# 2017 UTEP Miners football team

The 2017 UTEP Miners football team represented University of Texas at El Paso in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Miners played their home games at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas and competed in the West Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by fifth-year head coach Sean Kugler until his resignation on October 2 and then by interim head coach Mike Price, who had previously served at UTEP's head coach from 2004 to 2012. The Miners finished the season with a record 0–12, 0–8 in conference play to finish in last place in the Conference USA (7th in West Division) and winless for the first time since the 1973 season. UTEP averaged 19,548 fans per game.
One bright spot for the Miners in an otherwise dismal season was the performance of senior offensive guard Will Hernandez, who was named First Team All-C-USA and would go on to become a second-round draft pick in the 2018 NFL draft, selected 34th overall by the New York Giants. Hernandez was the second guard taken in his draft class, after only Quenton Nelson.

## Schedule

UTEP announced its 2017 football schedule on January 26, 2017. The 2017 schedule consists of 5 home and 7 away games in the regular season. The Miners hosted CUSA foes Louisiana Tech, Rice, UTSA, and Western Kentucky (WKU), and travelled to Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Southern Miss, and UAB.
The Miners hosted one of the four non-conference opponents, Arizona from the Pac-12 Conference and travelled to Army who are independent from a conference, New Mexico State from the Sun Belt Conference, and Oklahoma from the Big 12 Conference.
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 2 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 7 Oklahoma* | Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OK | FOX | L 7–56 | 86,076 |
| September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | Rice | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | CUSA.TV | L 14–31 | 19,136 |
| September 15 | 8:15 p.m. | Arizona* | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | ESPN | L 16–63 | 22,133 |
| September 23 | 6:00 p.m. | at New Mexico State* | Aggie Memorial StadiumLas Cruces, NM (Battle of I-10) | ESPN3 | L 14–41 | 17,546 |
| September 30 | 1:30 p.m. | at Army* | Michie StadiumWest Point, NY | CBSSN | L 21–35 | 31,133 |
| October 7 | 6:00 p.m. | Western Kentucky | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | CUSA.TV | L 14–15 | 20,418 |
| October 14 | 5:00 p.m. | at Southern Miss | M. M. Roberts StadiumHattiesburg, MS | Stadium | L 0–24 | 21,970 |
| October 28 | 6:00 p.m. | UTSA | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | CUSA.TV | L 14–31 | 19,456 |
| November 4 | 5:30 p.m. | at Middle Tennessee | Johnny "Red" Floyd StadiumMurfreesboro, TN | beIN | L 3–30 | 11,411 |
| November 11 | 3:00 p.m. | at North Texas | Apogee StadiumDenton, TX | ESPN3 | L 10–45 | 26,108 |
| November 18 | 1:00 p.m. | Louisiana Tech | Sun BowlEl Paso, TX | CUSA.TV | L 21–42 | 16,597 |
| November 25 | 11:00 a.m. | at UAB | Legion FieldBirmingham, AL | CUSA.TV | L 7–28 | 14,505 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to gameAll times are in Mountain time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### At No. 7 Oklahoma

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| No. 7 Sooners | 14 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 56 |
| Statistics | UTEP | OKLA |
| First downs | 11 | 35 |
| Total yards | 167 | 676 |
| Rushing yards | 73 | 180 |
| Passing yards | 94 | 496 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:24 | 34:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Ryan Metz | 10/18, 56 yards |
| UTEP | Rushing | Walter Dawn Jr. | 7 rushes, 56 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Eddie Sinegal | 3 receptions, 20 yards |
| Oklahoma | Passing | Baker Mayfield | 19/20, 329 yards, 3 TD |
| Oklahoma | Rushing | Abdul Adams | 7 rushes, 53 yards |
| Oklahoma | Receiving | Mark Andrews | 7 receptions, 134 yards, TD |

### Rice

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Statistics | RICE | UTEP |
| First downs | 22 | 12 |
| Total yards | 437 | 229 |
| Rushing yards | 306 | 26 |
| Passing yards | 131 | 203 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 34:22 | 25:38 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Rice | Passing | Sam Glaesmann | 10/18, 131 yards, TD |
| Rice | Rushing | Samuel Stewart | 16 rushes, 89 yards |
| Rice | Receiving | Aaron Cephus | 1 reception, 52 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Passing | Ryan Metz | 18/33, 203 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Walter Dawn Jr. | 9 rushes, 24 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Kavika Johnson | 6 receptions, 67 yards |

### Arizona

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wildcats | 0 | 35 | 14 | 14 | 63 |
| Miners | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
| Statistics | ARIZ | UTEP |
| First downs | 29 | 12 |
| Total yards | 501 | 218 |
| Rushing yards | 326 | 17 |
| Passing yards | 175 | 201 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 36:02 | 23:58 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Arizona | Passing | Brandon Dawkins | 18/21, 155 yards, 3 TD |
| Arizona | Rushing | Brandon Dawkins | 14 rushes, 133 yards, 3 TD |
| Arizona | Receiving | Tyrell Johnson | 4 receptions, 45 yards |
| UTEP | Passing | Zack Greenlee | 11/17, 104 yards, TD, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Kevin Dove | 5 rushes, 17 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Terry Juniel | 4 receptions, 82 yards |

### At New Mexico State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Aggies | 7 | 14 | 13 | 7 | 41 |
| Statistics | UTEP | NMSU |
| First downs | 15 | 21 |
| Total yards | 227 | 462 |
| Rushing yards | 135 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 92 | 283 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 30:25 | 29:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Ryan Metz | 6/18, 54 yards, 3 INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Quardraiz Wadley | 19 rushes, 77 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | David Lucero | 2 receptions, 29 yards |
| New Mexico State | Passing | Tyler Rogers | 26/43, 283 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| New Mexico State | Rushing | Larry Rose III | 17 rushes, 144 yards, 2 TD |
| New Mexico State | Receiving | Jaleel Scott | 4 receptions, 74 yards |

### At Army

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
| Black Knights | 0 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Statistics | UTEP | ARMY |
| First downs | 16 | 22 |
| Total yards | 262 | 433 |
| Rushing yards | 152 | 353 |
| Passing yards | 110 | 80 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 28:27 | 31:33 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Zack Greenlee | 7/13, 88 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Quardraiz Wadley | 28 rushes, 156 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Tyler Batson | 5 receptions, 80 yards |
| Army | Passing | Ahmad Bradshaw | 3/5, 80 yards, TD |
| Army | Rushing | Andy Davidson | 14 rushes, 100 yards, TD |
| Army | Receiving | Jordan Asberry | 1 reception, 42 yards, TD |

### Western Kentucky

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hilltoppers | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 15 |
| Miners | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | WKU | UTEP |
| First downs | 18 | 15 |
| Total yards | 282 | 287 |
| Rushing yards | 74 | 163 |
| Passing yards | 208 | 124 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:58 | 33:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Western Kentucky | Passing | Mike White | 24/37, 208 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Rushing | Jakairi Moses | 19 rushes, 50 yards |
| Western Kentucky | Receiving | Lucky Jackson | 3 receptions, 56 yards |
| UTEP | Passing | Zack Greenlee | 12/22, 124 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Rushing | Kevin Dove | 15 rushes, 69 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Erik Brown | 2 receptions, 32 yards |

### At Southern Miss

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Golden Eagles | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
| Statistics | UTEP | USM |
| First downs | 6 | 20 |
| Total yards | 147 | 423 |
| Rushing yards | 17 | 202 |
| Passing yards | 130 | 221 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 24:48 | 35:12 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Ryan Metz | 9/17, 67 yards, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Joshua Fields | 6 rushes, 13 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Terry Juniel | 5 receptions, 46 yards |
| Southern Miss | Passing | Keon Howard | 16/27, 221 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| Southern Miss | Rushing | Ito Smith | 28 rushes, 120 yards, 2 TD |
| Southern Miss | Receiving | Jaylond Adams | 2 receptions, 104 yards, TD |

### UTSA

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Roadrunners | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Miners | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | UTSA | UTEP |
| First downs | 22 | 10 |
| Total yards | 393 | 243 |
| Rushing yards | 205 | 110 |
| Passing yards | 188 | 133 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 34:25 | 25:35 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTSA | Passing | Dalton Sturm | 18/30, 188 yards, TD, INT |
| UTSA | Rushing | Tyrell Clay | 15 rushes, 71 yards |
| UTSA | Receiving | Kerry Thomas Jr. | 2 receptions, 49 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Passing | Zack Greenlee | 8/29, 133 yards, 2 INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Kevin Dove | 9 rushes, 46 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Erik Brown | 3 receptions, 52 yards |

### At Middle Tennessee

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Raiders | 10 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 30 |
| Statistics | UTEP | MTSU |
| First downs | 6 | 18 |
| Total yards | 137 | 400 |
| Rushing yards | 89 | 210 |
| Passing yards | 48 | 190 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:07 | 29:53 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Ryan Metz | 10/23, 48 yards |
| UTEP | Rushing | Joshua Fields | 17 rushes, 87 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Warren Redix | 3 receptions, 19 yards |
| Middle Tennessee | Passing | Brent Stockstill | 13/30, 190 yards, 3 TD, INT |
| Middle Tennessee | Rushing | Tavares Thomas | 9 rushes, 68 yards, TD |
| Middle Tennessee | Receiving | Ty Lee | 6 receptions, 80 yards, TD |

### At North Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Mean Green | 7 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 45 |
| Statistics | UTEP | UNT |
| First downs | 15 | 27 |
| Total yards | 231 | 472 |
| Rushing yards | 100 | 259 |
| Passing yards | 131 | 213 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:38 | 28:22 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Zack Greenlee | 13/25, 109 yards, INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Joshua Fields | 16 rushes, 45 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Terry Juniel | 4 receptions, 38 yards |
| North Texas | Passing | Mason Fine | 23/35, 213 yards, 4 TD |
| North Texas | Rushing | Jeff Wilson | 20 rushes, 144 yards, TD |
| North Texas | Receiving | Rico Bussey | 3 receptions, 65 yards, TD |

### Louisiana Tech

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 21 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
| Miners | 0 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 |
| Statistics | LT | UTEP |
| First downs | 28 | 18 |
| Total yards | 546 | 410 |
| Rushing yards | 343 | 164 |
| Passing yards | 203 | 246 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 32:24 | 27:36 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Louisiana Tech | Passing | J'Mar Smith | 15/28, 203 yards, 2 TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Rushing | Jaqwis Dancy | 14 rushes, 135 yards, TD |
| Louisiana Tech | Receiving | Teddy Veal | 6 receptions, 66 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Passing | Ryan Metz | 8/16, 187 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Joshua Fields | 23 rushes, 137 yards, TD |
| UTEP | Receiving | Tyler Batson | 2 receptions, 94 yards, TD |

### At UAB

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Miners | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Blazers | 3 | 11 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Statistics | UTEP | UAB |
| First downs | 10 | 23 |
| Total yards | 208 | 334 |
| Rushing yards | 101 | 175 |
| Passing yards | 107 | 159 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 26:49 | 33:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| UTEP | Passing | Zack Greenlee | 8/18, 107 yards, TD, 2 INT |
| UTEP | Rushing | Kevin Dove | 11 rushes, 36 yards |
| UTEP | Receiving | Tyler Batson | 2 receptions, 54 yards |
| UAB | Passing | A. J. Erdely | 15/25, 159 yards, 2 TD |
| UAB | Rushing | Spencer Brown | 22 rushes, 98 yards |
| UAB | Receiving | Collin Lisa | 7 receptions, 76 yards, TD |