The 2021 UTEP Miners football team represented the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) as a member of the West Division in Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2021 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Dana Dimel, the Miners compiled an overall record of 7–6 with a mark of 4–4 in conference play, placing fourth in C-USA's West Division. UTEP was bowl eligible for the first time since the 2014 season, and was invited to the New Mexico Bowl, where the Miners lost to Fresno State. The team played home games at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
Schedule UTEP announced its 2021 football schedule on January 27, 2021. The 2021 schedule consisted of six home and six away games in the regular season.
Game summaries At New Mexico State
Statistics UTEPNew 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 11/16, 249 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Ronald Awatt 11 carries, 74 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jacob Cowing 5 receptions, 158 yards, 1 TDNew Mexico State Passing Jonah Johnson 8/24, 82 yards Rushing Juwaun Price 9 carries, 37 yards Receiving Dominic Gicinto 2 receptions, 31 yards
Bethune–Cookman
Statistics Bethune–CookmanUTEP 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 StatisticsBethune–Cookman Passing Shannon Patrick 15/22, 215 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Que'shaun Byrd 12 carries, 98 yards, 1 TD Receiving Kemari Averett 4 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TDUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 14/23, 183 yards, 3 TDs Rushing Ronald Awatt 19 carries, 126 yards, 1 TD Receiving Tyrin Smith 4 receptions, 76 yards
At Boise State
Statistics UTEPBoise 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 15/24, 223 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs Rushing Ronald Awatt 15 carries, 44 yards Receiving Jacob Cowing 6 receptions, 112 yards, 1 TDBoise State Passing Hank Bachmeier 17/24, 340 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Tyler Crowe 7 carries, 45 yards Receiving Khalil Shakir 7 receptions, 166 yards
New Mexico
Statistics New MexicoUTEP 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 StatisticsNew Mexico Passing Terry Wilson Jr. 16/38, 160 yards, INT Rushing Aaron Dumas 8 carries, 28 yards Receiving Kyle Jarvis 4 receptions, 59 yardsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 15/29, 293 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ronald Awatt 12 carries, 34 yards Receiving Jacob Cowing 7 receptions, 174 yards, TD
Old Dominion
Statistics Old DominionUTEP 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 StatisticsOld Dominion Passing D. J. Mack Jr. 20/34, 194 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT Rushing Blake Watson 13 carries, 35 yards Receiving Zack Kuntz 8 receptions, 54 yardsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 10/20, 191 yards, 2 TDs Rushing Deion Hankins 23 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD Receiving Jacob Cowing 4 receptions, 118 yards
At Southern Miss
Statistics UTEPSouthern 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 7/17, 127 yards, INT Rushing Ronald Awatt 18 rushes, 159 yards, TD Receiving Tyrin Smith 1 reception, 55 yardsSouthern Miss Passing Jake Lange 20/31, 239 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Frank Gore Jr. 16 rushes, 43 yards Receiving Jakarius Caston 4 receptions, 94 yards
Louisiana Tech
Statistics Louisiana TechUTEP 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 StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Austin Kendall 14/28, 174 yards, 3 INT Rushing Marcus Williams Jr. 7 rushes, 42 yards Receiving Marcus Williams Jr. 2 receptions, 59 yardsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 19/29, 283 yards, INT Rushing Deion Hankins 15 rushes, 55 yards, 2 TD Receiving Jacob Cowing 9 receptions, 166 yards
At Florida Atlantic
Statistics UTEPFlorida 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 23/46, 327 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Deion Hankins 11 carries, 72 yards Receiving Tyrin Smith 4 receptions, 114 yards, TDFlorida Atlantic Passing N'Kosi Perry 13/26, 149 yards, TD Rushing Johnny Ford 13 carries, 93 yards, TD Receiving LaJohntay Wester 4 receptions, 64 yards, TD
UTSA
Statistics UTSAUTEP 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 StatisticsUTSA Passing Frank Harris 22/34, 286 yards, 2 TD Rushing Sincere McCormick 21 carries, 161 yards, TD Receiving Zakhari Franklin 10 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TDUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 13/30, 247 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ronald Awatt 16 carries, 83 yards Receiving Jacob Cowing 5 receptions, 112 yards
At North Texas
Statistics UTEPNorth 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 15/29, 273 yards, TD, INT Rushing Ronald Awatt 17 rushes, 85 yards, TD Receiving Jacob Cowing 5 receptions, 174 yards, TDNorth Texas Passing Austin Aune 15/33, 240 yards, TD Rushing DeAndre Torrey 18 rushes, 81 yards Receiving Roderic Burns 5 receptions, 93 yards, TD
Rice
Statistics RiceUTEP 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 StatisticsRice Passing Jake Constantine 14/25, 183 yards, 2 TD Rushing Cameron Montgomery 9 carries, 78 yards Receiving Jake Bailey 5 receptions, 58 yardsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 23/35, 366 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Ronald Awatt 9 carries, 119 yards Receiving Jacob Cowing 11 receptions, 170 yards, TD
At UAB
Statistics UTEPUAB 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 StatisticsUTEP Passing Gavin Hardison 21/34, 204 yards, TD, INT Rushing Deion Hankins 16 carries, 68 yards, TD Receiving Jacob Cowing 5 receptions, 63 yards, TDUAB Passing Dylan Hopkins 15/20, 108 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing DeWayne McBride 7 carries, 99 yards, TD Receiving RaJae' Johnson-Sanders 5 receptions, 24 yards
References