No. 12 Houston falls at UTEP 58-41

By ALICIA A. CALDWELL, Associated Press Writer Oct 4, 2:12 am EDT

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EL PASO, Texas (AP)—Case Keenum’s career night couldn’t save the Cougars.

Donald Buckram and Texas-El Paso ran all over Houston’s BCS-busting ambition, knocking off the 12th-ranked Cougars in a 58-41 shootout Saturday night.

Keenum completed 51 of 76 passes for 536 yards and five touchdowns. Against the Miners, it just wasn’t enough.

A week after knocking off their second Big 12 opponent, Houston’s high-flying offense couldn’t keep pace with Buckram’s 262 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

“The most I ever imagined was 150,” Buckram said. “It was a fantastic feeling.”

Ranked for the first time since 1991, the Cougars (3-1, 0-1 Conference USA) were coming off impressive wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

With the game tied at halftime, the Miners outscored Houston 20-3 in the third quarter and then hung on while Keenum tried to deliver another comeback as he did the week before to knock off the Red Raiders.

“We had a chance to take control of the game in the first half,” Houston coach Kevin Sumlin said. “Any time you’re on the road you’ve got to be able to score touchdowns when you have the chance.”

Even though Keenum threw three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, the Miners got three of their own: two on 8- and 27-yard runs by Buckram, and another on Roddray Walker’s 70-yard fumble return with 3:25 to play.

“We felt like we were moving the ball well, but were just not getting any points,” Keenum said. “They did a good job of playing hard.”

Houston outgained UTEP 664-581, but lost two fumbles and twice settled for field goals.

The Cougars got out to a quick 10-0 lead, but after the Miners kicked a field goal, they stopped Houston’s potent offense on fourth down at the UTEP 8.

The Miners tied it when they recovered a fumble near midfield and scored on a 4-yard pass from Trevor Vittatoe to Tufick Shadrawy.

Vittatoe was 19 of 30 for 276 yards and two touchdowns. He threw his other scoring pass in the third quarter, a 74-yarder to Jeff Moturi.

Moturi finished with six catches for 127 yards.

Houston’s James Cleveland had 14 catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns in a game that featured more than 1,200 yards of total offense and 99 total points.

“It was a blast,” UTEP coach Mike Price said. “We haven’t had enough fun. It was long, it was tiring, and it was fun.”

Updated Oct 4, 2:12 am EDT
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Head to Head - Week 5

Team Total Yds Pass Yds Rush Yds First Downs 3rdD% Pen./Yds Turnovers Time of Poss.
Houston 664 536 128 42 41.2% 6/50 2 28:34
UTEP 581 276 305 26 54.5% 11/102 0 31:26
NCAAF

112 Comments

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  1. DavidRich
    112. Posted by DavidRich Sun Oct 11 5:05am EDT

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    Alabama has all of your asses whipped if you want to talk about whos who in the ncaa. Alabama has 12 national titles so stick that in your ear dumbos.
  2. Sunil
    111. Posted by Sunil Wed Oct 7 11:46am EDT

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    seriously...UTEP was a trap game...they aren't at the same level as us......do u really think this douche RB that ran for 256 yards is that good? We lost a senior defensive player for the season against Tech. Don't forget we beat two Big 12 teams...Texas better think twice about saying we are overhyped cuz that just proves their strength of schedule is weak.
  3. BOBBY-T-BONE
    110. Posted by BOBBY-T-BONE Mon Oct 5 8:05am EDT

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    Texas 64 UTEP 7 UTEP 58 Houston 41
  4. Kevin C
    109. Posted by Kevin C Sun Oct 4 10:35pm EDT

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    "Go back to economics class. Only two states in US are actually supporting the whole american economy, its California and Texas. "

    Maybe you should go back to economics class with him...or at least pick up a newspaper. Kalifornia is so broke, they're having to pay bills and paychecks with IOUs. They're doing nothing to support the American economy. In fact, it's just the opposite. They are on the brink of becoming the first failed state in this country.

    At this point in time, the best thing for the country would be to give Kalifornia back to Mexico. Maybe then they'd stop exporting the same stupid ideas that are breaking their economy to the rest of the country.
  5. Jeffree K
    108. Posted by Jeffree K Sun Oct 4 7:09pm EDT

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    One of those Rice wins over Purdue was in the late 1990s, you Joe Tiller?

    Meant to say" I won't go over the Texas teams from BXII, Conf USA, MWC, SBC, others against the Big 10, tehy are too many and plenty".
  6. Jeffree K
    107. Posted by Jeffree K Sun Oct 4 7:05pm EDT

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    Eric:
    "Any of the 11 big ten teams could beat any of the Conference USA schools, besides Cinncy and S. Florida."

    Not so fat, my friend!!!!! Love the contradictors.

    TCU (CONF USA from 2000-2004) now in the MWC
    3-0 record against Northwestern between 2000-2004.
    4-0 record against Indiana
    1-2 record against Iowa
    Beat Penn State in 1954.
    Beat Ohio State in 1957.

    Tulane
    1-0 record against Illinois
    3-1 record against Northwestern

    Southern Miss
    2-0 record against Illinois between 1997-2002

    Houston (SWC before 1995) now Conf USA
    1-1 record against Illinois between 1991-1992.
    1-0 record against Mich State 1967
    1-1 record against Minnesota between 1997-1998.

    Rice (SWC before 1995/ WAC 1995- 2004) now Conf USA
    4-1 record against Northwestern between 1967-1998, 3 of those meetings occurred in the '90s
    1-2 record against Purdue between 1937-1998

    SMU (SWC before 1995/ WAC 1995-2004) now Conf USA
    Beat Ohio State in the 1950s
    1-0 record against Northwestern (1970)
    1-0 record against Indiana
    1-1 record against Illinois

    The winners from the Conf USA in modern times are Rice, SMU and TCU All Texas teams, the other from Southern Miss

    I won't go over the BXII, MWC, ect against the BXII, because there have been plenty.

    Most teams in Texas (whether they are BXII, MWC, Conf USA, WAC, SBC etc) could beat most of those slow pokes up there in Big 10 land. Doooaaaahhh!!!!

    Wreck' em!!
  7. Longhorn2000
    106. Posted by Longhorn2000 Sun Oct 4 6:44pm EDT

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    Why do idiots ALWAYS turn football blogs into asinine bickering on race, social economic status and politics???!
  8. <i>texaskellhorn</i>
    105. Posted by texaskellhorn Sun Oct 4 5:38pm EDT

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    David, not that you're suggesting this, but I highly doubt our thumping over UTEP is now suddenly more impressive because the Miners upset the much overranked U of H. I still believe we need to run the table to get to the NC game. I'm a believer though. Hook em!
  9. KirillA
    104. Posted by KirillA Sun Oct 4 5:35pm EDT

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    and i am not even talking about other companies which qualify, besides oil.. cuz houston has a lot of import/export companies too which add a big chunk of money into economics... so eric, not to like a houston team is one thing, but dont bring the city into it
  10. KirillA
    103. Posted by KirillA Sun Oct 4 5:30pm EDT

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    eric, and where do you think all the money comes from??? dallas, austin?? its houston, cuz thats where the majority of the oil companies are stationed at
  11. David
    102. Posted by David Sun Oct 4 4:37pm EDT

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    Last week, I added a few comments to the Texas vs. UTEP thread about "running" up the score or "the game being fixed", etc. etc.

    UTEP vs. Houston. My point about "any team can potentially beat any other team on a given day" is now justified.

    What a season... Hook 'Em. Still BCS National Title Bound.
  12. eric m
    101. Posted by eric m Sun Oct 4 4:33pm EDT

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    I said Houston, not Texas.

    I know Texas is doing fine. I am a big supporter of Texas. I just can't stand Houston and all the ignorance there.
  13. eric m
    100. Posted by eric m Sun Oct 4 4:33pm EDT

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    Not that I need to defend myself on yahoo, but I guarentee I am smarter than your redneck ass.
  14. eric m
    99. Posted by eric m Sun Oct 4 4:32pm EDT

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    Then nobody in conference USA can beat any big ten team.

    I hate Ohio State, but if any of your SEC teams played up in the Great Lakes for a bowl, Ohio State would OWN them.

    LSU played in New Orleans.
    Florida plays Oklahoma in Miami. (I know Oklahoma is Big 12).

    Check your facts and research the record of the Big Ten vs. SEC.. I did, and the Big Ten is winning the battle buddy.
  15. eric m
    98. Posted by eric m Sun Oct 4 4:29pm EDT

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    Iowa and Michigan State have beaten LSU and Florida in recent years as well.
  16. Robert
    97. Posted by Robert Sun Oct 4 4:13pm EDT

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    Eric M., Your an Idiot!!!! If you don't know anything about college football; Don't Post. Cincinnati and South Florida are in the Big East, NOT conference USA and the big ten owns nothing on the SEC. The only legitimate programs you have are Penn State and Michigan. And please don't start yelling about Ohio State the year after year most over rated team in college football history, who just happen to be 0-9 in bowls vs SEC teams
  17. KirillA
    96. Posted by KirillA Sun Oct 4 4:01pm EDT

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    eric m, you are a dumbass for saying that Houston drains the economy of United States. Go back to economics class. Only two states in US are actually supporting the whole american economy, its California and Texas. If these two were to leave the US, then you mr eric m would be screwed and you will crawl back crying

    i am not saying that other states are wasting money, but they would not be able to succeed on their own. Thats my point
  18. eric m
    95. Posted by eric m Sun Oct 4 3:49pm EDT

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    Any of the 11 big ten teams could beat any of the Conference USA schools, besides Cinncy and S. Florida.

    Michigan in worst season ever, only lost by 2 to undefeated Utah who DEMOLISHED the Alabama Crimson Tide.

    Big Ten owns winning record vs. SEC.

    South has more players, gets to practice outdoors more, and plays all the bowl games in their backyard. I can see why everyone assumes the south is so much better. Ohio, Pennslyvania, Virginia, Chicago, Michigan would beg to differ. There are some schools up there that could lay a whooping on the schools in the south. Not as many good teams or players as the south though.
  19. Casie C
    94. Posted by Casie C Sun Oct 4 3:44pm EDT

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    one more bcs "buster" bite the dust
  20. MinerManiac
    93. Posted by MinerManiac Sun Oct 4 3:24pm EDT

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    There we go Miners!!! That's the way football is done!!! I'm always there for you, rain or shine! No one can stop us! Who is Big 12 now Houston? That's right...UTEP!!! Never forget that name Cougars. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MINERS!!!!!!!!!! OVER RATED!!!
  21. Tony C
    92. Posted by Tony C Sun Oct 4 3:11pm EDT

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    UTEP has 53 yds against UT. They have 58 pts against Houston. This just proves how big the gap really is between top level D1 schools and lower level D1 schools. Houston.......this is what happens when you get a big head and think your one of the big boys, your little cousin racks you from behind. Congrats to UTEP!!!
  22. Michael g
    91. Posted by Michael g Sun Oct 4 3:11pm EDT

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    99 total points and over 1200 yards in total offense. That's just insane. What ever happened to the days of great defenses?
  23. maximus
    90. Posted by maximus Sun Oct 4 2:58pm EDT

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    pain of king,,,,, houston is over rated. why bash new york??? do you have an inferior complex, is that why your mad at your world? does the movie "GUMMO" depicts your life accurately?
  24. Bake
    89. Posted by Bake Sun Oct 4 2:42pm EDT

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    Wow.....

    Pain of King,
    How do you really feel? Maybe you should get out and experience life instead of sitting in a dark room staring at the computer and/or television. How the hell do you know what kind of schools those are? Unless you were thrown out of both of them (kind of likely, but i don't think you have the intelligence to get into college). Get a life and let people voice their opinions. That's what this is for
  25. eric m
    88. Posted by eric m Sun Oct 4 2:33pm EDT

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    FACT: HOUSTON gave up more points to UTEP, than UTEP had yards against Texas

    Go Texas and UTEP.

    State Rankings: 1) Texas, 2) TCU, 3) Baylor, and UTEP, Texas State, and A and M are all better than HOUSTON too.
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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Houston
C. Keenum C. Keenum, QB
51-76, 536 yds
5 TDs
 UTEP
D. Buckram D. Buckram, RB
32 Rush, 262 yds
4 TDs

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