The UTEP Miners will head down to San Antonio to face the UTSA Roadrunners from the Alamodome this weekend on Stadium. UTSA and UTEP have faced in every season since 2013. and the Roadrunners hold a 7-2 series lead after winning five straight meetings.
UTEP improved to 5-4 after defeating FIU in El Paso in Week 12. The Miners dominated from the jump, taking a 38-point lead into the locker room en route to avoiding a three-game skid with their largest win of the season. UTEP has scored 23.8 points per game, while passing for 215.2 yards per game (173rd), and rushing for 159.7 ypg (122nd).
Calvin Brownholtz made his first start of the season last weekend and he did pretty well. The junior quarterback tossed a pair of touchdowns, and rushed for another, and he’ll need to bring that same level of play if the Miners want any shot to become bowl eligible for the second time in eight years.
Ronald Awatt and Deion Hankins have split the load for UTEP this season. Hankins leads the team with 670 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Awatt has posted an identical 655 yards and two scores. Tyrin Smith (67 rec, 940 yards, 6 tds) will look to surpass the 1,000-yard mark this weekend after putting together a strong sophomore season.
UTSA jumped to 9-2 after defeating Rice in Houston in Week 10. The Roadrunners took the three-hour trip east and put a beating on the Owls, shutting them out for three quarters and covering the 14-point spread. UTSA scores 38.1 points per game, while passing for 298.6 yards per game (23rd), and rushing for 182.2 ypg (84th). The UTSA defense allows 26.1 points per game.
Frank Harris’ successful college career is approaching its climax. The three-year starter surpassed the 3,000 yard-mark for the second time in the win over Louisiana Tech, and scored five touchdowns (2 pass, 3 rush) last weekend versus Rice. Harris has thrown for 3,142 passing yards with 24 touchdowns to seven interceptions, and he’s ran for 525 rushing yards with eight rushing scores.
Brendan Brady lines up alongside Harris in the backfield, and leads UTSA with 690 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. Harris has a great rapport with senior wideouts. Joshua Cephus has scored in each of the past three games and he leads UTSA in receptions (75) and receiving yards (836). Zakhari Franklin scored twice in the win over UAB, and he has 830 receiving yards on 69 catches with a team-lead ten touchdowns.
UTEP comes into this one with more on the line, and while they should bring some fight down to San Antonio, they may just be overmatched at this point in the season. The Roadrunners have looked great this season, and this group will not stop short of the finish line. Although UTSA’s spot is already clinched in the Conference USA championship, the UTEP game still means something to this program, and look for this talented group of seniors to go out with a bang. The three-score margin is managable for UTSA, but with UTEP eyeing a second-straight bowl appearance for the first time since 2004-05, take the over in a game that should see plenty of points.
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
