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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
Blue v Orange

UTEP Football Spring Game Recap: Blue Team 39, Orange Team 35

5/2/2024 2:44:00 PM


PHOTO GALLERY

EL PASO – UTEP junior QB Cade McConnell found transfer WR Kenny Odom in the end zone for a walk-off 33-yard touchdown with zeros on the clock to give Vice President/Director of Athletics Jim Senter's Blue Team a 39-35 victory over UTEP President Heather Wilson's Orange Team in front of more than 3,000 enthusiastic fans on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon in Sun Bowl Stadium.
 

UTEP Head Coach Scotty Walden initiated the football program's first Spring Football Game in quite some time with a fun-filled day of football and events. Not only did the current players dazzle Miner Nation, but Walden and his staff invited 25 honorary coaches back to the "Sun City." The group, composed of former UTEP football players, participated as coaches, while also competing in halftime events. Current NFL stars Will Hernandez (OL, 2014-17) and Aaron Jones (RB, 2013-16) were amongst the celebrities wowing the fans. 
 
"I loved the competitiveness, that's what we want to see out of a spring game," Walden said. "It was as evenly matched as you could make it. The last play of the game to be a shot for a touchdown – Cade McConnell, Kenny Odom – what a great day for the Miners. It was a great day to be a Miner."
 
Hall of Fame radio announcer "The Voice of the UTEP Miners" Jon Teicher - who called the game with former UTEP WR Cole Freytag on 600 ESPN - was also honored during a first quarter timeout with a game ball for calling his 500th contest during the Miners' 27-14 victory at FIU on Oct. 11, 2023.
 
The "Blue Blaze" offenses combined for 537 total yards. The Miners combined to rush for 123 yards and a touchdown while the air attack tallied 414 yards passing with a trio of passing scores. 
 
The "Orange Swarm" defense collected six sacks, 22 tackles for losses and a pair of interceptions, including a pick-6.
 
McConnell accounted for three passing scores. McConnell's first TD pass was a 26-yarder to WR Emari White in the corner of the end zone to strike first and give the Blue Team a 7-0 edge at the 10:01 mark of the first quarter. 
 
K Buzz Flabiano put more points on the board for the Blue Team with a 28-yard field goal to go up 10-0.
 
On the third drive of the game, Austin Peay transfer RB Jevon Jackson rolled into the end zone on a 12-yard touchdown to get the Orange Team on the board and make the count 10-7 at the 13:23 mark of the second quarter. 
 
If the fans thought about leaving to get snacks and drinks at halftime, they might have returned confused with the Orange Team suddenly leading 28-27 heading into the second half. 
 
The halftime "UTEP Football Alumni Games" featuring the celebrity coaches provided lots of excitement.

Justin Rogers (DB, 2016-19) got the party started by beating Adam Ayala (DE, 2010-13) in the punt/pass/kick, giving the Orange Team seven points and a 14-10 lead. Trevor Vittatoe (QB, 2007-10) defeated Kavika Johnson (QB, WR, 2015-17, 2019) in the long ball toss to give his Blue Team a 17-14 edge. In the 1-on-1's Ty'Reke James (DB, 2020-22) outhustled Austin Contreras (DB, 2008-10) to put Orange up 21-17, while Jadrian Taylor (DE, 2020-22) won by a nose against Cornelius Brown (DB, 2006-09) in the 40-yard dash to build the Orange Team's lead to 28-17. But the Blue Team rallied in the tug of war, scoring 10 points in victory and getting within a point at 28-27. Also competing in the tug of war for the Orange were Josh Caldwell (DB, 2018-21), Bobby Deharo (OL, 2018-21), Derek Elmendorff (OL, 2014-17), Kalaii Griffin (LB, 2017-19), Eric Lee (OL, 2014-15), Josh Ortega (DL, 2017-19, 2021), Germard Reed (DL, 2010-13), Pete Shufelt (LB, 1989-92); and for Blue Quintin Demps (DB, 2004-07), AJ Hotchkins (LB, 2018), Nathan Jeffery (RB, 2011-14), Paulo Melendez (OL, 2012-14), Bernard Obi (DL, 2008-11), Julio Lopez (WR, 2010-11), Paul Smith (RB, 1999-02) and Nick Usher (LB, 2013-2016).
 

The Orange Team's "Orange Swarm" put points on the board to open the second half, intercepting a pass and taking it to the house for a pick-6 and a 35-27 advantage. 
 
McConnell marched the Blue Team downfield and found Jaden Smith on a nine-yard hookup to make the count 35-33 following a failed two-point conversion.
 
The Blue Team came up with a huge defensive stop to get the ball back and give McConnell another opportunity. He made the most of it, finding Odom with a 33-yard dime for the triumph. It was McConnell's third touchdown of the day. 
 
"We had to come into this Spring to set the tone of most of all who we are going to be culturally," Walden said. "We wanted to come in and establish our culture right off the bat of who we are and make sure not only installing x's and o's but also our brand. We came in, executed those things and we had a great Spring. I'm proud of where our culture is and I'm really excited about where we're going."
 
 
UP NEXT
UTEP will open the 2024 football season at Nebraska on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Lincoln. The Miners will open in the 915 against Southern Utah on Saturday, Sept. 7 in Sun Bowl Stadium.
 
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