Miners and Bulldogs Lockup for a Tuesday Night Battle on CBS Sports Network

10/21/2024 8:13:00 AM

NOTES: UTEP | LA Tech | CUSA

EL PASO – UTEP, coming off its first victory of the season, will take the momentum on the road to LA Tech on Tuesday night as Conference USA's Midweek Madness will conclude. The Miners and Bulldogs are set for a 6 p.m. MDT/7 CT kickoff in Joe Aillet Stadium and will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. The Miners are looking for their first win in Ruston in 20 years. Fans can tune into "The Home of UTEP Football" 600 AM ESPN to listen to the action.

The Miners (1-6, 1-3 CUSA) won their first contest in the Scotty Walden era, defeating FIU 30-21 on Oct. 16 on national television. The Panthers took a 21-20 lead with 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter following a UTEP turnover. However, the "Blue Blaze" offense responded with a 10-play, 76-yard drive that chewed up over four minutes off the clock to begin the fourth. The drive ended on a Jevon Jackson go-ahead one-yard touchdown while Buzz Flabiano followed with a 35-yard PAT to give UTEP a 27-21 advantage with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game. Flabiano's third field goal – a 39-yard make – put the Miners ahead nine points with 2:30 remaining. Jackson ran for a season-high 148 yards and scored two touchdowns (22-yard rec., one-yard rush), while Flabiano tied a career best, connecting on three field goals (27, 44, 39) to lead the Wefense.

The "Orange Swarm" defense also produced a big performance with four interceptions. Dorian Hopkins, Lantz Russell, Amier Boyd-Matthews and Dillion Williams each picked off passes on Wednesday night. It was the most passes intercepted by a UTEP defense since 2011 and the first in the Sun Bowl since 2008. The run defense also allowed only 85 yards rushing while yielding only 287 total offensive yards. Maurice Westmoreland and Russell each tallied a sack, while Russell led the way with nine tackles and Westmoreland matched his career best with six stops.

The Bulldogs (2-4, 1-2 CUSA) are coming off a 33-30 double-overtime loss at NM State on Oct. 15. The Bulldogs' lone CUSA win came during a 48-21 victory over Middle Tennessee on Oct. 10. Despite its losing record, LA Tech is no. 1 in CUSA and 24^th in FBS in total defense (316.3) while ranking no. 3 (CUSA) in scoring defense (23.5). LA Tech's offense ranks fifth in total offense (365.3) and sixth in scoring offense (25.5) in CUSA. Evan Bullock, who's started the last three games, has thrown eight touchdowns to zero interceptions. The freshman quarterback has thrown for 790 yards on 69-of-108 passing (63.9) in five games. Tru Edwards ranks third in CUSA at 74.2 receiving yards per game while being tied for the league lead in touchdown receptions (four). Edwards has 445 yards on 32 receptions (13.9 avg.). Linebackers Zach Zimos (42 tackles) and Kolbe Fields (41) lead the defense.

"[Defensive coordinator] Jeremiah Johnson was at Northern Iowa [last season] and a very successful FCS coordinator. And now he's at Louisiana Tech and changed their entire dynamic on defense. I know [LA Tech] struggled on defense last year but is tops in the conference," Walden said. "He's got them playing very confident and very fierce. They play physically, so we'll have our work cut out for us on offense for sure. On offense, their quarterback, Bullock, is a really good player, a young freshman who makes good decisions with the football. They've been so close but for whatever reason the ball hadn't swung their way in some games they could easily be sitting here with only one or two losses. I think they're dangerous and play really well at home."

UTEP (1-6, 1-3) at LA Tech (2-4, 1-2)
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 22
Time: 6 p.m. MDT/7 CT
Location: Ruston, La.
Venue: Joe Aillet Stadium (28,562)
X Updated: @UTEPFB

TV: CBSSN
PxP: Alex Del Barrio
Analyst: Donte Whitner

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

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The Miners and Bulldogs will be nationally televised on CBSSN with Alex Del Barrio (play-by-play) and Donte Whitner (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. LA TECH
LA Tech leads the all-time series 16-3-1 following last season's 24-10 win in El Paso. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 14-0 following a Smoke Harris 67-yard punt return for a touchdown. UTEP got within seven points on a pair of occasions (14-7, 17-10), but Tru Edwards's 20-yard touchdown reception from Jack Turner put the game away early in the fourth quarter. The Miners last defeated the Bulldogs during the 2021 season as UTEP grinded out a 16-point win in the Sun Bowl. RB Deion Hankins led the way with a pair of rushing scores, DT Jalen Rudolph was credited with a safety and K Gavin Baechle connected 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. The 2004 season was also the last time the Miners won in Ruston. 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 2-4 overall and dropped to 1-2 following a 33-30 double-overtime loss at NM State on Oct. 15. Buck Buchanan's 36-yard field goal gave LA Tech a 30-27 advantage, but the Aggies won the contest on a Mike Washington four-yard touchdown. The Bulldogs gained 360 yards of total offense and allowed 364. QB Evan Bullock threw for 233 yards (21-40) and two touchdowns. WR Tru Edwards put up monster numbers, tallying 110 yards on nine receptions with two touchdowns. LB Kolbe Fields led the defense with 10 tackles and a TFL. LA Tech ranks fifth in CUSA in total offense (365.3) and fourth in passing yards (1,535). It boasts the number one ranking in total defense (316.3) while yielding a league-low 4.83 yards per play. Edwards ranks fourth in receiving yards per game (74.2) and is tied for the league lead with four TD receptions. Overall, Edward has tallied 445 yards (sixth in CSUA) on 32 receptions (fifth in CUSA). Bullock, who's listed at 6-6, has played in five games but has started the last three and has thrown eight touchdowns (rushed for another) with no interceptions. In LA Tech's CUSA win over Middle Tennessee, Bullock threw for 290 yards and five touchdowns on 18-of-25 passing. LB Zach Zimos leads the team with 42 tackles, while Fields ranks second with 41 stops and has intercepted a pass. Fields leads the 'Dogs with 6.5 tackles for loss.

KEEP THOSE FLAGS IN YOUR POCKET
UTEP was flagged only three times for 35 yards against FIU. The Miners were penalized 26 times in their first two home games but responded with disciplinary football on Wednesday night. The Miners have been flagged only six times in their last three road games. UTEP, in its last two games, has been penalized five times (two at WKU and three vs. FIU).

ONLY THREE IN THE SUN BOWL SINCE 2022
UTEP's three penalties in the Sun Bowl on Wednesday were the least since drawing three flags against FIU on Nov. 19, 2022.

FIRST 30-POINT GAME IN THE SUN BOWL SINCE 2022
UTEP's 30 points at home were the most since beating FIU 40-6 on Nov. 19, 2022 in Sun Bowl Stadium.

HOLDING AN OPPONENT TO UNDER 300 YARDS
UTEP held FIU to 287 yards of total offense. It was the least yards a UTEP defense allowed since Nov. 4, 2023, versus WKU (280 yards of total offense) in the Sun Bowl.

RUSH DEFENSE STEPPING UP
UTEP's "Orange Swarm" defense allowed only 85 yards rushing against FIU. It was the least rushing yards yielded by a UTEP defense since allowing 65 yards rushing against UIW in 2023. It was also the least in a CUSA game since allowing 76 rushing yards at UTSA on Nov. 26, 2022.

PASSING DEFENSE
UTEP ranks second in CUSA in pass defense (207.0). Nationally, the Miners rank 53^rd in FBS. UTEP ranks tied fourth in CUSA with six interceptions and 39^th in FBS.

RED ZONE DEFENSE
UTEP ranks fourth in CUSA and 35^th in FBS in red zone defense (78 percent). Opponents have scored 21 times (11 rush TDs, five pass TDs, five FGs) on 27 red zone attempts.

CLUTCH DRIVE
QB Skyler Locklear, after being listed as QB1 following QB Cade McConnell's injury, made his first start since Sept. 21 and came with a Miner victory. The redshirt sophomore experienced adversity when he turned the ball over, leading to an FIU TD and making the score 21-20 lead with 38 seconds remaining in the third quarter. But Locklear responded by engineering a 10-play, 76-yard drive that chewed up over four minutes off the clock and ended with RB Jevon Jackson plunging into the end zone on a direct snap that gave the Miners the go-ahead 26-21 lead. The Miners tried a two-point conversion but was stalled due to a penalty. K Buzz Flabiano was forced to kick a 35-yard PAT, which he nailed to extend the lead to 27-21. Jolly opened the drive with four straight carries, resulting in 18 yards (4.5 avg.). Jackson followed with a 16-yard gain to the FIU 42 on a third-and-4 to extend the drive. Locklear found MB Kam Thomas for a 20-yard gain to the FIU 22. Jackson then carried 12 yards to the FIU 10 followed by a Locklear seven-yard rush. Jackson tallied the final three yards, adding the one-yard gain into the end zone.

JUKIN' JEVON JACKSON
RB Jevon Jackson produced his breakout game in a UTEP uniform, rambling for a season-high 148 yards on 26 carries (5.7 avg.) during the Miners' 30-21 victory over FIU. Jackson added a pair of touchdowns – the first a 22-yard scoring reception and the second a one-yard rush on a direct snap. Jackson added a season-high 170 all-purpose yards. Jackson rushed for 104 yards in the fourth quarter with a season-long 42-yard rush that helped seal the victory on UTEP's final drive.

100+ YARDS RUSHING IN ONE QUARTER
Jevon Jackson rushed for 104 yards in the fourth quarter, helping the Miners control the final quarter. He's the first Miner to hit 100+ yards in one quarter since RB Aaron Jones's 127 yards during the first quarter against North Texas on Nov. 26, 2016.

WHERE ACTION JACKSON RANKS
Jevon Jackson leads the Miners and ranks seventh in CUSA with 387 yards on the ground. His 55.3 yards per game ranks eighth in the league. Jackson has totaled three touchdowns (one rush, two rec.).

MOST RUSHING YARDS THIS SEASON
UTEP hit a season-high 211 yards on the ground. The Miners used 46 carries (4.6 avg.) and scored two rushing touchdowns. RB Jevon Jackson led the way with 148, while RB Ezell Jolly gained 41 yards. Jackson and QB Skyler Locklear each tallied rushing scores. It was the first time the Miners hit 200+ yards rushing since going for 222 during a victory at Sam Houston on Oct. 25, 2023.

200+ RUSHING YARDS IN THE SUN BOWL
UTEP went over 200 yards rushing in the Sun Bowl on Wednesday night for the first time since rushing for 224 yards against LA Tech on Sept. 29, 2023.

BACK2BACK 100+ RUSH YARD EFFORTS
RB Jevon Jackson rushed for 148 yards on Oct. 22 against FIU, and RB Ezell Jolly gained 119 yards on the ground on Oct. 10 at WKU. Jolly was the first Miner to hit the century mark in rushing this season.

GOIN' DEEP
WR Kenny Odom has burners on his feet. The redshirt sophomore took off for a 62-yard reception during the Miners' 30-21 win over FIU. It was his third play of 60+ yards which ranks first in CUSA. Odom also ranks first in CUSA with four plays of 50+ yards and three plays of 60+ yards. Odom is one of seven players in CUSA to have at least one 70+ yard catch.

ONE OF THE TOP WR'S IN CUSA
Kenny Odom is coming off 75 yards on three receptions against FIU. Odom added a 62-yard reception in the first quarter that helped set up UTEP's first field goal. He leads CUSA in yards per catch (23.2) and ranks tied for first with four touchdown receptions. The redshirt sophomore speedster ranks third in receiving yards (510) and yards per game (72.9).

LOCKLEAR LOCKED IN
QB Skyler Locklear made his first start on Wednesday for the first time since Sept. 21 at Colorado State. Locklear finished the night 14-of-23 for 161 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He made some big throws – a 62-yard pass to WR Kenny Odom, including a 20-yard completion to MB Kam Thomas on the go-ahead drive. Locklear found RB Jevon Jackson on a 22-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.

D-HOP'S BIG PLAY
LB Dorian Hopkins intercepted his first collegiate pass during the Miners' 30-21 win over FIU. The Panthers, up 7-3, drove the ball to the UTEP 12 with the potential of extending the lead. Hopkins came up with the pick at the six-yard line and returned it 84 yards to the FIU 10. The offense responded with a QB Skyler Locklearthree-yard touchdown rush that gave UTEP a 10-7 edge to open the second quarter.

MOST INTS SINCE 2011
The Miners' defense intercepted four FIU passes, the most since 2011. LB Dorian Hopkins opened the turnover tally with an INT in the first quarter followed by S Lantz Russell picking off a pass in the third quarter. CB Amier Boyd-Matthews and Spur Dillion Williams intercepted a pass each during the fourth. William's pick came with 1:24 left in the game. It was the most by a UTEP defense since picking off four passes during a 44-7 win at Tulane on Oct. 15, 2011. LB Jeremy Springer, DB DeShawn Grayson, DB Darren Woodard and DB Travaun Nixon each intercepted Green Wave passes.

MOST INTS IN THE 915 SINCE 2008
UTEP's four interceptions on Wednesday night were the most in the Sun Bowl since Nov. 15, 2008, during a 36-10 drubbing of SMU. DB Melvin Stephenson II, LB Nuuese Punimata, DB Dustin Bell and DB Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith each recorded an interception.

FIRST CAREER PICKS
CB Amier Boyd-Matthews and Spur Dillion Williams intercepted their first career passes against FIU.

INTERCEPTIONS IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
S Lantz Russell intercepted his second pass in as many games. The first came at WKU on Oct. 10 when LB Stratton Shufelt batted the ball into Russell's hands. Russell is the first Miner to do so since S Oscar Moorepicked off passes against WKU and at Middle Tennessee in consecutive weeks last season.

MO SACKS
Bandit Maurice Westmoreland recorded his second sack in as many weeks after taking down FIU QB Amani Jones in the fourth quarter. Westmoreland recorded his first full sack of the season at WKU a week before. He now has 2.5 sacks this season and 10.0 for his career.

SECOND CAREER SACK
S Lantz Russell helped set the tone for the UTEP defense when he sacked FIU QB Keyone Jenkins in the first quarter. LB Dorian Hopkins followed the sack with the interception returned 84 yards. Russell now has 2.0 sacks in 2024. Russell's first sack came at Colorado State.

BUZZSAW
K Buzz Flabiano connected on three field goals, tying his career best. Flabiano finished a perfect 3-for-3, connecting on makes of 27, 44, and 39 yards. Flabiano went 3-for-3 during a victory at Sam Houston on Oct. 25, 2023. Flabiano added a trio of PATs one of which included a 35-yard make. He finished with 12 points against FIU on Wednesday.

CONSECUTIVE MAKES
Buzz Flabiano, since missing a field goal attempt at Liberty, has made his last five field goal attempts. He hit a career-long 45-yard make at Colorado on Sept. 21, a 42-yard attempt at WKU, and a 3-for-3 night against FIU.

UP NEXT
UTEP returns to the Sun City to host Middle Tennessee on Saturday, Nov. 2. The Miners and Blue Raiders are set for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff in the Sun Bowl. The contest will be nationally televised on CBS Sports Network. The promotion is Future Miner Day and GECU serves as the game sponsor. Tickets are available at www.utepminers.com/tickets.

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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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