UTEP Hosts UNLV for First Time in 30 Years Saturday Night

9/21/2023 2:29:00 PM

UTEP NOTES | UNLV NOTES | CUSA NOTES

EL PASO, Texas – UTEP, following a pair of road contests at Power Five programs, will return to the Sun Bowl to host UNLV on Saturday night with a 7 p.m. kickoff. The Miners are hosting the Rebels for the first time since the 1993 season.

Saturday night's promotion is "Heroes Night", while the contest is presented by Las Palmas. Tickets for the Miners-Rebels game are available by calling 915.747.UTEP, emailing at tickets@utep.edu, or by visiting www.utepminers.com/tickets.

The Miners (1-3) are coming off their second straight loss at Arizona on Sept. 16. Highlighting the late-night contest was Buzz Flabiano hitting his first career field goal, a 25-yard make during the second quarter, while Kevin Hurley tossed his first career touchdown pass, a 25-yard strike to transfer Javoni Gardere during the fourth quarter. For Gardere, it was his first reception since joining the Miners. Defensively, UTEP was led by McKel Broussard's career-high 10 tackles, while Tyrice Knight (eight tackles, fumble recovery), Bryton Thompson and Maurice Westmoreland each recorded a sack. Josiah Allen tallied a career-best eight tackles, while Kobe Hylton registered nine tackles and a forced fumble in his return after missing the last two games.

The Rebels (2-1) beat SEC program Vanderbilt 40-37 in the final seconds on Sept. 16 in Vegas. Vandy took a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, but UNLV used a 20-7 second quarter to take a 20-17 lead into the locker room at the half. Jayden Maiava used a 24-yard run to the end zone to give UNLV a 30-17 advantage at the end of the third quarter. However, Vanderbilt came back to tie the contest at 30 with a touchdown and back-to-back field goals. Jacob De Jesus gave UNLV a 37-30 lead on a 48-yard touchdown reception from Maiava with just over two minutes remaining in the game but the Commadores would tie at with 1:12 remaining on a 34-yard scoring pass. Pizano lifted UNLV to a three-point lead with five seconds remaining in the game to pull out the victory. The Rebels are averaging over 30 points per game and yielding 28.7 points per contest. UNLV averages 342.0 yards per game on offense and gives up over 440 yards defensively.

"We know [UNLV] is a very athletic, talented team because they compete well in the Mountain West Conference," UTEP Head Coach Dana Dimel said. "They have very good schemes that they do on both offense and defense. They're coached very well, got plenty of talent and got some really good players across the board on both sides of the football. It will be a difficult test for us of course, but I'm looking forward to getting a little continuity with a couple home games in a row. Obviously, they've had some success. They've got the ability to put points on the board offensively with what they're doing. Defensively, they're a difficult preparation just because of the different type of looks that they'll give you defensively. But more than anything, it's just their size and athleticism that they have on the defensive side of the football."

The Miners are in the same position they were in last year, heading into a home game versus a MWC opponent following a 1-3 start. Last season, UTEP responded with a 27-10 win over heavily-favored Boise State.

"We're back at home, and now we're back for one more non-conference game against a Mountain West opponent now," Dimel said. "It's a difficult test, again. So, our non-conference opponents (included) one Big Ten, another Power five and then a Mountain West team. So, that was not an easy test for us, but (it's good we're) back at home now to play against a really good team."

UTEP (1-3, 0-1) vs. UNLV (2-1, 0-0)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Sun Bowl (45,971)
X Updates: @UTEPFB

TV: ESPN+
PxP: Duke Keith
Analyst: Jacob Boggs

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

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ with Duke Keith (play-by-play) and Jacob Boggs (analysis) calling the action. Fans can tune into 95.5 KLAQ with "The Voice of the Miners" Jon Teicher calling play-by-play in his 43^rd season. 'Teich' 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.

IN THE SUN BOWL
UTEP is 12-3 in Sun Bowl Stadium over the last three seasons. The Miners defeated UIW earlier this season in their lone home game thus far. UTEP finished 4-2 in 2022. It's the best three-season run since going 13-5 from 2004 to 2006 under Mike Price. From 1986 thru 1988 under Bob Stull, the UTEP went 13-4 in the Sun Bowl. The Flying Miners of '65 to '67 was 14-3.

SERIES VS. UNLV
UNLV leads the series 6-2. The Miners are 2-1 versus the Rebels in the Sun Bowl. The two programs last met on Sept. 8, 2018 in Vegas with UNLV coming out on top, 52-24. It's the first meeting in El Paso between the two programs in 30 years. The Miners' last win over the Rebels came during the 1993 season when UTEP won 41-24 in the Sun Bowl.

PLAYING THE MOUNTAIN WEST
UTEP is 9 -12 vs. Mountain West Conference schools in regular and postseason games since the WAC split in 1998-99 and the MWC formed. The Miners are also 6-3 at home versus MW schools. Most recently, the Miners defeated Boise State 27-10 last season, and UNM 20-13 in 2021.

ABOUT UNLV
The Rebels are coming off an upset victory over SEC school Vanderbilt, 40-37, on Sept. 16 in Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. RB Jai'Den Thomas led the way with 50 yards and a TD, while QB Jayden Maiava passed for 261 yards finishing 19-of-33 with a touchdown and an interception. Maiava added 29 yards on the ground with a rushing score. WR Ricky White hauled in 12 passes for 165 yards (13.8 avg.) and Jacob De Jesus tallied 62 yards on three catches while adding a touchdown reception. LB Fred Thompkins led the defense with 10 tackles, while the Rebels' combined for three sacks. Vanderbilt jumped out to a 17-0 lead at the 13:51 mark of the second quarter. Thomas scored on a 21-yard run to get within 17-7. After a made FG by Jose Pizano, the Rebels would go on to tie the game at 17 when Jerrae Williams returned a fumble 41 yards for a score. Pizano gave UNLV a 23-17 lead with a pair of field goals – a 31-yard FG with three seconds remaining in the first half, and a 34-yard FG early in the third. Vanderbilt tied the game at 30, but Maiava tossed a 48-yard TD to De Jesus to take a 37-30 go-ahead lead. Overall, UNLV is averaging 30.3 points per game, and 342.0 yards per of total offense per game. The defense is yielding just over 28 points per game and over 440 yards per contest. Maiava has thrown for 369 yards and a score with an INT, while RB Vincent Davis Jr. leads the way with 114 yards rushing on 14 carries (8.1 avg.) and Thomas leads with three rushing scores. White has tallied 201 yards on 16 receptions and no TDs. LB Jackson Woodard leads the way with 22 tackles.

TYRICE TEARING THROUGH OFFENSES
LB Tyrice Knight leads FBS with 51 total tackles and 34 solo stops, while he ranks no. 2 nationally at 12.8 tackles per game. Knight ranks tied 10^th nationally with 5.5 tackles for loss. Knight added eight more tackles to his total. His 2.5 sacks rank tied first in CUSA.

KNIGHT TIME
LB Tyrice Knight recovered his third career fumble at Arizona on Saturday. Knight added another sack, bringing his total to a career season-best 2.5 (12 yards). The senior has also recorded 5.5 tackles for loss.

ANOTHER CAREER HIGH FOR MCKEL
S McKel Broussard tallied a career-high 10 tackles at Arizona. His previous high was seven stops at Northwestern last week. Broussard has 17 tackles and a tackle for loss in the last two games.

ALLEN STEPPING UP
DB Josiah Allen made his second consecutive start and responded with a career-high eight tackles at Arizona. His previous best was six against North Texas last season. Allen has 12 tackles, a 0.5 sack and 0.5 TFL during the last two weeks.

MO' SACKS
DE Maurice Westmoreland registered his second sack of the season at Arizona. He's recorded his first career sacks in consecutive games after getting his first at Northwestern last week. Westmoreland ranks tied third with 2.0 sacks on the season.

SACK ATTACK
UTEP's defense ranks tied for first in CUSA with 8.0 quarterback sacks. The Miners tallied 3.0 more sacks at Arizona after Maurice Westmoreland, Tyrice Knight, and Bryton Thompson each recorded one. Nationally UTEP ranks tied 40^th.

HURLING HURLEY
QB Kevin Hurley saw extended action at Arizona on Sept. 16. The redshirt junior tallied his first career passing attempts (four), completions (three), yards (55) and touchdown against the Wildcats. Hurley saw action last season against FIU, tallying a rush. Hurley hooked up with transfer WR Javoni Gardere for a 25-yard score during the fourth quarter.

FIRST CATCH IS A TD
WR Javoni Gardere, a sophomore transfer from Diablo Valley College, saw his first career action with the Orange and Blue at Arizona. He responded with a 25-yard touchdown reception late in the contest.

OTHER WR NOTES
WR Jostein Clarke recorded a career-long 20-yard reception, while WR Emari White registered his first career catch, a 10-yard gain at Arizona.

CATCHING BURGESS
RB Torrance Burgess Jr. tallied career highs in receiving yards (78), receptions (three) and long reception (51 yards) at Arizona.

GLIMPSE OF THE FUTURE
Freshman RB Ezell Jolly hauled in his first career catch, a 20-yard gain at Arizona. Jolly added a pair of rushing attempts for 10 yards. He recorded a career-high 30 yards of total offense on three touches.

ONE OF THE CUSA LEADERS
RB Deion Hankins ranks second in Conference USA with 289 yards rushing. Hankins tallied a career-high 174 yards against UIW a few weeks back.

CONSECUTIVE STARTS ON THE O-LINE
Senior RG Elijah Klein has started the last 42 games in a row on the offensive line. The string of consecutive contests started on Nov. 2, 2019 at North Texas.

TIED CAREER BEST FOR SLOAN
P Joshua Sloan tied a career-high placing five punts inside the 20-yard line at Arizona. Sloan punted seven times for 285 yards (40.7 avg.). He last recorded five during 2021 at North Texas. Sloan ranks fourth in CUSA at 41.5 yards per punt.

FIRST FOR BUZZ
Redshirt freshman K Buzz Flabiano hit his first career field goal, a 25-yard make with 5:13 remaining in the first half at Arizona on Sept. 16. Flabiano is 1-of-3 on the season after missing his first two FG attempts. He's a perfect 8-for-8 on PATs.

UP NEXT
UTEP will host its second consecutive home contest when CUSA action resumes against LA Tech on a Friday night (Sept. 29) in the Sun Bowl. The Miners and Bulldogs will kick off at 7 p.m., while the game will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. The action also returns to 600 ESPN El Paso with "The Voice of the Miners" Jon Teicher calling the game with former UTEP WR Cole Freytag, and Mando Medina roaming the sidelines.

Help Support UTEP student-athletes by making a gift to the Miner Athletic Club. Visit https://givingto.utep.edu/mac today!

UTEP football is celebrating 60 years in the historic Sun Bowl. You're invited to pledge to support the Miners' success during the 2023 season. You can pledge to support each Miner win, bowl eligibility and even a CUSA Championship. Personalize your support of the Miners! https://caringcent.org/utep/football23

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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