Ronald

Awatt

Awatt (6'0/205) wasn’t able to find any form of consistency against a solid Bulldogs defense. In fact, none of the Miners were able to establish anything on ground, amassing just 98 rushing yards at 3.4 yards per carry. He was able to find the end zone from one yard out to extend the lead to 17-9. Awatt finished the season with 843 yards and six touchdowns.

Awatt (6'0/205) wasn’t called on much in this game, but he came up huge when he was. Down 21-17, Awatt broke a screen pass up the left sideline outrunning everyone until getting tripped up at the end for 65 yards, setting up the go-ahead touchdown. On the next possession, he burst a 74-yard run off the right side to set up the insurance score that the Miners ended up needing. After Rice got two quick scores to end the first half, these two plays were vital in swinging the momentum in UTEP’s favor and it ended up in 21-straight points. UTEP faces UAB next Friday in search of their eighth win on the season.

Awatt (6'0/205) has now put together back-to-back 80-yard performances. A couple of big runs in this game masks an all-together okay performance. For the most part, Awatt didn’t get much going in terms of yardage as the Mean Green were tough upfront. The Miners did mount a comeback late in this game with the help of Awatt as he found the end zone from four yards to cut the deficit to 17-14. They would tie this game at 17, but unfortunately, North Texas would kick a game-winning field goal. UTEP (6-4, C-USA 3-3) will host Rice next week.

Awatt (6'0/205) also added a two-point conversion rush with less than three minutes to go in regulation to cut the lead of the Owls from 28-10 to 28-18. IT was the fourth rushing touchdown of the season for Awatt, and his first since the 26-13 win at Southern Miss back on Oct. 9. He and his Miners teammates will look to regroup next weekend at home against UTSA in the Sun Bowl in a nationally-televised game.

Listed as the third-string running back on the depth chart, Awatt (6'0/205) was the workhorse tonight for the Miners. He made his presence known on the first drive with a 17-yard touchdown run just 5:38 into the game. With Quardraiz Wadley not playing tonight, Awatt stepped up in a big way for the 5-1 Miners. Awatt and UTEP take on Louisiana Tech next Saturday.

Hankins (6'0/215) had to exit UTEP’s 30-3 win over New Mexico State due to injury, but after the game HC Dana Dimel said that there was no cause for concern. While this week’s matchup represents a good opportunity for the Miners to get the redshirt freshman some extra rest, Dimel did say during his press conference that he was unsure about Hankins’ timeline for return. Ronald Awatt (11 rushes for 74 yards and a touchdown) had as many carries as Hankins (11-50-1) in the opener, and the latter’s absence will free up more opportunities for Quardraiz Wadley (6-51-0). After Bethune-Cookman, UTEP is scheduled to visit Boise State on September 10.