UTEP Returns to the 915 for a Thursday Contest, hosts Sam Houston on “El Chuco” Night

10/2/2024 1:42:00 PM

NOTES: UTEP | SAM HOUSTON | CUSA

EL PASO – UTEP, following a two-game road swing, makes its way back to host Conference USA foe Sam Houston for a midweek madness showdown on Thursday, Oct. 3. The Miners and Bearkats are set for a 7 p.m. kickoff in Sun Bowl Stadium. "El Chuco" Night will be celebrated with UTEP Athletics' partner Ysleta del Sur Pueblo as the game sponsor.

Miner fans can purchase their UTEP-Sam Houston 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.

The Miners (0-4, 0-1 CUSA) are coming off a bye week following their loss at Colorado State on Sept. 21. The Rams jumped out to a 24-3 lead but Cade McConnell's two touchdown passes of 28 and 55 yards to Kenny Odom in the second half rallied the Miners to get within seven points (24-17). Buzz Flabiano added a career-long 45-yard field in the first half, but CSU kicker Jordan Noyes's 39-yard field with 1:32 remaining iced the game for the Rams.

Odom has had a fast start to his UTEP career, tallying career highs in receiving yards (128) and touchdown receptions (two) while tying his career best in catches (seven) at CSU. The speedster ranks fourth in receiving yards per game (72.3), and leads the Miners with 289 yards on 14 receptions. His 20.6 average ranks third and three receiving touchdowns rank tied for second. Defensively, linebacker Dorian Hopkins is coming off another stellar performance, recording 11 tackles at CSU. He leads CUSA in tackles per game (11.3) and is pacing the Miners with 45 total stops.

The Bearkats (4-1, 1-0 CUSA) bring a three-game winning streak to West Texas and are coming off a dramatic win over heavy-favorite Texas State, 40-39, on Sept. 28 at NRG Stadium in Houston. Sam Houston, the league's second-highest scoring offense (30.0 ppg), was down 22-0, and 39-21 (3Q, 11:57) but outscored the Bobcats 19-0 down the stretch that started with a Hunter Watson one-yard touchdown rush at the 4:30 mark of the third. Jay Ducker followed with a one-yard rush to make the score 39-34 with 51 seconds left in the third. Christian Pavon then connected on a 46-yard field goal at the 9:28 mark of the fourth and capped the comeback with a 24-yard make with six seconds remaining in the ball game. Watson is ranked second in CUSA in rushing yards per game (67.6) and has rushed for four scores. Ducker ranks sixth at 55.6 rushing yards per game and has found the end zone four times. Sam Houston ranks second in CUSA, averaging 216.0 rushing yards per game. Its total defense (341.0 ypg) and scoring defense (24.0 ppg) rank third in CUSA.

Sam Houston is making its first return to the Sun Bowl since the 2003 season. The two programs recently met last season in Huntsville during a 37-34 victory on Oct. 25, 2023. Buzz Flabiano connected on a 32-yard field goal with three seconds remaining to lift the Miners over the Bearkats during a midweek game on national television.

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

TV: CBSSN
PxP: Alex Del Barrio
Analyst: Taylor McHargue

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

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The Miners and Bearkats will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network with Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play) and Taylor McHargue (analyst) on the call. The action returns to "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. SAM HOUSTON
UTEP is 3-0 versus Sam Houston and 2-0 against the Bearkats in El Paso. The Miners rallied from 14 points down to defeat the Bearkats 37-34 on Oct. 25, 2023, in Huntsville, Texas, in last season's first contest as CUSA foes. K Buzz Flabiano's 32-yard field goal gave the Miners the go-ahead lead with three seconds remaining on the clock. UTEP was down 27-13 following a Sam Houston field goal at the 6:14 mark of the third quarter. RB Mike Franklin got UTEP within seven points (27-20) after his three-yard touchdown, and WR Kelly Akharaiyi hauled in a 25-yard touchdown reception from QB Cade McConnell to tie the game at 27 with 11:25 left in the game. QB Kevin Hurley followed with a one-yard rushing score to give the Miners a 34-27 advantage. However, Sam Houston tied the game at 34 after a four-yard rushing score. McConnell threw for 206 yards on 12-of-22 passing, while Flabiano went a perfect 3-of-3 on field goals with makes of 23, 43, and 32 yards. DB Josiah Allen tallied six tackles, while CB AJ Odums and S Oscar Moore each chipped in with five stops. DE Maurice Westmoreland recorded four tackles with a sack and 2.5 TFLs. The Miners defeated Sam Houston 59-14 in the Sun Bowl on Sept. 27, 2003, while winning the first-ever matchup 17-10 on Sept. 29, 1990 in El Paso.

ABOUT SAM HOUSTON
The Bearkats came up with an upset 40-39 victory over Texas State on Sept. 28 in Houston at NRG Stadium. Sam Houston K Christian Pavon nailed a 24-yard field goal with six seconds remaining in the game to lift the Bearkats. Pavon got his squad within two points (39-37) following a 46-yard make with 9:28 remaining. After falling behind 22-0 after the first quarter, Sam Houston outscored Texas State 21-10 in the second quarter to find itself down 32-21 at the half. The Bearkats defense stepped up in the second half, allowing only seven points. Texas State used its last TD to take a 39-21 advantage before Sam Houston scored 19 unanswered points. Sam Houston amassed 298 yards on the ground and five rushing scores. Sam Houston QB Hunter Watson led the way with 105 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns, while Jay Ducker ran for 69 yards and three scores. Overall, the Bearkats have won three consecutive games, averaging 30.0 points per game (second in CUSA). Sam Houston is averaging 216.0 rushing yards per game, ranking second in CUSA and 19^th in FBS. Its 1,080 rushing yards rank first in conference and 12^th nationally.

CLEANING UP THE MISCUES
UTEP only committed two penalties at Colorado State on Sept. 21. Following a 14-penalty game against SUU on Sept. 7, the Miners have committed only four penalties in the last two games, with a pair coming at [RV] Liberty on Sept. 14. It is the least penalties (four) in a two-game span since committing only four in two games in 2018. The Miners drew only one flag against Middle Tennessee on Nov. 10 and three at WKU the following week.
CADE UNDER CENTER
QB Cade McConnell started the second half at Colorado State and threw a pair of touchdowns of 28 and 55 yards to WR Kenny Odom. McConnell tied his career best with two touchdown passes. McConnell finished 19-of-29 for 220 yards against the Rams. McConnell will make his seventh career start under center on Thursday.

CADE'S CAREER
Cade McConnell has played in nine career contests while making seven starts under center at UTEP. The redshirt junior has thrown for 1,677 yards on 114-of-208 passing (55.0 percent) with eight touchdown passes and five interceptions. McConnell threw for 1,437 yards (92-172-4 INT) in seven games (six starts) last season.

KENNY'S CAREER DAY
WR Kenny Odom, in his second start as a Miner, went over the century mark for the first time in his collegiate career after posting a career-high 128 receiving yards at Colorado State. He added a career-best two touchdown receptions (28 yards & 55 yards) against the Rams. Odom's seven receptions were the most in a UTEP uniform, while it tied his collegiate career best. He tallied seven receptions on Nov. 25, 2023, versus Chattanooga while at Austin Peay.

KENNY'S GOT BURNERS
Kenny Odom, after hauling in a long touchdown reception a week before, added a 55-yard scoring catch at Colorado State on Sept. 21. Odom, in his first start in a UTEP uniform, scored his first touchdown as a Miner on a collegiate career-long 60-yard reception at [RV] Liberty. Odom hauled in a pass down the middle at the LU 36 and raced by multiple Flames' defenders on his way to pay dirt.

MATCHING HIS TD CATCHES FROM '23
Kenny Odom has tallied a trio of touchdown receptions in 2024, matching his total from last season while at Austin Peay. Odom totaled four touchdowns after he tallied a rushing score on Nov. 18, 2023, against Central Arkansas. Odom has seven touchdowns (six rec., one rush) in his college career.

ODOM'S NUMBERS
Kenny Odom leads UTEP and is ranked sixth in CUSA with 289 yards on 14 receptions. Odom ranks third in the league in yards per catch (20.6) and is tied second with four other players for the conference with three touchdown receptions.

KAM WITH A PURPOSE
MB Kam Thomas has done it all so far. Thomas leads Conference USA in all-purpose yards per game (110.5) and ranks third in total yards (442). His 11.9 yards per play rank sixth. Thomas has hit triple digits in his first three games as a Miner. The Austin Peay transfer opened the season with 132 all-purpose yards at national power Nebraska, followed by 119 against SUU, and registered 129 all-purpose yards at [RV] Liberty.

KAM CATCHING PASSES
Kam Thomas ranks second in Conference USA with 26 receptions in the first four games. He opened his UTEP career with seven receptions for 71 yards and a TD at national power Nebraska. Thomas followed that performance with a season-high 99 yards on five catches against SUU. He hauled in a season-best eight passes for 68 yards at [RV] Liberty and added six (46 yards) at Colorado State. Thomas ranks fifth with 284 receiving yards.

BRYTON SHINES
DE Bryton Thompson racked up a career-most 12 tackles at Colorado State on Sept. 21. The redshirt senior added a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Thompson's previous best was four tackles at Liberty on Sept. 14.

GETTING TO THE QB
Bryton Thompson recorded his first sack in almost a year, as his last sack came at Arizona on Sept. 16, 2023. Thompson now has 5.5 sacks in his career. He recorded 3.5 in 2022 and one last season.

FIRST PICK AS A MINER
CB AJ Odums recorded his first interception in a UTEP uniform when he picked off a pass at Colorado State during the second quarter. It was Odums' first interception since Sept. 30, 2022, against UNLV while playing at New Mexico. The senior now has two interceptions in his collegiate career.

LEADING TACKLER
LB Dorian Hopkins leads CUSA in tackles per game (11.3) and ranks second with 45 total tackles. In FBS, Hopkins ranks seventh in tackles per game and is tied for 12^th in total tackles. Hopkins, a graduate player, opened the season with 16 tackles at Nebraska. He followed with nine against SUU, nine at [RV] Liberty and most recently tallied 11 tackles at Colorado State.

DYMAN IN THE ROUGH
LB Nate Dyman made his third consecutive start and responded with a career-best 10 tackles at Colorado State. He topped his previous best of nine tackles at [RV] Liberty on Sept. 14. He added 0.5 a TFL against the Rams. Dyman ranks fourth on the squad with 27 tackles. He's recorded 3.0 tackles for loss, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.

DUHON COMING ON
DL Kyran Duhon recorded a career-best six tackles at Colorado State. The true freshman has played in all four games to this point, recording 10 total tackles (four solo).

TRIO OF MINERS WITH DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES
DE Bryton Thompson (12), LB Dorian Hopkins (11) and LB Nate Dyman (10) each hit double figures in tackles at Colorado State. It was the first time a trio of UTEP defensive players each tallied double-digit tackles in the same game since Nov. 3, 2022, when LB Tyrice Knight (12), S Kobe Hylton (10) and LB Cal Wallerstedt (10) did so at Rice.

TFL'S BY CHAPMAN, HOPKINS
Spur Kory Chapman and LB Dorian Hopkins lead the Miners with 4.5 tackles for loss. The pair is ranked tied for fifth in CUSA.

UP NEXT
UTEP will continue the midweek madness when it plays at WKU on Thursday, Oct. 10. The contest will be nationally televised on ESPN U and on "The Home of UTEP Football" 600 AM ESPN. The Miners and Hilltoppers are scheduled to kick off in Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green, Ky., at 6 p.m. MT/7 CT.

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