Coming off a win in the Battle of I-10 against bitter rival New Mexico State, UTEP had an extra week after to prepare for the nationally ranked Kansas State Wildcats. This would be the second time that UTEP plays a Big 12 team this season with the first being a 30-26 loss to Texas Tech. The trip to Manhattan, Kansas, will be the Miners last non-conference game before heading into their Conference USA schedule.
Senior quarterback Jameill Showers and sophomore running back Aaron Jones lead a high-power offense that ranks ninth in the nation in rushing yards per game, with Jones being ranked fourth overall in rushing yards. With a dominant performance in the run game against the Aggies, the Miners will look to continue that trend against the Wildcats by giving the ball to Aaron Jones. The El Paso Native feels confident in the season he’s had so far and looks to continue that success.
“We feel like we’re different from Auburn and we can run the ball on them, and that’s what we do,” said Jones when referring to Kansas State’s previous opponent.
Kansas State had a tough time at home against a strong Auburn last week after a 20-14 loss. The Wildcats went home empty-handed in the kicking game as they went zero for three. Head coach Sean Kugler does not seem concerned about their lackluster performance; instead he is focused on playing the game his way.
“Well you know kickers go through a lot of things and I’m sure that kid is working on bouncing back, he’s not our worry, our worry is getting done what we need to get done,” Kugler said.
The Miners focus is on defense against a strong balanced offense that can hurt their opponent on the ground as much as they can through their passing game.
“They are very balanced, the quarterback has 236 yards rushing, he’s their leading rusher. He’s got four touchdowns rushing. 24 he’s got five touchdowns rushing; they put the ball in his hands in the Wildcat as well in the redone. They’ll look to run it sometimes as well as throw it, they are balanced and they do what they do well,” said Kugler.
Offensively coach Kugler spoke about the importance of sticking to what has worked well for the Miners in the past and that is continuing to run the ball.
“Aaron Jones is a talented back, and he is going to have a chance to show it against probably one of the best run defenses in the country,” Kugler said. “They are probably the best defense we’ll face all year. They play hard, they have a great scheme, they are very disciplined and it’s going to be an extreme challenge for us to run the ball against these guys.”
For the Miners establishing the run early on will be key to success against a strong defense that stopped a strong SEC team in the Auburn Tigers. Quarterback Showers feels starting fast and moving the ball will be key.
“With a defense like that, they are very disciplined, you really want to stay out of second and long, third and long because I mean those will be really hard to convert. Like I said if we are discipline with short game and the long game and we can force a third and medium and a third and short, we’ll be fine there,” Showers said.
For Jameill Showers, the opportunity to go into a familiar ground like Kansas State is an advantage he feels he has over some of his teammates.
“Mentally it’s kind of an advantage just because I know what to expect,” Showers said. “They are a good team, they are a different team from whenever I played them, and that was actually my first touchdown ever in college was against K-State at K-State.”
