UTEP’s Baechle earns C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week for 3rd time this season
EL PASO, Texas - Senior kicker Gavin Baechle, after nailing a 27-yard field goal as time expired to defeat Florida Atlantic, was honored as the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday presented by Blenders Eyewear.
Not only was the kick a game winner, but it was also Baechle’s 51st of his career that set the school record for career field goals.
And with that make, the product of McKinney, Texas, has connected on his last 15 straight attempts after missing his very first of the 2022 season.
The award is Baechle’s third in this season as he was first honored on Sept. 12 following UTEP’s win over NM State, and Oct. 3 following the Charlotte victory.
Baechle was perfect on field goals (3-3) and tied his career best with three made during UTEP’s 24-21 come-from-behind win over Florida Atlantic. He added an extra point, giving him 10 points for the game.
Baechle put the first points on the board after he connected on a 29-yard attempt in the second quarter.
He followed with a successful 32-yarder with 30 seconds remaining in the first half to get UTEP within a point (7-6). The third was one of the biggest kicks in program history on a windy Saturday afternoon.
On the season, Baechle is first in Conference USA with 15 made field goals and ranks tied second nationally.
Baechle is 15-for-16 on the season. Baechle leads C-USA in field goals made per game (1.9).
His 93.8 percent (15-16) ranks second in C-USA. Baechle also ranks fourth in C-USA with 63 total points (15 FG, 18 XP), while his 7.9 points per game ranks fourth in C-USA.
Baechle has hit 15 consecutive field goals, the longest streak of his career.
It is the longest streak by a Miner player since Jose Martinez converted 15 straight field goals during the 2008 season.
It has also been a while since Miner fans had witnessed a walk-off game winner.
Baechle’s was the first since Sept. 25, 2010, when Dakota Warren hit an 18-yard FG to defeat Memphis 16-13 in the Sun Bowl.
Overall, the Miners have received three C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week honors – Baechle on Sept. 12, Oct. 3 and Oct. 24, and PR Marcus Bellon on Sept. 26.
