Texas-El Paso 30, New Mexico State 3
Associated Press
LAS CRUSES, N.M. - Jacob Cowing had a career-high 158 yards receiving, including a 59-yard score, and UTEP opened the season with a 30-3 victory over New Mexico State.
Cowing's yardage came on just five catches, including one for 72 yards, as he finished with his sixth career 100-yard game. Gavin Hardison was 11-of-16 passing for 249 yards and an interception.
UTEP rolled to a 20-3 halftime lead with Hardison throwing for 154 yards, 104 to Cowing, before the duo combined for their long score just over a minute into the second half. Ronald Awatt and Deion Hankins rushed for touchdowns and Gavin Baechle kicked three field goals.
The Miners, 3-5 last fall, returned all 11 starters on offense and eight on defense as they outgained the Aggies 452-190.
New Mexico State didn't play in 2020 and split two games in the spring. The Aggies were playing at home for the first time since a 44-35 victory over the Miners on Nov. 23, 2019.
This was the 98th meeting between the programs, the first coming in 1914.
| Scoring Summary |
| First Quarter |
UTEP | NMSt |
| UTEP |
TD |
10:37 |
Deion Hankins 5 yard TD run (Gavin Baechle Extra Point) |
7 |
0 |
| UTEP |
FG |
9:09 |
Gavin Baechle 34 yard field goal |
10 |
0 |
| UTEP |
TD |
1:49 |
Ronald Awatt 34 yard TD run (Gavin Baechle Extra Point) |
17 |
0 |
| Second Quarter |
UTEP | NMSt |
| NMSt |
FG |
13:48 |
Ethan Albertson 27 yard field goal |
17 |
3 |
| UTEP |
FG |
0:00 |
Gavin Baechle 27 yard field goal |
20 |
3 |
| Third Quarter |
UTEP | NMSt |
| UTEP |
TD |
13:48 |
Jacob Cowing 59 yard TD pass from Gavin Hardison (Gavin Baechle Extra Point) |
27 |
3 |
| UTEP |
FG |
4:02 |
Gavin Baechle 33 yard field goal |
30 |
3 |
| Team Stats |
| |
UTEP |
New Mexico State |
| First downs |
20 |
20 |
| Rushing |
9 |
6 |
| Passing |
8 |
5 |
| Penalty |
3 |
9 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency |
3-12, 25% |
3-15, 20% |
| 4th down efficiency |
2-3, 67% |
2-6, 33% |
| Rushes-Yards |
42-203 |
34-101 |
| Passing Yards |
249 |
89 |
| Return Yards |
6 |
37 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
11-20-2 |
9-33-0 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost |
0-0 |
3-20 |
| Punts |
2 |
4 |
| Fumbles Lost |
0-0 |
2-1 |
| Penalties - Yards |
12-140 |
8-80 |
| New Mexico State Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| J. Johnson |
8 |
24 |
82 |
0 |
0 |
| W. Eget |
1 |
9 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
| UTEP Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| UTEP Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| J. Sloan |
2 |
84 |
42.0 |
| New Mexico State Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| J. Carlson |
4 |
192 |
48.0 |
| UTEP Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| J. Garrett |
2 |
6 |
3.0 |
| New Mexico State Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| UTEP Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| New Mexico State Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| UTEP Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
