IT WAS A DONE DEAL WHEN
With 5 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter, EMU had driven the ball into the redzone. Faced with a 4th and 1, down 17-7, they opted to attempt to convert the 4th down and try for a TD instead of a FG. The handoff gained zero yards. After the turnover on downs, UTEP scored a 94 yard TD on the very next play. The score was 24-7 at the half, and EMU was never able to overcome the swing in momentum.

GAME BALLS
Junior wideout Kinsman Thomas found himself wide open on a 77-yard long bomb, giving EMU the early 7-3 lead (which obviously didn't last). He piled up 128 yards on 5 receptions. ... Senior DT Brandon Slater's quarterback sack was one of the few bright spots of the day for the Eagles' defense.

KEY STATS
UTEP's run defense won the day. We went into the game planning on grinding down the opposition. Backup hallfback Corey Welch had a strong enough outing as the change-of-pace. But the #1 HB totaled only 28 yards on 14 carries, most of those coming in the 2nd quarter, which was utimately the quarter that decided the direction and outcome of the game.

NOTES
New head coach, Charlie Batch, got his career off to a poor start with this loss.