UTSA routs UTEP 52-21 with record-setting 600 yards of offense

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- After narrowly trailing at halftime, UTEP failed to put up any points in the second half as the Miners were routed by UTSA 52-21.

UTSA shattered their single-game record for total offense with 600 yards in Saturday's game at the Alamodome.  UTSA (5-4, 3-2 Conference USA) pounded UTEP (3-4, 0-3 C-USA) behind a blistering second half performance.

By comparison, UTEP put up 175 yards in the first half, but had just 71 in the second half to finish with 246.

After two weeks without game action, UTEP's offense had looked good in first half action as three different Miners accounted for touchdowns; UTEP only trailed their Conference-USA foe Texas-San Antonio 24-21 at the half.

Early on, it appeared as if the game may not be that close, when UTSA QB Frank Harris connected with Zakhari Franklin for a 45-yard would be touchdown. But as Franklin prepared to cross the goal line, UTEP CB Duron Lowe stripped the ball from behind and UTEP recovered the legal fumble.

Six plays later, UTEP capitalized on a 52-yard touchdown strike from Gavin Hardison to Jacob Cowing to make it 7-3 in favor of UTEP.

UTEP forced another turnover on the ensuing possession, but Gavin Baechle's 21-yard field goal missed to extend the lead.

The teams then traded touchdowns until the halfway point, with both backup QB Calvin Brownholtz and RB Deion Hankins punching in rushing scores for the Miners.

The score that turned the tide however was Harris' 35-yard run for a touchdown with 19 seconds left in the first half, capping a three-play 70 yard drive for UTSA that took all of 39 seconds.

In the second half, it was all Roadrunners as UTSA outscored the Miners 28-0 in the second half.

UTSA scored on their first two possessions out of the break, sandwiched by a UTEP turnover when Walter Dawn Jr. fumbled picking up yardage after a first down.

UTEP's next game vs. UAB has already been canceled, setting up their next game at Rice on November 28th.

Head Coach Dana Dimel did mention postgame that he would not be opposed to finding another opponent to fill in next week's void.