was left tackle.

GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
RB Ezell Jolly rushed for a career-high 30 yards and tallied 12 yards on four receptions at MTSU. So far in his true freshman season, Jolly has rushed for 53 yards and has 32 yards on five receptions. His career best in receiving yards was 20 at Arizona.

SEASON MOST IN TOTAL YARDS
UTEP posted a season-high 453 yards of total offense at MTSU. It was also the fourth time the offense went over 400 yards. The Miners totaled 423 against UIW, 441 at FIU and 428 at Sam Houston.

61 GAMES PLAYED
DE Praise Amaewhule played in his 60^th game at MTSU and is looking to tie WR/RB Walter Dawn Jr. for the most games played by a Miner.

SECOND INT FOR MOORE
S Oscar Moore made his fourth career start at MTSU and came up with his second career interception in as many games. Moore also picked off a pass against WKU on Nov. 4.

BACK2BACK INTS
S Oscar Moore became the first Miner since 2021 to pick off passes in consecutive games. S Dy'vonne Inyang picked off a pass against New Mexico on Sept. 25, 2021 and another against Old Dominion on Oct. 2.

MORE ON MOORE
S Oscar Moore posted a career-high eight tackles at MTSU. His previous best was five at Sam Houston. On the season, Moore has tallied 21 tackles.

NATIONAL LEADER IN SOLO STOPS
LB Tyrice Knight has racked up a ton of solo tackles as he leads the nation with 78 and leading with his 7.1 solo tackles per game.

CAREER HIGH FOR KNIGHT
LB Tyrice Knight posted a career-high 3.5 tackles for loss at MTSU. His previous best was 2.5 against UNT in 2022.

KNIGHT'S TFL'S
LB Tyrice Knight ranks tied first in Conference USA with 15.5 tackles for loss. Nationally, he ranks tied 11^th.

TYRICE TEARING THROUGH OFFENSES
LB Tyrice Knight ranks tied fourth in FBS with 125 total tackles and ranks tied no. 4 in FBS at 11.4 tackles per game. Knight ranks tied first in Conference USA and tied 11^th in FBS with 15.5 tackles for loss. He's also added 4.5 sacks (16 yards), seven pass breakups, three QB hurries, two fumble recoveries and forced fumble.

TOP OF THE CUSA SACK LIST
DE Maurice Westmoreland ranks tied first in CUSA with 6.5 sacks after posting one at MTSU.  DE Kanious Vaughn ranks no. 3 in Conference USA with 6.0 sacks and DE Praise Amaewhule ranks fifth with 5.0. LB Tyrice Knight is ranked tied for sixth with 4.5 on the season.

SACK ATTACK
The Miners are ranked third in Conference USA with 25 team sacks and third in CUSA with 2.3 sacks per game.

SEASON-HIGH PASS BREAKUPS
UTEP was credited a season-most eight pass breakups at MTSU. It's the most since posting eight against Boise State last season.

THE BREAKUP
CB Torey Richardson and CB AJ Odums are tied for the team lead with eight pass breakups, while ranking tied for second in Conference USA. LB Tyrice Knight ranks tied sixth in CUSA with seven breakups.

NO FLY ZONE
UTEP's pass defense (198.9 yards allowed per game) ranks second in Conference USA and 28^th in FBS. Recently, the Miners allowed only 102 passing yards by WKU QB Austin Reed who ranks as one of the top signal callers in the nation.

WHAT'S THE BUZZ ABOUT
Redshirt freshman K Buzz Flabiano has made his last six field attempts after making his only attempt at Middle Tennessee. The contests prior, Flabiano made a career-high three field goals on three attempts at Sam Houston and went 2-for-2 against WKU. Overall on the season, he's 10-for-14 on field goals.

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