UTEP Miners at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
· NCAA - Football
Vattiato's 3 TDs, 342 yards lead Middle Tennessee past UTEP, 34-30
The sophomore threw for 242 yards on 18-of-35 passing and added 100 yards on 14 carries.
Middle Tennessee (4-7, 3-4 Conference USA) built 10-point leads twice only to see the Miners rally to tie.
Vattiato hit Holden Willis with a 62-yard touchdown pass to take a 14-7 lead after one quarter, but Torrance Burgess Jr. returned a punt 54 yards to pull UTEP even at 14-14 to start the second quarter. Vattiato and Willis combined on a 17-yard touchdown and Zeke Rankin kicked a 38-yard field goal for a 24-14 lead midway through the second quarter but Deion Hankins capped a nine-play, 85-yard drive with a 2-yard run in the final minute to get UTEP within three, 24-21 at intermission.
After the Miners tied the game with a 33-yard field goal by Buzz Flabiano to start the third quarter, Vattiato hit Zack Dobson from 56-yards out and Rankin connected on a 24-yard field goal and a 34-24 lead to start the fourth quarter.
Cade McConnell was 24 of 41 for 364 yards passing with two touchdowns and an interception for UTEP (3-8, 2-5).
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How To Watch
How can I watch UTEP Miners vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders?
- TV Channel: Miners at Blue Raiders 2021 College Football, week 12, is broadcasted on ESPN+.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Scoring Summary
 |
TD | 1st Period 9:30 | Frank Peasant 9 Yd Run (Zeke Rankin Kick) |
 |
TD | 1st Period 3:39 | Kelly Akharaiyi 18 Yd pass from Cade McConnell (Buzz Flabiano Kick) |
|
TD | 1st Period 2:53 | Holden Willis 62 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick) |
|
TD | 2nd Period 13:55 | Torrance Burgess Jr. 54 Yd Punt Return (Buzz Flabiano Kick) |
|
TD | 2nd Period 8:55 | Holden Willis 17 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick) |
|
FG | 2nd Period 6:57 | Zeke Rankin 38 Yd Field Goal |
|
TD | 2nd Period 0:57 | Deion Hankins 2 Yd Run (Buzz Flabiano Kick) |
|
FG | 3rd Period 11:51 | Buzz Flabiano 33 Yd Field Goal |
|
TD | 3rd Period 10:29 | Zack Dobson 56 Yd pass from Nicholas Vattiato (Zeke Rankin Kick) |
|
FG | 4th Period 14:55 | Zeke Rankin 24 Yd Field Goal |
|
TD | 4th Period 14:32 | Kelly Akharaiyi 80 Yd pass from Cade McConnell (Buzz Flabiano PAT failed) |
Statistics
 UTEP |
 MTSU |
|
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1st Downs | 19 |
| 9-16 | 3rd down efficiency | 5-15 |
| 1-3 | 4th down efficiency | 1-2 |
| 453 | Total Yards | 427 |
| 364 | Passing | 242 |
| 24-41 | Comp-Att | 18-35 |
| 8.9 | Yards per pass | 6.9 |
| 89 | Rushing | 185 |
| 31 | Rushing Attempts | 35 |
| 2.9 | Yards per rush | 5.3 |
| 7-70 | Penalties | 5-41 |
| 4 | Turnovers | 2 |
| 3 | Fumbles lost | 1 |
| 1 | Interceptions thrown | 1 |
| 31:48 | Possession | 28:12 |
Game Information
Location: Murfreesboro, TN
Attendance: 9,122 · Capacity:
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