2021 UTEP Miners football team

2021 UTEP Miners football
New Mexico Bowl, L 24–31 vs. Fresno State
Conference	Conference USA
Division	West Division
2021 record	7–6 (4–4 C-USA)
Head coach	Dana Dimel (4th season)
Offensive coordinator	Dave Warner (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Bradley Dale Peveto (1st season)
Home stadium	Sun Bowl (Capacity: 51,500)
Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

2021 Conference USA football standings
v t	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
Western Kentucky xy		7	–	1					9	–	5
Marshall		5	–	3					7	–	6
Old Dominion		5	–	3					6	–	7
Middle Tennessee		4	–	4					7	–	6
Florida Atlantic		3	–	5					5	–	7
Charlotte		3	–	5					5	–	7
FIU		0	–	8					1	–	11
West Division
UTSA xy$		7	–	1					12	–	2
UAB		6	–	2					9	–	4
North Texas		5	–	3					6	–	7
UTEP		4	–	4					7	–	6
Rice		3	–	5					4	–	8
Southern Miss		2	–	6					3	–	9
Louisiana Tech		2	–	6					3	–	9
Championship: UTSA 49, Western Kentucky 41
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant As of December 27, 2021; Rankings from CFP Rankings

The 2021 UTEP Miners football team represented the University of Texas at El Paso in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Miners were led by fourth–year head coach Dana Dimel and played their home games at the Sun Bowl. They competed as members of the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). For the first time since 2014, the Miners became bowl eligible.

Previous season[]

The Miners finished the 2020 regular season 3–5 and 0–4 in C–USA play to finish in last (seventh) in the West Division. They were not invited to play in any post season bowl game. At the end of the season, the offensive and defensive coordinators were released from their duties.^[1]

Schedule[]

UTEP announced its 2021 football schedule on January 27, 2021.^[2][3] The 2021 schedule consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season.

Note: With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing, opponents and dates are subject to change.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 28	7:30 p.m.	at New Mexico State*	Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM (Battle of I-10)	KVIA-TV/BSAZ/FloSports	W 30–3	19,034
September 4	7:00 p.m.	Bethune–Cookman*	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN3	W 38–28	14,554
September 10	7:30 p.m.	at Boise State*	Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID	FS1	L 13–54	35,518
September 25	7:00 p.m.	New Mexico*	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	W 20–13	15,069
October 2	7:00 p.m.	Old Dominion	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	W 28–21	11,025
October 9	5:00 p.m.	at Southern Miss	M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS	ESPN3	W 26–13	26,049
October 16	7:00 p.m.	Louisiana Tech	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	W 19–3	18,468
October 30	4:00 p.m.	at Florida Atlantic	FAU Stadium Boca Raton, FL	ESPN+	L 25–28	16,432
November 6	8:15 p.m.	UTSA	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN2	L 23–44	31,658
November 13	2:00 p.m.	at North Texas	Apogee Stadium Denton, TX	ESPN+	L 17–20	20,056
November 20	2:00 p.m.	Rice	Sun Bowl El Paso, TX	ESPN+	W 38–28	10,097
November 26	12:00 p.m.	at UAB	Protective Stadium Birmingham, AL	ESPN+	L 25–42	19,683
December 18	12:15 p.m.	vs. Fresno State*	Dreamstyle Stadium Albuquerque, NM (New Mexico Bowl)	ESPN	L 24–31	16,422
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Mountain time

Schedule Source:^[2][4]

Game summaries[]

at New Mexico State[]

UTEP at New Mexico State
(Battle of I-10)

1 2 3 4 Total • Miners 17 3 10 0 30 Aggies 0 3 0 0 3 Date: August 28, 2021 Location: Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, NM Game start: 7:38 p.m. MDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 19 minutes Game attendance: 19,034 Game weather: Temperature: 84 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NE 6 MPH Referee: Kevin Brunette TV announcers (KVIA-TV/BSAZ/FloSports/Comcast): Adam Young (play–by–play), Danny Knee (analyst) and Stephanie Shields (sideline)

Scoring summary 1 10:37 UTEP Deion Hankins 5–yard run (Gavin Baechle kick) (5 plays, 80 yards, 2:54) UTEP 7–0 09:09 UTEP Gavin Baechle 35–yard field goal (4 plays, 7 yards, 1:17) UTEP 10–0 01:49 UTEP Ronald Awatt 34–yard run (Gavin Baechle kick) (6 plays, 80 yards, 3:16) UTEP 17–0 2 13:48 NMSU Ethan Albertson 27–yard field goal (10 plays, 66 yards, 3:01) UTEP 17–3 00:00 UTEP Gavin Baechle 27–yard field goal (12 plays, 58 yards, 4:50) UTEP 20–3 3 13:48 UTEP Jacob Cowing 59–yard pass from Gavin Hardison (Gavin Baechle kick) (3 plays, 75 yards, 1:12) UTEP 27–3 04:02 UTEP Gavin Baechle 33–yard field goal (10 plays, 65 yards, 5:38) UTEP 30–3

Pregame line	Over/under
UTEP –9.5	59.5[5]

Statistics	UTEP	New Mexico State
First downs	19	20
Total yards	452	190
Rushing yards	203	101
Passing yards	249	89
Turnovers	0	3
Time of possession	32:29	27:31

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing	Gavin Hardison	11/16, 249 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Ronald Awatt	11 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jacob Cowing	5 receptions, 158 yards, 1 TD
New Mexico State	Passing	Jonah Johnson	8/24, 82 yards
	Rushing	Juwaun Price	9 carries, 37 yards
	Receiving	Dominic Gicinto	2 receptions, 31 yards

Bethune–Cookman[]

Bethune–Cookman at UTEP

1 2 3 4 Total Wildcats 0 0 14 14 28 • Miners 10 0 7 21 38 Date: September 4, 2021 Location: Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Game start: 7:05 p.m. MDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes Game attendance: 14,554 Game weather: Temperature: 91 °F (33 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: E 8 MPH Referee: Ed Ardito TV announcers (ESPN3): Erik Elken (play–by–play) and Trevor Vittatoe (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 08:13 UTEP Gavin Baechle 22–yard field goal (4 plays, 5 yards, 1:30) UTEP 3–0 00:39 UTEP Trent Thompson 2–yard pass from Gavin Hardison (Gavin Baechle kick) (12 plays, 78 yards, 5:05) UTEP 10–0 3 13:33 BCU Marcus Riley 4–yard pass from Shannon Patrick (Dylan Moghaddam kick) (2 plays, 6 yards, 0:42) UTEP 10–7 06:41 UTEP Calvin Brownholtz 1–yard run (Gavin Baechle kick) (13 plays, 72 yards, 6:46) UTEP 17–7 03:31 BCU Kemari Averett 7–yard pass from Shannon Patrick (Dylan Moghaddam kick) (6 plays, 89 yards, 3:04) UTEP 17–14 4 12:59 UTEP Jacob Cowing 6–yard pass from Gavin Hardison (Gavin Baechle kick) (10 plays, 83 yards, 5:27) UTEP 24–14 10:44 UTEP Justin Garrett 8–yard pass from Gavin Hardison (Gavin Baechle kick) (3 plays, 49 yards, 1:15) UTEP 31–14 05:28 BCU Que'shaun Byrd 2–yard run (Dylan Moghaddam kick) (9 plays, 87 yards, 5:12) UTEP 31–21 02:15 UTEP Ronald Awatt 19–yard run (Gavin Baechle kick) (6 plays, 50 yards, 3:13) UTEP 38–21 01:17 BCU Aaron Thompson 3–yard run (Dylan Moghaddam kick) (3 plays, 75 yards, 0:58) UTEP 38–28

Pregame line	Over/under
UTEP –20.5	52.5[6]

Statistics	Bethune–Cookman	UTEP
First downs	12	24
Total yards	333	472
Rushing yards	118	289
Passing yards	215	183
Turnovers	3	4
Time of possession	24:26	35:34

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bethune–Cookman	Passing	Shannon Patrick	15/22, 215 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Que'shaun Byrd	12 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Kemari Averett	4 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD
UTEP	Passing	Gavin Hardison	14/23, 183 yards, 3 TDs
	Rushing	Ronald Awatt	19 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Tyrin Smith	4 receptions, 76 yards

at Boise State[]

UTEP at Boise State

1 2 3 4 Total Miners 3 10 0 0 13 • Broncos 10 31 10 3 54 Date: September 10, 2021 Location: Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID Game start: 7:40 p.m. MDT Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes Game attendance: 35,518 Game weather: Temperature: 68 °F (20 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: E 4 MPH Referee: Rodney Burnette TV announcers (FS1): Alex Faust (play–by–play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst)

Scoring summary 1 10:36 UTEP Gavin Baechle 33–yard field goal (9 plays, 59 yards, 4:24) UTEP 3–0 09:08 BSU Jonah Dalmas 39–yard field goal (6 plays, 58 yards, 1:21) TIE 3–3 06:42 BSU Stefan Cobbs 81–yard punt return (Jonah Dalmas kick) BSU 10–3 2 13:26 UTEP Gavin Baechle 21–yard field goal (15 plays, 72 yards, 8:16) BSU 10–6 11:33 BSU George Holani 10–yard run (Jonah Dalmas kick) (6 plays, 75 yards, 1:53) BSU 17–6 11:15 BSU Andrew Van Buren 3–yard run (Jonah Dalmas kick) (1 play, 3 yards, 0:04) BSU 24–6 08:43 BSU Stefan Cobbs 61–yard pass from Hank Bachmeier (Jonah Dalmas kick) (1 play, 61 yards, 0:10) BSU 31–6 06:21 UTEP Jacob Cowing 48–yard pass from Gavin Hardison (Gavin Baechle kick) (5 plays, 75 yards, 2:22) BSU 31–13 03:00 BSU Jonah Dalmas 27–yard field goal (9 plays, 69 yards, 3:15) BSU 34–13 00:14 BSU Andrew Van Buren 1–yard run (Jonah Dalmas kick) (5 plays, 48 yards, 0:33) BSU 41–13 3 13:50 BSU Tyneil Hopper 23–yard pass from Hank Bachmeier (Jonah Dalmas kick) (3 plays, 38 yards, 1:02) BSU 48–13 04:19 BSU Jonah Dalmas 29–yard field goal (4 plays, 7 yards, 1:52) BSU 51–13 4 04:20 BSU Jonah Dalmas 34–yard field goal (8 plays, 33 yards, 3:23) BSU 54–13

Pregame line	Over/under
BSU –25	56.5[7]

Statistics	UTEP	Boise State
First downs	20	21
Total yards	336	461
Rushing yards	104	121
Passing yards	232	340
Turnovers	6	3
Time of possession	34:36	25:24

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing	Gavin Hardison	15/24, 223 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
	Rushing	Ronald Awatt	15 carries, 44 yards
	Receiving	Jacob Cowing	6 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD
Boise State	Passing	Hank Bachmeier	17/24, 340 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Tyler Crowe	7 carries, 45 yards
	Receiving	Khalil Shakir	7 receptions, 166 yards

New Mexico[]

New Mexico at UTEP

1 2 Total Lobos 0 Miners 0 Date: September 25, 2021 Location: Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Game start: 7:00 p.m. MDT TV announcers (ESPN+): Erik Elken (play–by–play) and Trevor Vittatoe (analyst)

Pregame line	Over/under
NM –2.5	54[8]

Statistics	New Mexico	UTEP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
New Mexico	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Old Dominion[]

Old Dominion at UTEP

1 2 Total Monarchs 0 Miners 0 Date: October 2, 2021 Location: Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Game start: 7:00 p.m. MDT Television network: ESPN+

Pregame line	Over/under
UTEP –5.5	48.5[9]

Statistics	Old Dominion	UTEP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Old Dominion	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Southern Miss[]

UTEP at Southern Miss

1 2 Total Miners 0 Golden Eagles 0 Date: October 9, 2021 Location: M. M. Roberts Stadium Hattiesburg, MS Game start: 6:00 p.m. CDT Television network: ESPN Networks

Pregame line	Over/under
UTEP –2	44.5[10]

Statistics	UTEP	Southern Miss
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Southern Miss	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Louisiana Tech[]

Louisiana Tech at UTEP

1 2 Total Bulldogs 0 Miners 0 Date: October 16, 2021 Location: Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Game start: 7:00 p.m. MDT Television network: ESPN Networks

Pregame line	Over/under
N/A	N/A

Statistics	Louisiana Tech	UTEP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana Tech	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Florida Atlantic[]

UTEP at Florida Atlantic

1 2 Total Miners 0 Owls 0 Date: October 30, 2021 Location: FAU Stadium Boca Raton, FL Game start: 6:00 p.m. EDT Television network: ESPN Networks

Pregame line	Over/under
N/A	N/A

Statistics	UTEP	Florida Atlantic
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Florida Atlantic	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

UTSA[]

UTSA at UTEP

1 2 Total Roadrunners 0 Miners 0 Date: November 6, 2021 Location: Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Game start: 2:00 p.m. MDT Television network: ESPN Networks

Pregame line	Over/under
N/A	N/A

Statistics	UTSA	UTEP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTSA	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at North Texas[]

UTEP at North Texas

1 2 Total Miners 0 Mean Green 0 Date: November 13, 2021 Location: Apogee Stadium Denton, TX Game start: 3:00 p.m. CST Television network: ESPN Networks

Pregame line	Over/under
N/A	N/A

Statistics	UTEP	North Texas
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
North Texas	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Rice[]

Rice at UTEP

1 2 Total Owls 0 Miners 0 Date: November 20, 2021 Location: Sun Bowl El Paso, TX Game start: 2:00 p.m. MDT Television network: ESPN Networks

Pregame line	Over/under
N/A	N/A

Statistics	Rice	UTEP
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Rice	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at UAB[]

UTEP at UAB

1 2 Total Miners 0 Blazers 0 Date: November 26, 2021 Location: Protective Stadium Birmingham, AL Game start: 1:00 p.m. CST Television network: ESPN Networks

Pregame line	Over/under
N/A	N/A

Statistics	UTEP	UAB
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UAB	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References[]