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Miner Jason Williams runs over right tackle for the score to tie the game at 17-17.
Photo: Brax/VPC Matrix
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UTEP Miners 2009 Homecoming Game Upset of #12 Houston.
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Miner cheerleaders rise up for the occasion.
Photo: Brax/VPC
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Page 2 of 5.
Photo Gallery .
UTEP's Upset of # 12 Houston.
B
ut, stranger things have happened and not to diminish the staggering nature of this upset; but, UTEP had a couple of aces up their sleeve. First off, Houston was flying so high after their win over Texas Tech that many thought that this young team might suffer a letdown against an “unworthy” opponent such as UTEP; the Cougars were now on the road after that big win; Houston was no longer flying beneath anybodies radar and throw in the fact that UTEP was celebrating Homecoming. When you add up these intangibles and throw in the fact that UTEP was supposed to be better than their 1-3 record indicated; you had all the fixin' for a good ol' fashion West Texas snake bite Western movie. You know the one where the cougar gets bit in the B-hind.
Still, the Cougars were a very talented and cohesive team and the Miners had not shown anyone in the last two years that they were upset material much less a prime candidate for the leading role as rattlesnake in this once in a life movie.
In fact along with the only one victory this year, UTEP did make a game winning touchdown in their comeback against Buffalo only to have the play called back because of a holding call. So, the fans were a little concerned. Add to that a Homecoming parade and pep rally drawing only minimal attendance and one could have wondered if that showing of fan support would have dampened the Miner’s enthusiasm for facing a ranked opponent. But, as I said, 'stranger things have happened.' The Miners played one of the best games in recent memory.
But, like any good mystery movie there has to be some tension and danger. And just to make things interesting UTEP gave the Homecoming crowd at the Sun Bowl a big dose of fright. The momentary scare was UTEP's inability to stop or even slowdown Houston as the Cougars scored twice on their first two drives. This had the Miner faithful already chewing off their finger nails... and the game had just started. But, as in all good Western's the hero... er, the Miners got things turned around and got the upper hand... pronto.
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Miner fans showing their true colors and working the "pick 'em" sign.
Photo: Brax/VPC |
Not only did they turn the game around shortly thereafter in pulling off an unlikely victory; they packed the game with packing peanuts, packaged it, taped it up and shipped it FedEx to the whole football world.
When the Miners finally got their mojo running and stormed back from the 10-0 deficit the Miners offense and defense had a field day to make a stadium full of fans explode from the dead and put a smile on coach Mike Price.
It was a night of strange sequences. But, the plot line was easy to follow. To begin with, it is not as if Houston was disinterested and came into the Sun Bowl to just lie down and throw their # 12 ranking away. The Cougars took the opening kick-off and marched... er, make that flew down the field on the passing of their record setting quarterback, Case Keenum, as he was perfect on 6-of-6 passing, 80 yards and a 19-yard touchdown in just under three minutes.
Houston 7 - UTEP 0.
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Miner defender keeps Houston receiver from scoring touchdown.
Photo: Brax/VPC |
The Miners, on the other hand started out poorly. In just under two minutes, UTEP ran for 7-yards and went three-and-out. Houston took possession again after the punt and marched down the field to the UTEP 20-yard line and before the Miners put the stop on 3rd-down as Aaron King rushed and harassed Keenum into his first incomplete pass of the game as Houston settled for a field goal and an 10-0 lead. That stop by King was the first in a series of defensive A+ moments. The Miners dodge the first bullet.
Houston 10 - UTEP 0.
It would have been easy for the Miners to give it up and figure that they were going to be blown out by this talented Houston squad. But, since this was a conference opponent, the Miners seemed to regroup and mounted the start of their impressive high powered comeback, if not slowly at least consistently, on the very next possession.
It appeared that the Miners' game plan early was to run against Houston and keep running. This was surprising in that it seemed to leave UTEP’s gifted fleet footed rollout passer QB Trevor Vittatoe out of the picture. But, even UTEP’s failure to garner a first-down rushing the ball on their first possession did not deter Price from sticking with the running game in the first quarter.
Photo Gallery .
UTEP's Upset of # 12 Houston.
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Prepared by WL staff.
Photos: Brax/Valley Publishing Company
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