Via UTEP Athletics: Sam Houston tallied over 500 yards of total offense and used a 21-point third quarter to down UTEP, 41-21, on Thursday night in Sun Bowl Stadium.

The Miners (0-5, 0-2 Conference USA) gained 323 yards of total offense. Miscues hurt UTEP as 12 penalties were called for 120 yards. Running back Ezell Jolly was a bright spot for UTEP as the redshirt freshman rushed for a career-high 76 yards on a career-most 17 carries (4.5 avg) while he added his first career touchdown during the fourth quarter. Tight end Marcus Vinson ran for a career-long 52-yard score and spur Kory Chapman got the Miners on the board with a fumble recovery in the end zone.

“I’m proud of this team’s effort. I know people can’t see it from the outside and not in these walls,” UTEP Head Coach Scotty Walden said. “But we’re slowly – I wish it was a lot faster – we’re slowly turning the corner, and I truly believe that. Our effort, attitude, and approach to the games, I think our team can see a glimpse of that. But we made too many mistakes to win Conference USA football games and FBS games. But I thought our kids played extremely hard and I thought the energy on the sideline was phenomenal. The signs again of building a team and building a culture. The positives are there; the guys never gave up and had great energy on the sideline. But our mistakes were critical and not minor, and give Sam Houston credit, it capitalized on our mistakes.”

The Bearkats (5-1, 2-0 CUSA) won their fourth consecutive game, while the high-powered offense gained 517 yards of total offense and the ground game amassed 293 yards on 51 carries (5.7 avg.) and three touchdowns. Hunter Watson threw a pair of touchdowns, while DJ McKinney ran for 138 yards and two scores. Jay Ducker added 70 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Sam Houston took its first possession and went 75 yards on five plays, resulting in a Ducker 39-yard touchdown run.

On the Miners’ first possession, Cade McConnell completed a 50-yard pass to Kenny Odom however a holding call nullified the big pass play and eventually forced to punt.

The Miners’ defense came up with a turnover on downs on Sam Houston’s second possession, but UTEP gave the ball right back on a trick play at turned into an interception by wide receiver Trey Goodman.

Following an exchange of eight punts, the Bearkats sustained a 10-play, 81-yard drive capped by a McKinney 23-yard touchdown rush to make the count 14-0 at the 4:24 mark of the first half.

The UTEP defense, which had been holding the Sam Houston offense in check in the first half, came up with a big play as Chapman recovered a fumble in the end zone to get the Miners on the board, making the score 14-7 following Buzz Flabiano’s PAT with 3:12 left in the half.

Chapman’s score was set up by UTEP punter Adam Jacklin, who placed the ball at the one-yard line on a career-long 66-yard punt.

The Bearkats took the ensuing possession and drove the ball down to the UTEP two-yard line. But the defense forced a 19-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the half to make the score 17-7.

UTEP started the second half with possession but was forced to punt again. The Bearkats capitalized. They only used two plays to go 61 yards for a score to go up 24-7 as Qua’Vez Humphreys had 33 of those yards on a Watson pass to get into the end zone early in the third.

Following a pair of Sam Houston scores to go up 38-7, the Miners’ offense finally found paydirt on a McConnell 52-yard touchdown pass to Vinson. For Vinson, it was his second career touchdown reception.

UTEP scored again on a four-yard rushing score from Jolly at the 9:25 mark of the fourth quarter.

McConnell finished 15-of-28 for 204 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Odom gained 70 yards on four receptions, including a 49-yard grab, and gained 48 yards on three kickoff returns. Jacklin tallied a career-most 346 yards on eight punts (43.2 avg.). Lantz Russell led the defense with a career-high 12 tackles while Xavier Smith tallied 10 and Josiah Allen nine. UTEP recorded three sacks (Bryton Thompson 1.0, KD Johnson 0.5, Chapman 0.5, Maurice Westmoreland 0.5 and Devin Goree 0.5). For Westmoreland, it was his first of the season.