Rebuilding Quickly
Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2004 6:04 pmUTEP UPSETS FRESNO, 24-21
Rodriguez interception seals victory
Bill Knight
El Paso Times
Kurt Hegre / Fresno Bee
UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer delivered a pass against Fresno State on Saturday at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif.
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FRESNO, Calif. -- It was a beautiful duel in the cool California evening and it was a stunning 24-21 UTEP upset.
The Miners played great, bone-jarring defense and made just enough plays offensively to knock off Fresno State on Saturday night in front of 40,407 fans at Bulldog Stadium.
Fresno State, favored by nearly three touchdowns and recently ranked No. 17 in the nation, played catch-up to UTEP all evening ... played it to the final gun.
But Robert Rodriguez intercepted a Paul Pinegar pass in the game's final two minutes to seal the deal, making UTEP 3-2 on the season -- and one win more than all of last season. Fresno State fell to 3-2 with the stunning setback.
Fresno State's defense was smothering throughout the second half but UTEP had one answer, a thrilling beginning to the fourth quarter.
Jordan Palmer dropped back, barely got the ball off deep before being flattened by a Fresno State defender. But Johnnie Lee Higgins made the perfect adjustment, drifted back, pulled in the pass, split the remaining Fresno State defenders and dashed 91 yards for a touchdown ... a touchdown that made the Bulldogs play chase the rest of the evening.
The 91-yard touchdown was the second longest in Bulldog Stadium history and marked the third Higgins touchdown reception in the past three games.
The Miner defense was almost as smothering as the Bulldog defense, holding on for dear life until the very end. Paul Pinegar ran in one for a touchdown and the UTEP lead was 24-21.
The Miner defense kept holding and holding and holding ... holding until Rodriguez picked off that Pinegar pass in the final two minutes to make the Fresno State chase frantic.
The Miners got this show started quickly, leaving the big crowd stunned when defensive lineman Chris Mineo picked off a deflected Paul Pinegar pass and went rumbling 17 yards for a touchdown.
Fresno State finally got its offense moving -- almost exclusively behind the strong running of Bryson Sumlin. The Bulldogs methodically marched 87 yards in 11 plays, with the 200-pound Sumlin banging in from 4 yards out for the score.
Actually, though the score was tied at 7-7 at quarter's end, things looked a bit bleak for the Miners. They had only one first down and just 23 yards of offense in that first period.
Ah, but things changed dramatically in the second 15 minutes.
Jackson began to be Jackson, darting around and popping through openings here and there. He was his usual -- jaw dropping and eye popping. He even helped through the air, catching a 46-yard pass from Palmer down the left sideline that set UTEP up on the Bulldog 26.
Eight plays later, Josh Chamois banged into the end zone from a yard out and UTEP took its second lead, 14-7, with 12:30 remaining in the half.
The UTEP defense continued to be good -- very good -- and the Miners went flying to the halftime locker room, proud owners of a 17-7 lead.
The stage was set for a dramatic upset.
Bill Knight may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6171.
Copyright © 2001 El Paso Times.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 8/10/2001)
Rodriguez interception seals victory
Bill Knight
El Paso Times
Kurt Hegre / Fresno Bee
UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer delivered a pass against Fresno State on Saturday at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRESNO, Calif. -- It was a beautiful duel in the cool California evening and it was a stunning 24-21 UTEP upset.
The Miners played great, bone-jarring defense and made just enough plays offensively to knock off Fresno State on Saturday night in front of 40,407 fans at Bulldog Stadium.
Fresno State, favored by nearly three touchdowns and recently ranked No. 17 in the nation, played catch-up to UTEP all evening ... played it to the final gun.
But Robert Rodriguez intercepted a Paul Pinegar pass in the game's final two minutes to seal the deal, making UTEP 3-2 on the season -- and one win more than all of last season. Fresno State fell to 3-2 with the stunning setback.
Fresno State's defense was smothering throughout the second half but UTEP had one answer, a thrilling beginning to the fourth quarter.
Jordan Palmer dropped back, barely got the ball off deep before being flattened by a Fresno State defender. But Johnnie Lee Higgins made the perfect adjustment, drifted back, pulled in the pass, split the remaining Fresno State defenders and dashed 91 yards for a touchdown ... a touchdown that made the Bulldogs play chase the rest of the evening.
The 91-yard touchdown was the second longest in Bulldog Stadium history and marked the third Higgins touchdown reception in the past three games.
The Miner defense was almost as smothering as the Bulldog defense, holding on for dear life until the very end. Paul Pinegar ran in one for a touchdown and the UTEP lead was 24-21.
The Miner defense kept holding and holding and holding ... holding until Rodriguez picked off that Pinegar pass in the final two minutes to make the Fresno State chase frantic.
The Miners got this show started quickly, leaving the big crowd stunned when defensive lineman Chris Mineo picked off a deflected Paul Pinegar pass and went rumbling 17 yards for a touchdown.
Fresno State finally got its offense moving -- almost exclusively behind the strong running of Bryson Sumlin. The Bulldogs methodically marched 87 yards in 11 plays, with the 200-pound Sumlin banging in from 4 yards out for the score.
Actually, though the score was tied at 7-7 at quarter's end, things looked a bit bleak for the Miners. They had only one first down and just 23 yards of offense in that first period.
Ah, but things changed dramatically in the second 15 minutes.
Jackson began to be Jackson, darting around and popping through openings here and there. He was his usual -- jaw dropping and eye popping. He even helped through the air, catching a 46-yard pass from Palmer down the left sideline that set UTEP up on the Bulldog 26.
Eight plays later, Josh Chamois banged into the end zone from a yard out and UTEP took its second lead, 14-7, with 12:30 remaining in the half.
The UTEP defense continued to be good -- very good -- and the Miners went flying to the halftime locker room, proud owners of a 17-7 lead.
The stage was set for a dramatic upset.
Bill Knight may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6171.
Copyright © 2001 El Paso Times.
Use of this site signifies your agreement to the Terms of Service (updated 8/10/2001)