In the realm of college football, midweek games have become a staple, and UTEP certainly made the most of their "Weekday CUSA" spot against Sam Houston this week. The Miners, who've had the upper hand historically, managed to snag another victory against the Bearkats, largely due to their robust defense. According to UTEP's sports coverage, the "Orange Swarm" defense combined for six tackles for loss (TFL) and a sack, with linebacker Micah Davey adding another 12 tackles to his impressive career total.
In what might be considered a bright spot amid a tough season, Davey's efforts have put him at the top of the conference tables, with 63 tackles, and his contributions were instrumental in UTEP's strong defensive performance. The Miners take pride in being the conference's leader in total defense, with 350.8 yards allowed per game. Still, such stats might feel like cold comfort when the offensive side of the ball struggled throughout the evening, a pattern that seems to have been the team's Achilles' heel this season.
The game's broadcast drew national attention, with Jack Gordon and Taylor McHargue taking up the mantle in the booth for CBSSN and Jon Teicher, bringing his extensive experience back as "The Voice of the UTEP Miners" on 600 ESPN El Paso. The well-seasoned Teicher, now in his 45th season calling action for the Orange and Blue, brought form and substance to the play-by-play narration, complemented by analysis from former UTEP football coach Aaron Price.
Moving down the roster, UTEP's stats sheet is dotted with players who are stepping up in key roles. Jayden Wilson, starting his third consecutive game, registered a career-high 16 tackles, and Neil Campbell posted a career-best 14, not only putting them in the top ranks of CUSA but also marking the third time this season that a trio of UTEP players hit double-digit tackles in a game. Meanwhile, the Bearkats are dealing with their share of challenges under first-year coach Phil Longo. Longo, in his debut after nearly two decades since his last head coach gig, has seen his team give up 39.5 points per game while scoring only 17.0 per game, as per the same UTEP athletic department's announcement.
As UTEP heads into their bye week, they'll have some time to regroup and prepare for their next match-up against Kennesaw State on October 28. The Miners' will most likely use this time to shore up their offensive strategies and celebrate their defensive successes. With UTEP's next game slated for ESPNU's national broadcast, another weekday game will spotlight these college athletes as they continue to battle it out under the glaring stadium lights and the perhaps even more intense scrutiny of their national audience.
