UTEP Hosts FIU during CUSA Midweek Madness Wednesday Night

10/15/2024 9:59:00 AM

NOTES: UTEP | FIU | CUSA

EL PASO – UTEP returns to the Sun Bowl to host FIU during Conference USA's Midweek Madness. The Miners and Panthers are set to kick off at 7 p.m. MT on Wednesday night, while the contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. Wednesday night is the UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame Game with proud partner El Paso Children's Hospital as the game sponsor.

Miner fans can purchase their UTEP-FIU tickets at www.utepminers.com/tickets, by calling 915.747.UTEP, by emailing: tickets@utep.edu, or at the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 201 Glory Road [Brumbelow Building, UTEP Campus]).

The CUSA home opener will be televised on CBS Sports Network, and fans can tune into "The Home of UTEP Football" 600 AM ESPN with "The Voice of the UTEP Miners" Jon Teicher and former UTEP wide receiver Cole Freytag.

Five of the newest members of the UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame will be honored during Wednesday's contest. Tobi Amusan (track and field), Beto Bautista (men's basketball), Izabela Piekarska (women's basketball), Tony Tolbert (football) and Brandon Wolfram will be inducted into the UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame tonight (Oct. 15).

UTEP (0-6, 0-3 CUSA) is coming off a 44-17 setback at WKU on Oct. 10. Some bright spots for the Miners were Ezell Jolly rushing for a career-high 119 yards, Corey Wren returning a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and Kenny Odom ran off another big touchdown, this time a career-long 76-yard score. UTEP scored the first 10 points of the second half as Wren returned the opening kick and Buzz Flabiano hit a 42-yard field goal at the 5:29 mark to get within 10 points (27-17). Defensively, Lantz Russell tallied 11 tackles and intercepted his first pass in a UTEP uniform. In his first collegiate start, freshman Stratton Shufelt tallied a career-best seven tackles with a pass breakup and QB hurry. Shufelt's breakup led to Russell's interception as Shufelt batted the ball in Russell's hands.

FIU (2-4, 1-1 CUSA) recently fell at Liberty, 31-24 in overtime, on Oct. 8 in Lynchburg, Va. The Panthers chalked up a league victory after defeating LA Tech 17-10 on Sept. 28. At Liberty, the Panthers were down 24-10 at the 10:43 mark of the fourth quarter before Kejon Owens rushed for a three-yard score and Keyone Jenkins added a one-yard rush into the end zone to tie the game at 24-24 with 1:42 left in regulation. The Flames would go on to score in the overtime period, followed by the Panthers turning the ball over on their possession ending the contest. The Panthers are led by junior linebacker Travion Barnes who leads CUSA with 70 tackles and 11.7 tackles per contest. Jenkins ranks second in CUSA with nine touchdown tosses while the redshirt sophomore completes over 63 percent of his passes (110-174). Junior wide receiver Eric Rivers ranks third in the conference in receiving yards (448) and receiving yards per game (74.7).

"[Eric Rivers] can run and fly. He's a deep threat, and we have to know where he's at. He's an elite receiver we need to make sure we have great eyes and great leverage," UTEP Head Coach Scotty Walden said. "A great pass defense has to have a great pass rush and that's going to be a challenge this week and we have to layer our rush and contain because [Keyone] Jenkins, their quarterback, does a phenomenal job extending the play. He throws the deep ball well and just does a great job finding his receivers downfield. Their o-line and huge and does a great job protecting him. Defensively they have really good team speed. They do a great job mixing up their coverages. Their linebacker [Travion Barnes] runs sideline to sideline and I respect the heck out of him. Their front four is extremely long and athletic. We'll have our hands full for sure, they're a really talented football team."

UTEP (0-6, 0-3) vs. FIU (2-4, 1-1)
Date: Wednesday, Oct. 16
Time: 7 p.m. MT
Location: El Paso, Texas
Venue: Sun Bowl Stadium (45,971)
X Updated: @UTEPFB

TV: CBSSN
PxP: Dave Ryan
Analyst: Brock Vereen

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

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The Miners and Hilltoppers will be nationally televised on CBSSN with Dave Ryan (play-by-play) and Brock Vereen (analysis). The action continues on "The Home of UTEP Football" 600 AM ESPN with "The Voice of the UTEP Miners" Jon Teicher calling play-by-play in his 44^th season. 'Teich', who called his 500^th game on Oct. 11, 2023, is joined by former UTEP WR Cole Freytag (2012, 2014-16) in the booth providing analysis in his third season. El Paso native and long-running member of the local media Mando Medina will be reporting from the sidelines. The contest can also be heard on the UTEP Miners app.

SERIES VS. FIU
UTEP has won the last two meetings against FIU to even up the series at 3-3. The Miners are 2-1 versus the Panthers in the Sun Bowl. UTEP defeated FIU 27-14 last season on national television in Miami while taming the Panthers 40-6 in El Paso during the 2022 campaign. UTEP defeated FIU in their first meeting in 2013, 33-10. During last season's first victory in Miami, QB Cade McConnell threw two touchdowns of 80 and 23 yards to WR Kelly Akharaiyi to jump out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. RB Deion Hankins got UTEP on the board first with a one-yard run into the end zone, and Buzz Flabiano added a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 20-yard make in the fourth. McConnell finished 11-of-17 for 262 yards, while QB Kevin Hurleycompleted a 40-yard pass. Akharaiyi tallied 223 receiving yards on eight catches. Defensively, DE Maurice Westmoreland tallied six tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Panthers were held to 91 yards rushing.

ABOUT FIU
The Panthers are coming off a 31-24 overtime loss at Liberty. FIU fell to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in Conference USA play. The Flames jumped out to a 24-10 lead with 10:43 remaining in regulation. But the Panthers would score two touchdowns down to the stretch to tie the game. The first came on a Kejon Owens three-yard touchdown at the 6:23 mark and Keyone Jenkins's one-yard touchdown, followed by the PAT, tied the contest at 24 apiece with 1:42 left. Kaidon Salter ran for a nine-yard touchdown to open the overtime session. However, on a third-and-3 at the LU 18, Jenkins fumbled the ball after a sack and was recovered by Liberty to seal the victory. FIU opened the season with a 31-7 loss at national power Indiana on Aug. 31. The Panthers bounced back for a 52-16 thumping of Central Michigan in Miami on Sept. 7. FIU lost two in a row – the first at Florida Atlantic 38-20 on Sept. 14, and against Monmouth 45-42 on Sept. 21. FIU won its first CUSA matchup, beating LA Tech 17-10 at Pitbull Stadium on Sept. 28. FIU averages 27.0 points per game, ranked fifth CUSA. It ranks just above UTEP in total offense, averaging 330.3 yards per game. The Panthers rank third with 1,358 passing yards. LB Travion Barnes leads CUSA and ranks second nationally with 70 total tackles. His 11.7 tackles per game rank first in CUSA and fourth in FBS. The FIU defense gives up over 400 yards of total offense but ranks third in CUSA with six interceptions by six different Panthers. Jenkins is one of the top passers in the league. The sophomore ranks third in CUSA averaging 224.8 yards per game. Jenkins's nine TD tosses rank second. Owens leads FIU with 265 yards rushing and four touchdowns.

UTEP ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
All-time Miner great Tony Tolbert will be inducted into the 21st UTEP Athletics Hall of Fame on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Tolbert made the most of two seasons as a starting defensive end for the Miners, garnering second team All-Western Athletic Conference honors in 1987 and first team in 1988. He had a monster senior campaign, tallying 101 tackles and 11 sacks in leading UTEP to the only 10-win season in school history. Tolbert recorded 15 sacks total during his final two seasons in the orange and blue. Picked in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Tolbert would later win three world championships (1992, 1993, 1995) with "America's Team." He spent nine years in the league (144 games), tallying 580 tackles and 59 sacks. His NFL honors included earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team (1989) and second team All-Pro recognition (1996). He was a 1996 Pro Bowl selection after posting a career-high 12.0 sacks. He is a member of the UTEP Football Centennial Team.

WREN TO THE HOUSE
MB Corey Wren returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score – his first collegiate touchdown – to open the second half at WKU on Oct. 10. It was UTEP's first kickoff return for a touchdown since Oct. 10, 2020, when DB Duron Lowe returned a KO 100 yards for a TD at LA Tech.

100-YARD KICKOFF RETURN CLUB
Corey Wren is the sixth Miner in school history to return a kickoff 100 yards for a score. He joins Cedric Johnson (1996), Howard Jackson (2001), Marlon McClure (2010), Autrey Golden (2x in 2013) and Duron Lowe (2019, 2020) to tally 100-yard kickoff returns.

COREY'S BIG NIGHT
Overall, Corey Wren tallied a collegiate career-high 151 kickoff return yards and added a six-yard reception to give him a career-best 157 all-purpose yards. Wren averaged 37.8 yards on four returns. Wren, who had played at Florida State and TCU, scored his first collegiate touchdown in Bowling Green on Oct. 10.

ONE OF TWO IN CUSA
Corey Wren is one of two CUSA players to return kickoffs for touchdowns in 2024. Kennesaw State's Qua Ashley also returned one for a score – a 93-yard return against Jax State on Oct. 4.

WHERE WREN IS NATIONALLY
Corey Wren is one of 16 players in FBS to return a kickoff for a touchdown. Wren is also one of eight players to tally a 100-yard return.

LONGEST RETURN IN CUSA
Corey Wren's 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at WKU is the longest in CUSA.

CATCH 22
RB Ezell Jolly hit the century mark in rushing for the first time in his young career, going for a career-high 119 yards on a career-most 27 carries at WKU. The redshirt freshman ranks first on the team in rushing yards per game (65.0) and second with 195 yards rushing in three games played. His previous best was 76 yards against Sam Houston last week. He's averaged 97.5 rushing yards in the last two games.

FIRST TO HIT 100 YARDS RUSHING
Ezell Jolly is the first Miner to hit the 100-yard rushing mark this season. His rushing effort was also the first 100-yard performance since Oct. 25, 2023, when RB Deion Hankins rushed for 117 yards at Sam Houston.

JOLLY GOOD EFFORT
Ezell Jolly also racked up a career-high 147 all-purpose yards. He added a career-high 28 yards receiving on a trio of catches. Jolly's 29 offensive attempts were also a career most.

ANOTHER LONG TD FOR KENNY
WR Kenny Odom zoomed by defenders on his career-long 76-yard touchdown at WKU. On a second-and-6 at the UTEP 24, Odom hauled in the catch from QB Cade McConnell at the 30 and raced 70 yards past multiple Hilltopper defenders. Odom recorded a 60-yard touchdown at Liberty and a 55-yard score at Colorado State. Odom ranks tied for first with three other CUSA players with two plays of 60+ yards. Odom is tied second with five others with a 70+ yard reception.

ODOM'S RANKINGS
Kenny Odom is ranked tied for first with four touchdown receptions and is second in Conference USA in yards per reception (22.9). Odom also ranks fourth in receiving yards (435) and fifth in receiving yards per game (72.5). Odom ranks fifth in FBS in yards per catch and is 40^th in total receiving yards.

ANOTHER LONG TD FROM CADE
QB Cade McConnell recorded a 76-yard touchdown pass to WR Kenny Odom. It's McConnell's sixth career touchdown pass of 50+ yards. McConnell hit TE Marcus Vinson for a 52-yard score against Sam Houston and connected a 55-yard touchdown to Odom at Colorado State. McConnell completed two 80-yard touchdowns (at FIU, at MTSU) and added a 62-yard scoring pass (vs. WKU) in 2023.

CUSA LEADER
MB Kam Thomas is tied for the Conference USA lead with 34 receptions after posting three more at WKU. Thomas hauled in five against Sam Houston a week before. Thomas opened his UTEP career with seven receptions at Nebraska. He posted five against Southern Utah, a career-high eight at Liberty and six at Colorado State.

ALL-PURPOSE YARDS CUSA RANKINGS
WR Kenny Odom ranks second in CUSA in all-purpose yards (558) and MB Kam Thomas ranks second with 547 all-purpose yards. Odom ranks third in all-purpose yards per game (93.0) and Thomas ranks fourth (91.2 appg).

FIRST CAREER STARTS
DT Ashton Coker, CB Justin Content, WR Ashton Nickelberry and LB Stratton Shufelt all made their first career starts on Oct. 10 at WKU on national television.

TACKLING MACHINES
LB Dorian Hopkins ranks second in total tackles (52) and tackles per game (10.4). Spur Kory Chapmanranks sixth in total tackles (44) and third in tackles per game (8.8). S Xavier Smith is fourth in total tackles (47) and fifth in tackles per game (7.8). LB Nate Dyman ranks eighth in total tackles (42) and ninth in tackles per game (7.0).

IMPRESSIVE FIRST START FOR STRATTON
LB Stratton Shufelt, a true freshman, made his first career start on Oct. 10 at WKU on national television. Shufelt responded with a career-high seven tackles, a pass breakup that was batted into S Lantz Russell'shands for an INT, and a quarterback hurry against the Hilltoppers.

IMPRESSIVE NIGHT FOR LANTZ
S Lantz Russell led the Miners with a game-high 11 tackles at WKU on Oct. 10. Russell added a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss (11 yards) while intercepting his first pass in a UTEP uniform. It was Russell's second straight double-digit tackle effort after tallying a career-high 12 against Sam Houston last week.

MORE ON LANTZ'S INT
Lantz Russell's previous INT came while playing at Mt. SAC during the 2022 season when he picked off two passes. The interception was caused when LB Stratton Shufelt broke the pass up and batted the ball in Russell's hands.

SOLO TACKLE MACHINE
Lantz Russell has totaled 29 tackles, 23 of which are solo stops. He leads the UTEP defense and ranks tied for fourth in CUSA in solo tackles.

ANOTHER SACK FOR JOSIAH
DB Josiah Allen, who made another start at the cornerback position, recorded his second sack of the season at WKU. Allen has recorded 2.5 sacks in his career.

FIRST CAREER SACK FOR KYRAN
DL Kyran Duhon, a true freshman, recorded his first career sack on Oct. 10 at WKU.

DUHON COMING ON
Kyran Duhon tallied four tackles at WKU, bringing his total to 14 stops in the last three games (4.7 tackles per game). Duhon has totaled 20 tackles in his first season.

DYMAN IN THE ROUGH
LB Nate Dyman tied his career best with 10 tackles at WKU. He added his second career QB hurry against the Hilltoppers. Dyman has played in all six games, starting the last six contests. He ranks fourth on the team with 42 tackles. He's added 3.5 tackles for loss, a breakup, two hurries and a fumble recovery.

DYMAN'S LAST 4 GAMES
Nate Dyman has 34 tackles in the last four games, including a career-high 10 tackles at Colorado State and WKU. Dyman is averaging 8.5 tackles in the last four games.

MO'S FIRST FULL SACK
Bandit Maurice Westmoreland recorded his first full sack of the season at WKU. Westmoreland now has 1.5 sacks in 2024 and 9.0 sacks in his career.

LIMITING THE PENALTIES ON THE ROAD
UTEP, a week after being called for 12 penalties, was only penalized twice at WKU on Oct. 10. It's the third time this season that the Miners were penalized two times – two at Liberty (Sept. 14), two at Colorado State (Sept. 21). The last time the Miners' were called for two penalties or less in three contests was during the 2015 season (two at no. 18 Arkansas on Sept. 5, two vs. UTSA on Oct. 3, two at North Texas on Nov. 28).

GETTING THE NOD
Heading into the FIU game, 28 Miners (14 on defense and 14 on offense)
have made their first UTEP start this season.

UP NEXT
UTEP will conclude the midweek madness when it plays at LA Tech on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The Miners and Bulldogs will kick off at 6 p.m. MDT/7 CT in Ruston and will be televised on CBSSN.

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

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.

Print Friendly Version