Florida Atlantic holds off late UTEP charge, earns 28-25 win
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- — Johnny Ford ran for a 27-yard touchdown in the first quarter and James Charles scored on a short run in the fourth to give Florida Atlantic an 18-point lead, and the Owls held off a late UTEP comeback attempt to earn a 28-25 win on Saturday night.
The loss snapped UTEP's four-game win streak heading into a first-place showdown with UTSA next week.
Ford's run put Florida Atlantic (5-3, 3-1 Conference USA) up 7-3 in the first quarter. N'Kosi Perry hit LaJohntay Wester with a 39-yard touchdown pass with :02 left in the first half to send the Owls into the break with a 14-10 lead.
Zaire Mitchell-Paden punched in with 3:27 left in the third quarter to make it 21-10, and Charles' 1-yard run pushed it to 28-10 early in the fourth.
UTEP mounted a comeback with an 82-yard, seven-play drive. Ronald Awatt scored on a 5-yard run with 2:50 left and punched in the two-point conversion to make it 28-18. Gavin Hardison fired a 49-yard touchdown pass to Tyrin Smith with 2:02 left.
UTEP got the ball with :30 left but could not get itself in position to attempt a game-tying field goal.
Perry finished with 149 yards on 13-for-26 passing and Ford finished with 93 yards on 123 carries.
The Miners (6-2, 3-1) outgained Florida Atlantic 454 to 279. Hardison threw for 337 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice.
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Game Information
2024 Conference USA Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Western Kentucky | 4-0 | 6-2 |
Jacksonville State | 4-0 | 5-3 |
Sam Houston | 4-1 | 7-2 |
Liberty | 3-2 | 5-2 |
Florida International | 2-3 | 3-6 |
Louisiana Tech | 2-3 | 3-5 |
Middle Tennessee | 2-3 | 3-6 |
Kennesaw State | 1-3 | 1-7 |
New Mexico State | 1-4 | 2-6 |
UTEP | 1-5 | 1-8 |
2024 American Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Army | 6-0 | 8-0 |
Tulane | 5-0 | 7-2 |
Navy | 4-1 | 6-2 |
Memphis | 3-2 | 7-2 |
North Texas | 2-2 | 5-3 |
East Carolina | 2-2 | 4-4 |
South Florida | 2-2 | 4-4 |
Charlotte | 2-3 | 3-6 |
Rice | 2-3 | 3-6 |
UTSA | 2-3 | 4-5 |
Temple | 1-3 | 2-6 |
UAB | 1-4 | 2-6 |
Tulsa | 1-4 | 3-6 |
Florida Atlantic | 0-4 | 2-6 |