EL PASO, Texas — In a much-needed turnaround for the UTEP Miners, Jevon Jackson shone in a 30-21 triumph over Florida International, highlighting the game with two touchdowns and a total of 170 yards. This win marked a significant milestone as it ended a nine-game losing streak that had persisted since the previous season.
For UTEP (1-6, 1-3 in Conference USA), this victory was their first in 357 days, dating back to a win against Sam Houston on October 25, 2022. It was also a notable milestone for first-year head coach Scotty Walden, who celebrated his inaugural victory at the FBS level following four years coaching at Austin Peay, a member of the FCS.
The pivotal moment of the match occurred when Jackson took a direct snap, rushing for a touchdown from just one yard out, putting UTEP ahead 26-21 with 11:29 left in the fourth quarter. A two-point conversion attempt was initially successful but was nullified due to a chop block penalty. Ultimately, kicker Buzz Flabiano stepped up to extend the lead with a long extra point, increasing the score to 27-21.
On the opposing side, Florida International (2-5, 1-2) faced difficulties on offense, particularly after losing both of their quarterbacks to injuries. Starter Keyone Jenkins was sidelined during the second half after injuring his shoulder towards the end of the first quarter while attempting to tackle UTEP’s Dorian Hopkins following a lengthy interception return.
Backup quarterback Amari Jones also went down late in the fourth quarter after a hit from Maurice Westmoreland, remaining on the ground for several minutes. This forced third-string quarterback Haden Carlson to make his first appearance of the season, but his second pass was intercepted by Amier Boyd-Matthews with 4:56 left on the clock. UTEP capitalized on the turnover, as Flabiano managed to nearly convert a 39-yard field goal, extending the lead to nine points.
The game concluded decisively for UTEP when Dillion Williams secured the final interception, marking the fourth turnover for the Miners in the match with just 1:24 remaining. Jackson concluded his remarkable performance with 26 carries accumulating 148 yards and a receiving touchdown of 22 yards right before halftime. Currently, Kent State holds the unfortunate record of 15 consecutive losses in college football.
