# 2021 UTEP Miners football team

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.

## Schedule

UTEP announced its 2021 football schedule on January 27, 2021. 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 StadiumLas Cruces, NM (Battle of I-10) | KVIA-TV/BSAZ/FloSports | W 30–3 | 19,034 |
| September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Bethune–Cookman* | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN3 | W 38–28 | 14,554 |
| September 10 | 7:30 p.m. | at Boise State* | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID | FS1 | L 13–54 | 35,518 |
| September 25 | 7:00 p.m. | New Mexico* | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN+ | W 20–13 | 15,069 |
| October 2 | 7:00 p.m. | Old Dominion | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN+ | W 28–21 | 11,025 |
| October 9 | 5:00 p.m. | at Southern Miss | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | ESPN3 | W 26–13 | 26,049 |
| October 16 | 7:00 p.m. | Louisiana Tech | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN+ | W 19–3 | 18,468 |
| October 30 | 4:00 p.m. | at Florida Atlantic | FAU StadiumBoca Raton, FL | ESPN+ | L 25–28 | 16,432 |
| November 6 | 8:15 p.m. | UTSA | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN2 | L 23–44 | 31,658 |
| November 13 | 2:00 p.m. | at North Texas | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN+ | L 17–20 | 20,056 |
| November 20 | 2:00 p.m. | Rice | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN+ | W 38–28 | 10,097 |
| November 26 | 12:00 p.m. | at UAB | Protective StadiumBirmingham, AL | ESPN+ | L 25–42 | 19,683 |
| December 18 | 12:15 p.m. | vs. Fresno State* | Dreamstyle StadiumAlbuquerque, NM (New Mexico Bowl) | ESPN | L 24–31 | 16,422 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingAll times are in Mountain time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### At New Mexico State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Miners | 17 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 30 |
| Aggies | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UTEP –9.5 | 59.5 |
| 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 |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 11 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 5 receptions, 158 yards, 1 TD |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Jonah Johnson | 8/24, 82 yards |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Juwaun Price | 9 carries, 37 yards |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Dominic Gicinto | 2 receptions, 31 yards |

### Bethune–Cookman

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 28 |
| • Miners | 10 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UTEP –20.5 | 52.5 |
| 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 |
| Bethune–Cookman | Rushing | Que'shaun Byrd | 12 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD |
| Bethune–Cookman | Receiving | Kemari Averett | 4 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 14/23, 183 yards, 3 TDs |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 19 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Tyrin Smith | 4 receptions, 76 yards |

### At Boise State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| • Broncos | 10 | 31 | 10 | 3 | 54 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| BSU –25 | 56.5 |
| 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 |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 15 carries, 44 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 6 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TD |
| Boise State | Passing | Hank Bachmeier | 17/24, 340 yards, 2 TDs |
| Boise State | Rushing | Tyler Crowe | 7 carries, 45 yards |
| Boise State | Receiving | Khalil Shakir | 7 receptions, 166 yards |

### New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Lobos | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| • Miners | 0 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| NM –2.5 | 54 |
| Statistics | New Mexico | UTEP |
| First downs | 17 | 12 |
| Total yards | 288 | 344 |
| Rushing yards | 123 | 51 |
| Passing yards | 165 | 293 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:52 | 30:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| New Mexico | Passing | Terry Wilson Jr. | 16/38, 160 yards, INT |
| New Mexico | Rushing | Aaron Dumas | 8 carries, 28 yards |
| New Mexico | Receiving | Kyle Jarvis | 4 receptions, 59 yards |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 15/29, 293 yards, TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 12 carries, 34 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 7 receptions, 174 yards, TD |

### Old Dominion

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Monarchs | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| • Miners | 3 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UTEP –5.5 | 48.5 |
| Statistics | Old Dominion | UTEP |
| First downs | 19 | 17 |
| Total yards | 282 | 333 |
| Rushing yards | 88 | 142 |
| Passing yards | 194 | 191 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:32 | 34:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Old Dominion | Passing | D. J. Mack Jr. | 20/34, 194 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Old Dominion | Rushing | Blake Watson | 13 carries, 35 yards |
| Old Dominion | Receiving | Zack Kuntz | 8 receptions, 54 yards |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 10/20, 191 yards, 2 TDs |
| UTEP | Rushing | Deion Hankins | 23 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 4 receptions, 118 yards |

### At Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Miners | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 26 |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 13 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UTEP –2 | 44.5 |
| Statistics | UTEP | Southern Miss |
| First downs | 16 | 17 |
| Total yards | 392 | 254 |
| Rushing yards | 265 | 15 |
| Passing yards | 127 | 239 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:48 | 29:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 7/17, 127 yards, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 18 rushes, 159 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Tyrin Smith | 1 reception, 55 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Jake Lange | 20/31, 239 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 16 rushes, 43 yards |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jakarius Caston | 4 receptions, 94 yards |

### Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| • Miners | 14 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| LATECH –9 | 55 |
| Statistics | Louisiana Tech | UTEP |
| First downs | 14 | 18 |
| Total yards | 288 | 385 |
| Rushing yards | 92 | 102 |
| Passing yards | 196 | 283 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 23:17 | 36:43 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | Austin Kendall | 14/28, 174 yards, 3 INT |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Marcus Williams Jr. | 7 rushes, 42 yards |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Marcus Williams Jr. | 2 receptions, 59 yards |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 19/29, 283 yards, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Deion Hankins | 15 rushes, 55 yards, 2 TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 9 receptions, 166 yards |

### At Florida Atlantic

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 3 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 25 |
| • Owls | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| FAU –13.5 | 48.5 |
| Statistics | UTEP | Florida Atlantic |
| First downs | 18 | 12 |
| Total yards | 436 | 281 |
| Rushing yards | 110 | 131 |
| Passing yards | 327 | 149 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 36:56 | 23:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 23/46, 327 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Deion Hankins | 11 carries, 72 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Tyrin Smith | 4 receptions, 114 yards, TD |
| Florida Atlantic | Passing | N'Kosi Perry | 13/26, 149 yards, TD |
| Florida Atlantic | Rushing | Johnny Ford | 13 carries, 93 yards, TD |
| Florida Atlantic | Receiving | LaJohntay Wester | 4 receptions, 64 yards, TD |

### UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Roadrunners | 16 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
| Miners | 6 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 23 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UTSA –12 | 51.5 |
| Statistics | UTSA | UTEP |
| First downs | 28 | 20 |
| Total yards | 561 | 374 |
| Rushing yards | 275 | 127 |
| Passing yards | 286 | 247 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 33:41 | 26:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTSA | Passing | Frank Harris | 22/34, 286 yards, 2 TD |
| UTSA | Rushing | Sincere McCormick | 21 carries, 161 yards, TD |
| UTSA | Receiving | Zakhari Franklin | 10 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TD |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 13/30, 247 yards, 3 TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 16 carries, 83 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 5 receptions, 112 yards |

### At North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| • Mean Green | 0 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 20 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| N/A | N/A |
| Statistics | UTEP | North Texas |
| First downs | 14 | 22 |
| Total yards | 382 | 423 |
| Rushing yards | 109 | 183 |
| Passing yards | 273 | 240 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:45 | 30:15 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 15/29, 273 yards, TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 17 rushes, 85 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 5 receptions, 174 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Passing | Austin Aune | 15/33, 240 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | DeAndre Torrey | 18 rushes, 81 yards |
| North Texas | Receiving | Roderic Burns | 5 receptions, 93 yards, TD |

### Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 0 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
| • Miners | 7 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 38 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UTEP –10 | 47 |
| Statistics | Rice | UTEP |
| First downs | 22 | 23 |
| Total yards | 390 | 488 |
| Rushing yards | 160 | 122 |
| Passing yards | 230 | 366 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:50 | 31:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rice | Passing | Jake Constantine | 14/25, 183 yards, 2 TD |
| Rice | Rushing | Cameron Montgomery | 9 carries, 78 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Jake Bailey | 5 receptions, 58 yards |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 23/35, 366 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Ronald Awatt | 9 carries, 119 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 11 receptions, 170 yards, TD |

### At UAB

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 25 |
| • Blazers | 7 | 7 | 14 | 14 | 42 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| UAB –13.5 | 49.5 |
| Statistics | UTEP | UAB |
| First downs | 17 | 18 |
| Total yards | 303 | 328 |
| Rushing yards | 99 | 220 |
| Passing yards | 204 | 108 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:56 | 29:04 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Gavin Hardison | 21/34, 204 yards, TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Deion Hankins | 16 carries, 68 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Jacob Cowing | 5 receptions, 63 yards, TD |
| UAB | Passing | Dylan Hopkins | 15/20, 108 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| UAB | Rushing | DeWayne McBride | 7 carries, 99 yards, TD |
| UAB | Receiving | RaJae' Johnson-Sanders | 5 receptions, 24 yards |