Schneider's five FGs lift UTEP past Houston in OT
EL PASO, Texas (AP) _ Reagan Schneider kicked a school-record
five field goals, including a 42-yarder in double overtime, then
Quintin Demps intercepted a pass near the goal line that made it
hold up, giving Texas-El Paso a 44-41 victory over Houston on
Friday night.
The first-ever Conference USA game for UTEP (2-0, 1-0) started
out real ugly, but proved to be very exciting.
Jordan Palmer threw two first-half interceptions and so many
more off-target passes that he was booed early in the third quarter
_ then he led the Miners on six straight scoring drives, turning a
19-5 deficit into a 34-26 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Cougars (1-2, 0-1) responded with a touchdown and a 2-point
conversion that tied it. Schneider had a chance to win in it in
regulation, but missed a 27-yarder with 2.9 seconds left. He had
been 4-of-4, hitting from 42, 21, 32 and 25 yards.
After the teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, Palmer
opened the next go-round with three straight incompletions.
Schneider followed with a kick that would have been good from
another 10 yards back.
Houston's last chance ended with Demps picking off a pass from
Kevin Kolb around the 2-yard line, with no receiver close by. It
was the fifth interception of the game by Kolb, who only threw six
in each of his first two seasons. He balanced his career-worst
pickoffs with a career-best five TD passes.
When Demps snagged his second interception of the game, he
returned it about 20 yards before realizing that he needed to go
out of bounds to secure the win. He crossed the line by the Houston
bench, then the Miners came pouring onto the field, assistant
coaches slapping hands as gleefully as the players.
A crowd of 45,558 -- evidence of how coach Mike Price has stoked
this border town's love of the Miners -- broke out in its biggest
cheer of the night. It was a fitting end, too, for the first-ever
nationally televised UTEP home game.
Palmer was 26-of-51 for 379 yards with two interceptions and
three touchdowns, all to Johnnie Lee Higgins, covering 15, 24 and
31 yards. They came in a six-drive span that included three of
Schneider's field goals. Had UTEP lost, the Miners certainly would
have rued settling for short kicks after having first-and-goal from
the 5-, 3- and 9-yard lines.
Palmer has thrown for at least two touchdowns in each of his
last nine games. He's had at least 300 yards passing in four of his
last five games.
Higgins had 156 yards on six catches. Tyler Ebell, a UCLA
transfer, ran for 149 yards on 24 carries and scored UTEP's
overtime touchdown. He also lost two first-half fumbles.
Kolb was 32-of-50 for 331 yards. His TDs went to Donnie Avery
covering 16 and 62 yards in the second quarter, Anthony Alridge for
53 yards in the third, Vincent Marshall for 8 in the fourth and
Jeron Harvey for 14 in OT.
Ryan Gilbert and Anthony Evans each ran for 92 yards for the
Cougars.
In the topsy-turvy first half, the teams combed for eight
turnovers and 17 penalties. Houston's punter fumbled a snap out of
the end zone for a safety, prompting Cougars coach Art Briles to go
for a QB quick kick on their next fourth down. Things were so out
of whack the first two quarters that there were scores of 5-0, 5-3
and 9-5.
Houston 41, 
UTEP 44
