Box Score

EL PASO, TX - UTEP scored 20 points in the third quarter and Howard Jackson rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown, while Jordan Palmer had a career night, completing 28-of-44 passes for 317 yards and five touchdowns to help the Miners defeat Hawai`i, 51-20, before a Homecoming crowd of 44,381 Saturday night at the Sun Bowl.

Warrior cornerback Abraham Elimimian tied a school record with three interceptions, but the performance went unnoticed as Hawai`i (2-3, 2-2 WAC) lost its second WAC game of the season. Chang, who did not play in the fourth quarter, finished the game 26-of-49 for 294 yards and two touchdowns. The senior has compiled 14,473 career passing yards and needs 558 to surpass NCAA record holder Ty Detmer (15,031) of Brigham Young.

UTEP (4-2, 2-1 WAC) scored two early touchdowns, taking advantage of a failed fake punt attempt and a 46-yard punt return by Jahmal Fenner. Both drives began at the UH 18-yard line. First, Palmer found tight end Jonas Crafts for a 3-yard score, and then wide receiver Chris Francies for a 15-yard touchdown on an inside screen.

Hawai`i struck back when Chang orchestrated a 9-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 30-yard strike to Gerald Welch to cut the lead to seven. It was Welch's first touchdown of the season.

Two plays later, Elimimian intercepted Palmer and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown, but a missed PAT allowed UTEP to keep the lead, 14-13. It was Elimimian's third pick of the season, the 10th of his career, and first returned for a touchdown.

Hawai`i had a chance at its first lead of the game, but a missed field goal by Justin Ayat from 29-yards out late in the first quarter stalled the effort. Then Palmer got the Miners back on track with a 12-play, 75-yard drive and found Johnnie Lee Higgins from 16-yards out to put the Miners ahead, 21-13, early in the second quarter. Reagan Schneider added a 48-yard field goal to help the Miners take a 24-13 lead into the locker room.

UTEP took its first possession after the break, and marched 80 yards in 11 plays. Palmer tossed his fourth touchdown pass on the night, second to Francies, from 9-yards out to put UTEP ahead, 31-13, and the Miners never looked back.

Chang returned to throw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Welch, his second of the game, to make it 44-20 entering the fourth quarter, but more miscues on offense and special teams made it impossible for the Warriors to mount a come back.

The Warriors return to Honolulu for Homecoming against San Jose State Saturday, Oct. 23. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Aloha Stadium. - UH -