EL PASO- In the 95th meeting of the Battle of I-10 between UTEP and New Mexico State, UTEP has come out on top eight straight consecutive games.
But already 0-3 this season, the Miners will have to catch the Aggies in a dog-fight.
Head coach Sean Kugler has yet to lose a game to the Aggies since his time with the program.
“The team we’re playing is a better team than us right now,” he said earlier this week at his press conference, “We need to work our tails off to be the better team on Saturday.”
Even more so, he thinks of this game in a must-win situation.
UTEP head coach Sean Kugler (Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com)
“No matter who we play this week, we need to win to solve a lot of things,” Kugler said. “What we desperately need is a win. We have to play our best. NMSU should be 3-0. They’re playing outstanding football.”
His short solution was to fire offensive coordinator Brent Pease and replace him with former tight ends and special teams coach Brian Natkin.
Additionally, Chuck Veliz, the former receivers coach, will now be looking over the quarterbacks and Don Yanowsky will take the reigns as special teams coach. Natkin will oversee the receiving core as well.
“This isn’t how we play ball at UTEP,” Kugler said, reflecting on the Miners’ 218 yards of total offense against Arizona last week. “I relieved Brent Pease of his duties. There’s a lot of season left. That’s why I decided to do it.”
The Miners will yet again be tested defensively by NMSU. The Aggies bring a tough, balanced offense to the front, with quarterback Tyler Rogers throwing the ball as effectively as he’s ever been and running back Larry Rose III paving the way for them on the ground.
UTEP wide receiver Tyler Batson (Photo via Tony Venegas, TexasHSFootball.com)
Currently, Rogers has 10 touchdowns, which has him tied for fifth in FBS, and totals 1,130 yards so far this season. His 376.7 passing yards per game also has him tied for fifth in FBS. His favorite target, receiver Jaleel Scott, totals 295 yards of receiving on 22 catches. To put it into perspective, Scott has more receptions and receiving yards than the Miners’ three starting receivers— Warren Redix, Tyler Batson and Kavika Johnson—combined.
Offensively for the Miners, the status of quarterback Ryan Metz, who suffered an injury against Rice, is still questionable, according to Kugler. He said that if Metz does not play, it would be between Zack Greenlee and Mark Torrez.
Having grown up in Las Cruses, Johnson feels an added intensity towards the game.
“The two colleges being so close together—it’s a chance for us to put on a show in front of my hometown,” he said. “The rivalry has always been there and coach shows how much it means to us.”
Offensive lineman Derek Elmendorff watched many games throughout his childhood for this rivalry and says it’s unlike any other.
“Growing up going to the game, we were always excited going to the New Mexico State-UTEP games,” he said. “There was always that energy that was brought around. Coming out of high school I was recruited by UTEP and New Mexico, but never NMSU, which honestly I didn’t understand why. So I’m a little salty towards those guys so it adds some fire towards the game.”
Kugler himself understands the passion that the game brings out and hopes to use that to motivate his team.
“The cities are so passionate about this game and the proximity of the cities,” he said. “A lot of people from El Paso went to New Mexico State and a lot of people from New Mexico State went to UTEP. There’s some bad blood and it’s a very healthy rivalry. The kids love it, they get after it. I’ve always enjoyed it as a player, as an assistant coach and as a coach it’s as good of a rivalry as it gets.”
The Miners lead the all-time series against the Aggies 57-36-2.
Kickoff between the two rivals is slated for 6 p.m. MST at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces.
Feature Photo by Ivan Pierre Aguirre, USA Today Sports
Brought to you by:
