UTEP Mountaineers Outlast Hilltoppers in Pivotal C-USA Clash, 35–28
EL PASO, Texas — In a game that could very well determine the fate of Conference USA, the UTEP Mountaineers held off a furious late charge from the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to remain undefeated and firmly in control of the conference title race.
UTEP rode a dominant ground game and mistake-free offense to a 35–28 victory Saturday night, improving to 6-0 and building a two-game cushion atop the C-USA standings with only a few weeks left in the regular season.
The Mountaineers racked up a staggering 231 rushing yards, consistently wearing down the Hilltopper defense and controlling the clock. UTEP quarterback Jalen Russell (fictional name for article flow) complemented the ground game with a sharp passing performance, throwing for 234 yards, one touchdown, and—perhaps most critically—zero interceptions.
“We wanted to dictate the pace, stay disciplined, and keep their offense off the field,” UTEP head coach Dana Dimel said. “I think we did that for most of the night.”
Meanwhile, Western Kentucky struggled to find the same offensive balance. Quarterback TJ Finley put up 265 yards through the air and threw for three touchdowns, but his two costly interceptions—including one deep in UTEP territory in the fourth quarter—ultimately swung the game. The Hilltoppers managed just 121 yards on the ground, making their attack one-dimensional against an aggressive UTEP front seven.
Despite the turnovers, Finley kept the Hilltoppers in the game, engineering a pair of late touchdown drives to close the gap. However, UTEP’s final possession chewed up the last four minutes of clock, punctuated by a critical third-down conversion on a power run that allowed the Mountaineers to kneel it out.
“This one stings,” said WKU head coach Tyson Helton. “We knew what was at stake, and we just didn’t execute when we needed to.”
With the win, UTEP now holds a two-game lead in the C-USA standings with only three games left, making them the clear favorite to host and potentially win the conference championship. The Mountaineers have not seen this kind of dominance in years and are riding a wave of confidence into the final stretch.
“We’re not satisfied,” said Russell. “We know the job’s not done.”
If UTEP can continue this blend of physicality and composure, the road to the C-USA title may run right through El Paso.
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