Dallas

Smith's Late TD Secures North Texas Win Over UTEP

UTEP has lost 18 straight games

Nick Smith sprinted 20 yards to score in the fourth quarter to give North Texas just enough cushion to hold off UTEP 27-24 on Saturday night.

Smith's touchdown gave the Mean Green a 27-17 lead with 5:46 left to play. The Miners responded two plays later when Ryan Metz, in his first start for UTEP, hit Keynan Foster in stride for a 67-yard scoring strike to trail 27-24.

UTEP, which has lost 18 consecutive games, got the ball back with 2:45 remaining but the Mean Green defense stiffened when Bryce English and E.J. Ejiya sacked Metz, making it fourth-and-17 on UTEP's 24. The Miners went for it, but Metz's pass fell incomplete.

Mason Fine threw for 294 yards and two scores as North Texas (5-1,1-1 Conference USA) bounced back after losing 29-27 to Louisiana Tech last week. Rico Bussey Jr. hauled in eight passes for 117 yards and a score and Jaelon Darden caught five for 91 yards and a TD.

Metz threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions for the Miners (0-6, 0-2). Warren Redix caught seven passes for 131 yards.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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