UTEP Resumes CUSA Action, Hosts LA Tech Friday Night on CBSSN

9/27/2023 9:37:00 AM

UTEP NOTES | LA TECH NOTES | CUSA NOTES

EL PASO, Texas – UTEP will look to even its Conference USA mark when the Miners host Louisiana Tech to resume league play on Friday night in the Sun Bowl. The Miners (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) and Bulldogs (2-3, 1-0) are set for a 7 p.m. MT kickoff, while the contest will return to 600 ESPN El Paso and will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.

Friday night's promotion is "Noche Latina", while the contest is presented by GECU. Tickets for the Miners-Bulldogs game are available by calling 915.747.UTEP, emailing at tickets@utep.edu, or by visiting www.utepminers.com/tickets. Local hip-hop artist Krystall Poppin is set to perform at halftime.

The Miners welcome back the Bulldogs after defeating them, 19-3, during the 2021 season in the 915. LA Tech transfer QB Hank Bachmeier also makes his way back to the "scene of the crime" after starting for heavily-favored Boise State last season in the Sun Bowl. The Miners won 27-10 as Bachmeier finished 13-of-34 for 93 yards and a TD.

Earlier in the season to start CUSA action, the Miners fell at new league member Jax State, 17-14, on Aug. 26, while the Bulldogs opened the slate with a conference victory, defeating FIU 22-17 on week zero.

UTEP is coming off its third straight loss, falling 45-28 to UNLV on Sept. 23. The nation's leading tackler Tyrice Knight racked up 15 more tackles against the Rebels, along with 13 solo stops to up his FBS-best total to 47. Torrance Burgess Jr. shined with a career-high 99 yards rushing and scoring his second touchdown of the season, while also totaling career-best 183 all-purpose yards (30 rec., 54 KR). The defense, however, allowed over 300 yards rushing and six scores on the ground. UTEP's three turnovers was also a glaring stat Saturday night.

LA Tech has lost a pair in a row after coming up a few touchdowns short at Big Ten program Nebraska 28-14 on Sept. 23. QB Jack Turner made the start under center for LT, passing for 292 yards (27-42) with a TD and INT. RB Jacob Fields led the way for the Bulldogs with 28 yards on the ground, including a touchdown that tied the game 7-7 midway in the second quarter. The Cornhuskers would go on to score the next 21 points. Turner found WR Cyrus Allen on a 20-yard scoring pass late in the game. LA Tech veteran WR Smoke Harris finished with 10 receptions for 73 yards, while Cyrus tallied 102 yards on six receptions. Fields added 38 yards on four catches. LB Zach Zimos led the LA Tech defense with nine tackles, 2.0 TLFs and a sack. LB Brevin Randle added eight stops along with 2.0 TFLs, a sack and breakup.

Harris is playing in his sixth season and opened the campaign with dynamic performance, hauling in 11 receptions for 155 yards and score against FIU. Harris has tallied 259 receptions with 2,473 yards and 24 total touchdowns during his time in Ruston.

"[Smoke Harris] caught 10 passes last week, and he's a really dynamic player after the catch. He gets open and make some good yards after the catch. He's a good returner for them, one of their key players on offense," UTEP Head Coach Dana Dimel said. "They have some other receivers that are very good. They've got most of their offensive line coming back from last year. They're actually playing two quarterbacks. (Jack) Turner started last week, but (Hank) Bachmeier had started before last game. So, they have two quarterbacks that have played for them. Defensively, they have a lot of returning starters from last year's defense. They've got good size and athleticism to their defensive football team, and obviously are going to be a big test for us coming in this weekend."

Harris was limited to only three receptions for 40 yards during the 2021 meeting. However, he ranks no. 1 in CUSA and is tied fourth nationally with 34 receptions. His 361 yards rank second in CUSA.

UTEP (1-4, 0-1) vs. LA Tech (2-3, 1-0)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
Time: 7:00 p.m. MT
Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Sun Bowl (45,971)
X Updates: @UTEPFB

TV: CBSSN
PxP: Carter Blackburn
Analyst: Robert Turbin

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

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Carter Blackburn (play-by-play) and Robert Turbin (analysis) calling the action. The action will return to 600 ESPN El Paso 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 12-4 in Sun Bowl Stadium over the last three seasons. The Miners defeated UIW earlier this season. 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. LA TECH
LA Tech leads the all-time series 15-3-1 following last season's 41-31 win in Ruston. The Miners last defeated the Bulldogs during the 2021 season as UTEP grinded out a 16-point win in the Sun Bowl. RB Deion Hankinsled the way with a pair of rushing scores, DE Jalen Rudolph was credited with a safety and K Gavin Baechleconnected on a 41-yard field goal. LB Tyrice Knight intercepted a pass in the end zone late in the game to secure the victory. It was the first victory since the 2004 season when the Miners beat the 'Dogs 44-27 in Joe Aillet Stadium. Last season, WR Marcus Bellon took a career-long 52-yard reception to the house, while Hankins rushed for 64 yards and a TD. QB Gavin Hardison threw for 320 yards and two scores. S Kobe Hylton (10) and Knight (seven) led the way in tackles for the defense. Overall, UTEP is 2-7-1 in El Paso against LA Tech. The other victory in El Paso came during the first meeting in 1939 as the Miners came out on top, 27-0.

ABOUT LA TECH
The Bulldogs are coming off a pair of losses, coming up short against former CUSA member North Texas 40-37 on Sept. 16 and falling at Nebraska 28-14 on Sept. 23. The Bulldogs opened the season with a league win over FIU 22-17 and defeated Northwestern State 51-21 on Sept. 9. LA Tech also lost at SMU 38-14. LA Tech averages 27.6 points per game and 392.8 total yards per contest. The defense gives up 28.8 points per game and 388.8 yards per contest. Freshman RB Keith Willis Jr. leads the rushing attack with 240 yards and three TDs. Former Boise State QB Hank Bachmeier has thrown for 756 yards on 70-of-106 passing with five passing TDs and two INTs. WR Smoke Harris, in his sixth season, leads the team in receptions (34), receiving yards (361) and receiving scores (three). Redshirt senior DB Myles Heard leads the defense with 50 tackles and has tallied 3.5 TFLs.

CONNECTIONS
LA Tech Director of Football Operations Jacob Martinez played running back at UTEP from 2012-15. Martinez, an El Paso native, earned his bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at El Paso in 2014. He went on to get his master's degree in 2018 at UTEP. He also served as a graduate assistant for UTEP football operations from 2016-18. Martinez joined LA Tech's staff on July 21, 2022 after previously serving as the Miners' player personnel director for three seasons.

TYRICE TEARING THROUGH OFFENSES
LB Tyrice Knight leads FBS with 66 total tackles and 47 solo stops, while he ranks no. 2 nationally at 13.2 tackles per game after racking up 15 more against UNLV. Knight ranks tied sixth in FBS with 7.5 tackles for loss. His 2.5 sacks rank second in CUSA.

KNIGHT TIME
LB Tyrice Knight gathered up 15 more tackles against UNLV and now has 15 double-digit tackle performances in his career. The redshirt senior recorded 14 tackles at Big Ten program Northwestern. He opened campaign with 13 tackles at Jax State and followed with a career-high 16 tackles in a win over UIW. Knight tallied 14 at UTSA and 11 against North Texas in 2020. In 2021, he recorded double-digits five times, highlighted by his career-high 15 against Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. Also, that season he tallied 12 against UNM, 11 at UNT, 10 against UTSA and 10 more at UAB. In 2022, he added four more with 14 stops at UNM, 12 at Rice, 11 against UNT and 10 versus Middle Tennessee.

TORRANCE TEARING IT UP
RB Torrance Burgess Jr. rushed for a career-high 99 yards on 19 attempts (5.2 avg.) and a touchdown against UNLV on Sept. 23. Burgess Jr. added 30 yards on a trio of catches and 54 yards on kickoff returns. Burgess's 183 all-purpose yards is also a career best. Burgess Jr. capped a 75-yard, seven-play drive with an 11-yard TD rush to get the Miners within seven points coming out of the locker room after halftime.

TORRANCE EMERGING
RB Torrance Burgess Jr. leads UTEP and ranks fourth in CUSA with 298 yards on 56 carries (5.3 avg.) and has scored a pair of touchdowns. Burgess leads CUSA with 546 all-purpose yards and 109.2 all-purpose yards per game. He also ranks second in the league with 71 total plays. Nationally, Burgess Jr. ranks 51^st in all-purpose yards per game. He's added 117 receiving yards on eight receptions (14.6 avg.).

BALLARD FINDING THE END ZONE AGAIN
WR Jeremiah Ballard hauled in his first touchdown of the season, a 27-yard catch during the fourth quarter. He finished with 49 yards on two receptions. It was his second career score and first in a year when he scored a TD against Boise State on Sept. 23, 2022. Ballard ranks second on the team with 207 yards on 12 receptions (17.3 avg.).

KELLY'S REBOUND PERFORMANCE
WR Kelly Akharaiyi, a week after having no reception on eight targets, responded with 92 yards on four receptions against UNLV. Akharaiyi leads the Miners with 253 receiving yards on 14 catches (18.1 avg.) and a touchdown.

BELLON BACK IN THE MIX
WR/PR Marcus Bellon made his way back onto the gridiron after missing the previous three contests. Bellon tallied 50 yards on four receptions versus UNLV with a long catch of 20 yards.

SNEAKY QB
QB Gavin Hardison scored a career-best two touchdowns against UNLV. Both were one-yard quarterback sneaks into the end zone. Hardison now has three career rushing scores. His first came last season against FAU on a five-yard rush to pay dirt.

TOUCHDOWNS RESPONSIBLE FOR
QB Gavin Hardison rushed for two touchdowns and threw another against UNLV. The redshirt senior now has 43 career touchdowns responsible for. Hardison now ranks sixth moving past QB John Rayborn (40), RB Aaron Jones (41) and RB John Harvey (42) on the program's all-time list. QB Rocky Perez ranks fifth with 46, while QB Sammy Garza is fourth with 47.

PRAISE HIS PERFORMANCE
DE Praise Amaewhule intercepted his first career pass and tied his career best with eight tackles against UNLV. Amaewhule snagged the ball he tipped to himself and returned it 17 yards during the third quarter. Amaewhule added four QB hurries against the Rebels. Amaewhule has 13 tackles and five QB hurries in his last two games.

OTHER NOTABLE DEFENSIVE PERFORMANCES
S Tyler Williams, in extended action, tallied a career-high five tackles, while he posted his first career pass breakups (two) and a QB hurry against UNLV. DT Logologo Va'a recorded a career-high four tackles, while S Oscar Moore and DT KD Johnson each recorded a career-high three tackles.

UP NEXT
UTEP will have its first of two bye weeks following the LA Tech contest. The Miners will return to action on Wednesday, Oct. 11 at FIU. The Miners and Panthers will kick off at 5:30 p.m. MT/7:30 ET and will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

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

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