The last time UTSA faced UTEP, it was an unexpected battle — an all out, bloody and bruising slugfest that ran the course of five-overtimes. The Miners came out with the win, but the Roadrunners were ultimately victorious in the season, reaching their first bowl bid in school history — an accomplishment UTEP hasn’t attained since 2014.
This season has not been kind for the Miners. They are 0-7 for the first time since 1973 — one of only two winless seasons for the program.
UTSA has started to right the ship after losing two straight games with a defensive master class against the Rice Owls. At 4-2, the Raodrunners look to be on their way for another bowl bid. Standing in the way of those Alamo City dreams is exorcising the memories of the grueling UTEP showdown of last year.
The winless Miners are attempting to quell the inferno of a tumultuous season after former head coach Sean Kugler resigned five games into the season. Mike Price came back to UTEP on an interim basis and nearly won his first game against Western Kentucky, before being blanked in the following week by Southern Miss, in which the Miners only accounted for 147 total yards.
What looks like an easy game for UTSA on paper could be an overlooked opponent — a déjà vu from last year’s encounter. The Miners were just 1-5 into that game but forced the Roadrunners into the longest game in C-USA history and the fifth-longest FBS all-time. Both teams combined for close to 1,000 yards of total offense and 13 touchdowns.
A big advantage for UTSA is that their defense has been stifling. Their ability to create pressure has given the Roadrunners an edge in six different defensive statistical categories in C-USA and four top 10 achievements nationally. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s group is only giving up 18 points per contest, a nasty disadvantage for a UTEP discombobulated offense averaging 12.3 points a game — 13th worse in the conference. Only Rice has a lower mark, and they were dispatched by San Antonio last week.
Photo: Ozzy Jaime/TexasHSFootball.com
Likely draft pick Marcus Davenport has sprinted across the defensive line like a hungry animal eager to taste the flesh of any opponent with the ball in their hands. The senior has broken three UTSA records during the first month of the season and ranks in the top five nationally in two statistical categories, most impressively breaking Jason Neill’s previous career sacks record of 14 in the opener against Baylor.
The offense has accumulated at least 20 points in every game, scored in 17-of-18 trips in the redzone and have dominated time of possession in their first six matches this season — the conference leading 34:01 is the fifth highest in the FBS. In response to this, the defense of UTEP has been slightly better the last two weeks, sacrificing a combined 39 points.
UTSA comes to the Sun Bowl as 17-point favorites. In the last four meetings, the road team has claimed each game. There is no home field advantage, and because of this, the Miners will likely continue swinging their pickaxe in the hopes of uncovering winning gold. Can UTSA finish the job? We’ll find out Saturday night at the Sun Bowl.
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