UTEP offense on display at Saturday scrimmage

EL PASO, TEXAS - Redshirt freshman quarterback Tim Curry directed the UTEP offense on two scoring drives in the Miners' Saturday morning scrimmage in the Sun Bowl.

Curry threw a 25-yard pass to Donavon Kemp for a score, and added a 77-yard pass to Kris Adams for a touchdown - the long play of the day for the Miner offense, which compiled 393 yards in the approximately 80-play scrimmage.

UTEP quarterbacks Trevor Vittatoe, Kyle Wright, Corey Trisby and Curry combined to complete 23-of-40 passes for 292 yards. Curry was 6-for-8 for 132 yards with two TDs and an interception, Trisby was 8-for-12 for 79 yards, Vittatoe was 8-for-15 for 76 yards with an interception and Wright was 1-for-5 for 5 yards.

Trisby was responsible for UTEP's third touchdown of the day on a five-yard scamper into the end zone.

"We're improving," UTEP coach Mike Price said. "We're not where we need to be, but we're getting better. We're still trying to get better at the fundamentals. With so many guys out [due to injury], others are getting a chance to step up. Trevor is playing great. He's working on his touch. He is throwing spirals, soft passes, crisp passes. We just need to catch the ball better."

Daniel Palmer and Jason Williams carried the load for the Miners from a rushing standpoint. Palmer had 13 carries for 66 yards and Williams added 44 yards on 10 attempts.

Besides Adams reeling in one catch for 77 yards, UTEP also received big numbers from receivers Darius Austin (four receptions for 56 yards) and Jeff Moturi (five catches for 50 yards).

Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, Wiston Jeune, Robert Soleyjacks and Jeremy Springer led the Miner stop troops with five tackles each. Melvin Stephenson II and Roddray Walker both came up with interceptions to stop drives, with Stephenson's pick-off of a Vittatoe pass in the end zone highlighting the action.

The Miners will wrap up spring drills this week with practices on Tuesday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. prior to the annual spring game on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the Sun Bowl. Admission is free to the spring game, $1 hot dogs will be sold and giveaways will be available. There will also be an autograph session following the contest.