UTEP Falls at Utah State, 28-16, Saturday Night
LOGAN, Utah (KVIA) -- UTEP took a lead late in the first quarter after Malachi Nelson’s 34-yard touchdown pass to Kenny Odom, but Utah State would go on to outscore the Miners 25-9 on its way to a 28-16 final on Saturday night in Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.
UTEP (0-1) struggled on offense, gaining 284 yards of total offense on 72 plays, while Utah State (1-0) tallied 360 yards on 61 plays. The Miners tallied 19 first downs to the Aggies’ 18.
Nelson, who made his first collegiate start, finished the game 22-of-34 passing for 178 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Odom recorded a career-high nine receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown. Overall, Odom had 113 all-purpose yards after gaining 16 on two carries. Eric Willis III, who made his Miner debut, hauled in five receptions for 35 yards.
“I’m disappointed with the outcome, but with the process, there are glimpses of a really good team. I truly believe that this team can be special,” second-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. “There’s fight, like that first drive they drove the ball 60 somewhat yards, and we held them to a field goal. Last year, that’s a touchdown. I’m looking at progression from year one to year two. But the bottom line is to win football games on the road against quality opponents.”
Defensively, multiple student-athletes make their UTEP debut. Joshua Rudolph tallied eight tackles, tied for second most on the night, and had a half sack. Ashaad Hall posted 2.0 sacks, while Udoka Ezeani tallied a sack and seven tackles. Micah Davey finished with eight tackles and a sack.
The defense racked up six sacks, while returnee Xavier Smith led the defense with nine tackles. Redshirt freshman Elijah Baldwin tallied his first career sack with 1.5.
Utah State opened the contest with an early 3-0 lead following a Tanner Rinker 49-yard field goal at the 9:48 mark. The Aggies drove 49 yards on 10 plays (5:09).
The Miners answered on their second possession when Nelson threw his first collegiate touchdown pass. He found Odom on a 34-yard toss that gave UTEP the lead. Carlos Arreola, in his UTEP debut, hit the PAT for a 7-3 advantage at the 4:30 mark of the first quarter. Nelson led the “Blue Blaze” on a 61-yard drive on four plays that took only 1:08 off the clock.
USU took a 10-7 lead when Miles Davis scored on a 58-yard rush, followed by Rinker’s PAT. However, Davis’s touchdown didn’t go without controversy, though. The play looked as if Miles stepped out of bounds and the officials gave it an automatic review. The touchdown was upheld.
Following a Nelson interception thrown to Noah Flores, the Aggies extended their lead to 13-7 after Rinker hit his second field goal, a 28-yard make with 8:36 remaining in the first half. Solo Barnes broke up a pass in the end zone that forced a fourth down and FG attempt.
On the ensuing possession, UTEP started at its own 18 and drove the ball to the USU 47; however, Nelson used a pooch punt that gave Utah State the ball back on its own 20. USU then built its lead to 20-7 after Bryson Barnes launched a 52-yard scoring pass to Broc Lane with 1:56 left in the half.
UTEP scored on its sixth possession after Arreola hit his first career field goal as a Miner. The Sul Ross State transfer connected on a 42-yarder that cut the deficit to 20-10 with four seconds remaining in the half.
The Aggies took a 28-10 lead at the 8:35 mark of the third after a Barnes 12-yard touchdown rush and backup quarterback Anthony Garcia’s two-point conversion at the midway point of the third.
UTEP cut into the lead, 28-16, after Ashten Emory’s first career touchdown on a two-yard rush at the 13:48 mark of the fourth. Nelson’s two-point pass attempt was incomplete to keep the deficit at 12 points.
The Miners had three more possessions in the fourth but were forced to punt on all three.
USU’s Bryson Barnes threw for 233 yards (19-28) with a touchdown, while rushing for 29 yards and a score. Utah State running back Mile Davis rushed for a game-high 88 yards on 12 attempts (7.3 avg.) while also gaining 61 yards on six receptions. Noah Avinger (11 tackles) and John Miller (10) led the Aggies with double-digit tackle efforts.
UP NEXT
UTEP will host UT Martin in its home opener on Sept. 6. The Miners and Skyhawks are slated for a 7 p.m. MT kickoff in Sun Bowl Stadium. The contest can be heard on 95.5 FM KLAQ and will be streamed on ESPN+. Tickets are available at www.utepminers.com/tickets, by calling 915.747.UTEP, emailing tickets@utep.edu or by visiting the Eisenberg Family Ticket Office (500 W. University Ave., 79968.
