UTEP Miners Make #7 Texas Longhorns Sweat on Sweltering Afternoon in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) -- The UTEP football team battled #7 Texas on virtually even terms for the first two periods on Saturday, before the Longhorns slowly pulled away in the second half for a 27-10 victory on a hot and humid Saturday afternoon in Austin.

The loss overshadowed a tremendous performance by a UTEP defense that appeared to strengthen as the game went on. The Miners (1-2) yielded 100 yards in the first quarter, 87 in the second, 67 in the third and 86 in the fourth. El Pasoans scored all of UTEP’s points, as Carlos Arreola connected on a field goal and Shay Smith rushed for a touchdown. 

“The message to the team after the game was that there’s the hard truth to life, there are no moral victories. We shouldn’t be jumping and getting excited over a loss, but there is such a thing as perspective,” second-year UTEP Head Coach Scotty Walden said. “As the head coach of this program, it’s critical when we talk about the perspective that was laid out today. The perspective is that this football team got immensely better today against a really good opponent.”

The 27 points were the fewest scored by Texas against UTEP since 1933 (22), and the second-fewest totaled by the Longhorns in the all-time, seven-game series with the Miners. The 17-point margin of victory was also the second-lowest by Texas versus UTEP, surpassed only by a 16-point cushion (22-6) in 1933. UTEP allowed 340 yards, the lowest against the Longhorns in the modern era. 

“We played extremely physical and hard,” Walden said. “I’m very proud of this football team. I’m extremely proud of the effort that I saw on defense, extremely proud of the finish by the offense. I am extremely proud of the way we finished the game with a touchdown and that says a lot about our character. The defense also played lights out and held strong. [Texas] had to earn everything they got.”

Texas (2-1) fielded a defense that was equally as stout on Saturday, limiting UTEP to 259 yards and keeping the Miners out of the end zone until El Paso’s own Smith rambled for a two-yard TD late in the fourth quarter.

Texas led 14-3 at the break. But the lead was only 7-3 until Arch Manning rushed for a five-yard touchdown with one second remaining in the half. That capped a seven-play, 40-yard drive that provided a little separation between the UT system programs.

At one point in the first half, the Miners shut down the Longhorns on five consecutive possessions, including three straight three-and-outs. 

UTEP also kept vaunted Longhorn signal-caller Manning in check, as he completed 5-of-16 passes with 10 consecutive incompletions in the opening stanza. Manning was off balance all day, finishing 11-of-25 passing for 114 yards.

Manning did run for two TDs in the first half.  His two-yard scamper put the finishing touch on an 11-play, 53-yard drive, giving the Longhorns a 7-0 lead with 5:30 remaining in the opening period.

The Miners drew within three points (7-3) on a 39-yard field goal by Arreola with 1:55 remaining in the second quarter, before Texas executed its late TD drive.

A pair of field goals by Mason Shipley in the third period extended the lead to 20-3. Texas took its biggest advantage, 27-3, on a four-yard TD pass from Manning to Ryan Wingo with 10:52 to go in the game.

UTEP cut the lead to 17 (27-10) on Smith’s second collegiate touchdown with 1:56 to play. 

Malachi Nelson completed 24-of-36 passes for 209 yards to lead the Miners. Trevon Tate (six catches-64 yards) and Toric Goins Jr. (five receptions-63 yards) both finished with over 60 yards receiving.

Micah Davey led the stop troops with nine tackles, while Solo Barnes, KD Johnson and Jayden Wilson each chipped in with eight stops.

UP NEXT

UTEP returns to the Sun City for three straight home games starting next week.  UTEP will host ULM on Sept. 20, in its final tune-up before league action. The Miners and Warhawks are set to kick off at 7 p.m. in Sun Bowl Stadium. The contest will be streamed on ESPN+ and can be heard on 95.5 KLAQ and the UTEP Miners app.

UTEP football season and single game tickets are available by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com or by calling (915) 747-UTEP.