Miners Face North Dakota State in Fargo on Halloween

10/29/2026 4:17:00 PM

GAME NOTES: UTEP | NDSU | MOUNTAIN WEST

EL PASO – Coming off its bye week, UTEP will head to Fargo to take on a stout North Dakota State in Mountain West action on Halloween at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome. The Miners and Bison kick off at 1:30 p.m. MT.

The Miners and Bison can be heard on 600 AM ESPN El Paso, the "Home of UTEP Football," and on the UTEP Miners app. The contest will be streamed on MW+.

UTEP (1-6, 0-3 MW) came up short against San José State, 24-11, on Oct. 17 in El Paso. Jaden Smith turned in a solid performance, hauling in a career-high 12 receptions for 90 yards against the Spartans. Kam Thomas recorded 96 yards on four receptions, including a 64-yard grab. Raymond Moore III came in relief, finishing 19-of-28 for 195 yards while adding 55 yards on the ground. Miles Sterling registered a sack, giving him a team-high 3.5 on the season. UTEP didn't turn the ball over for a second straight game, making it the first time since 2023 the Miners went back-to-back games without giving the ball away.

North Dakota State (6-2, 3-2 MW) lost at New Mexico, 21-16, on Oct. 24. UNM took a 21-9 lead following a 56-yard pick-six, but Nathan Hayes responded with a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive that got NDSU within five points (21-16) with 6:42 left to play. Hayes finished with 198 yards on 17-of-33 passing, including a pair of touchdown passes and two interceptions. The Bison possess one of the top defenses in the FBS, ranking tied for second in total defense (250.1) and third in scoring defense (12.5 ppg).

"We're playing a really good opponent this week. Coach [Tim] Polasek does a fantastic job; we know what kind of team this is. They're physical, they're big, they're a team that wants to establish the run, and we'll be playing in a hostile environment," third-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. "They arguably have one of the best defenses in the country, and their front seven is as good as anybody out there. They get after the quarterback. They're big, tenacious, and physical. They're well coached and play hard."

UTEP (1-6, 0-3) at North Dakota State (6-2, 3-2)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
Time: 1:30 p.m. MDT
Location: Fargo, North Dakota
Venue: Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome (18,700)
X Updated: @UTEPFB

Stream: MW+
https://watch.themw.com/utep/
PxP: Dom Izzo
Analyst: Kyle Emanuel
Sideline: Sam Goetzinger

Radio: 600 ESPN El Paso
PxP: Jon Teicher
Analyst: Aaron Price
Sideline: Mando Medina

WHERE TO WATCH & LISTEN
The Miners and Bison will be streamed on MW+. Fans can listen to the action on the "Home of UTEP Football" on 600 ESPN AM El Paso, with "The Voice of the UTEP Miners," Jon Teicher, calling play-by-play in his 46th season. 'Teich', who called his 500^th game on Oct. 11, 2023, at FIU, is joined in the booth by former UTEP assistant coach Aaron Price for analysis. El Paso native and longtime local media member Mando Medina will report from the sidelines. The contest is also available on the UTEP Miners app.

SERIES VS. NORTH DAKOTA STATE
The Miners and Bison will meet for the first time on Saturday, Oct. 31, in Fargo.

ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA STATE
The Bison were tripped up at New Mexico 21-16 on Oct. 24 in Albuquerque. Down 14-3, North Dakota State's Reis Kessel hauled in a 15-yard touchdown reception from Nathan Hayes to make the score 14-9 midway through the third quarter. Following a UNM 56-yard pick-six early in the fourth, the Bison got within five points with just over six minutes left in the game on a Hayes-to-Mekhi Collins four-yard TD catch. UNM outgained NDSU 279 total yards to 251. The Lobos also gained 187 yards on the ground. Hayes threw for 198 yards (17-33) with two touchdown passes and a pair of interceptions. Myles Mitchell led the way with 39 yards on nine carries, while Jackson Williams tallied 71 yards on four receptions. Defensively, Ray James Jr. led with 11 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. Gavin Sell had 10 stops to go along with 5.0 TFL and a sack. The Bison have one of the top defenses in FBS and in the Mountain West, ranking first in total defense (250.1 yards per game), second in scoring defense (12.5), second in rushing defense (121.5), and No. 1 in passing defense (128.6). Nationally, the Bison are third in scoring defense and total defense.

FIRST INDOOR GAME IN 4 YEARS
UTEP will be playing at Gate City Bank Field at the Fargodome on Saturday. It's the first game in a dome for the Miners since playing at No. 25 UTSA on Nov. 26, 2022. The Miners are 4-8 all-time in domed stadiums since 1994. UTEP went 2-4 in the Alamodome, including a neutral-site loss against Air Force in San Antonio during the 1994 campaign. The Miners defeated UTSA in 2014 and 2016. UTEP was 2-3 at the Superdome against Tulane, winning games in 2011 and 2005. The Miners took on Colorado at the 2004 EV1.net Houston Bowl in Reliant Stadium (now NRG Stadium).

RECORD ON SPOOKY DAY
UTEP is 6-8-1 all-time on Halloween. The Miners' last Halloween game was in 2015 at Southern Miss. UTEP last won on Halloween in 1998 (30-13 vs. Hawai'i).

PLAYING A SCHOOL FROM N.D.
UTEP will play its second North Dakota school. The Miners defeated the University of North Dakota 20-6 in the only meeting during the 1940 season in El Paso.

BACK-TO-BACK GAMES WITH 0 TURNOVERS
The Miners have committed zero turnovers during the last two games. It's the first time since the 2023 season that UTEP went back-to-back games without turnovers (at FIU on Oct. 11, vs. NM State on Oct. 18). The Miners also did so in 2019 (at Southern Miss on Sept. 28, vs. UTSA on Oct. 5) and 2017 (at Army on Sept. 30, vs. WKU on Oct. 7).

MOST RUSHES SINCE 2023
UTEP rushed the ball 50 times against San José State, the most in the Scotty Walden era and most since Sept. 2, 2023, against UIW.

LONG SCRIMMAGE PLAYS
UTEP ranks tied for second in the Mountain West with five 50+ yard plays, leads MW with four 60+ plays, tied for first with three 70+ yard plays, and first in 80+ yard plays. The Miners are the only program in the MW with at least one 80+ yard play.

LIMITING PENALTIES
UTEP ranks tied for fourth in the Mountain West in fewest penalties per game (5.9) and tied fourth in fewest penalty yards per game (53.7).

CAREER NIGHT FOR JADEN
WR Jaden Smith racked up a career-high 12 receptions against San José State. Smith registered 90 yards. His previous high at UTEP was eight receptions against Oregon State on Sept. 26. His previous collegiate best was 11 catches against Austin Peay while at EKU on Nov. 4, 2023.

DOUBLE-DIGIT RECEPTIONS
Jaden Smith has caught 10+ receptions three times in his collegiate career. Smith's first was 10 against Western Carolina on Sept. 23, 2023, 11 against Austin Peay on Nov. 4, 2023, and 12 against SJSU on Oct. 17.

TIED THIRD MOST CATCHES
Jaden Smith's 12 receptions against the Spartans tie for the third-most in a single game in program history. It's the most since WR Trey Goodman hauled in 12 against Kennesaw State in 2024. Smith joins Chuck Hughes (vs. Colorado State, 1965), Ed Puishes (at Trinity [Texas], 1970), Greg Taylor (vs. Lamar, 1972), Harold Johnson (vs. San Diego State, 1978), Ricki Lopez (vs. Air Force, 1990), Jeff Moturi (vs. East Carolina, 2007) and Goodman.

JADEN'S RANKINGS
Jaden Smith ranks eighth in the Mountain West with 28 receptions. Smith ranks 20^th in the MW with 233 receiving yards.

FIRST TD FOR NIK HENRY
WR Nik Henry scored his first career touchdown on an eight-yard rush against San José State. Henry added 26 yards on two receptions and a 21-yard kickoff return against the Spartans.

ANOTHER 90+ YARD GAME FOR KAM
MB Kam Thomas reached a season-high 96 yards on four receptions against San José State. It was Thomas's fourth 90+ yard game while at UTEP. Thomas tallied 92 yards on two receptions in a win over Texas Southern earlier in the season. In 2024, Thomas posted a UTEP-best 99 yards on five receptions against Southern Utah, while capping his first season with the Miners with 90 yards on four catches in a win at rival NM State. While at Austin Peay, Thomas recorded a career-high 204 yards (10 catches) at EKU on Nov. 4, 2023, and 92 yards on two receptions at Lindenwood on Sept. 30, 2023.

KAM'S RANKINGS
Kam Thomas ranks 14^th in the Mountain West with 270 yards on 16 receptions. Thomas ranks fifth in yards per reception (16.9 avg.).

MOORE III'S PERFORMANCE VS. SJSU
QB Raymond Moore III came in relief against San José State and recorded season highs in completions (19), pass attempts (28), and passing yards (195). Moore III added 55 yards on the ground against the Spartans.

UTEP'S LEADING RUSHER
Raymond Moore III leads UTEP with 414 yards on 67 attempts (6.2 avg.) and two touchdowns. Moore III ranks ninth in the Mountain West in rushing yards per game (59.1) and is 10^th in total rushing yards (414). Moore III has added long rushes of 79 and 86 yards. Moore III rushed for a career-high 134 yards at New Mexico and rushed for 93 yards in the Miners' win over Texas Southern.

BEEN A WHILE
Raymond Moore III is the team's leading rusher and could be the first UTEP quarterback to lead the squad in rushing yards since 1992, when Shawn Gray led the Miners with 402 yards on the ground.

RUNNING BACK NOTES
RB Lamar Sperling hit season highs in rushing yards (40) and rushing attempts (eight) against San José State. Sperling has rushed for 70 yards while adding an 18-yard receiving touchdown. RB Tavorus Jones produced his second-most rushing yards with 62 against SJSU. Jones added a season-high 23 yards on two receptions against the Spartans. Jones ranks second on the team with 261 yards on 58 attempts. Jones's career high is 104 against Texas Southern earlier this season.

FUMBLES FORCED/RECOVERED
UTEP ranks tied for second in the Mountain West with five fumble recoveries, and ranks third in the MW with five forced fumbles.

UTEP SACK LEADER
Bandit Sterling Miles recorded a sack against SJSU and now has a team-high 3.5 sacks this season. Miles ranks tied for ninth in the Mountain West in total sacks. Miles now has 5.5 sacks in his college career after picking up two while playing at Eastern Michigan.

CAREER HIGH FOR GUILLORY
S Esteban Guillory tallied a career-high six tackles against SJSU. Guillory has 28 tackles, ranking sixth on the team and second among UTEP defensive backs.

JERSEY PATCHES - GECU & IBEW
UTEP is the first Mountain West school with two jersey patches for football. On Aug. 17, UTEP Vice President and Director of Athletics Jim Senter announced GECU as UTEP's inaugural jersey-patch partner. On Aug. 31, Senter announced The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) as the second jersey patch partner.

MW+ INFORMATION
MW+ will be the exclusive streaming platform for live events across all 21 Mountain West-sponsored sports not distributed on national linear television. Miner Nation can watch all its teams all season long, including matchups you won't find anywhere else. Exclusive access will be available with mic'd-up moments, behind-the-scenes, and original content. It'll be the one destination for everything Mountain West.
SIGN UP AT: https://watch.themw.com/utep/

UP NEXT
UTEP returns to the Sun Bowl to host Hawai'i on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. The Miners and Warriors will be nationally televised on FS1. The Miners are hosting the Warriors for the first time since the 2004 season.

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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