October 27, 1985
John Laird
El Paso Times
The University of Texas at El Paso recorded
one of the most surprising upsets in college football history Saturday
night at the Sun Bowl as the previously winless Miners stunned
defending national champion Brigham Young University, 23-16.
Coach Bill Yung, who had won just two games in each of his first three
years at UTEP and was 0-6 entering Saturday night’s game, called the
victory ever the nation’s seventh-ranked team “a great miracle.”
The Miners leaped into the national spotlight with big plays, not the
least of which was an interception by Danny Taylor in the second
quarter. Taylor caught the ball one yard deep in his own end zone and
returned it 100 yards, officially, for the touchdown that put UTEP
ahead to stay, 17-10.
Also in the big play category was a 52-yard touchdown pass from
quarterback Sammy Garza to Clarence Seay for UTEP’s first touchdown of
the night.
And Hugo Castellanos kicked a career-best 50-yard field goal in the
first quarter to move the Miners into a 10-10 tie. Castellanos also
kicked a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 29-yard field
goal in the third quarter.
But it was the UTEP defense that held the nation’s top-ranked passing
attack to just six points in the second half.
The Western Athletic Conference victory was especially shocking in that
UTEP had won only 14 of its past 121 games. Brigham Young dropped to
6-2 for the year and 3-1 in WAC play.
Brigham Young quarterback Robbie Bosco, who usually dominates with his
powerful passing, threw three other interceptions and fumbled the snap
that led to the Miners’ recovery and Castellanos’ second-period field
goal.
Bosco, who last week passed for 585 yards in BYU’s 45-23 defeat of New
Mexico, ended the game with 151 yards. He connected on 15 of 35
attempts. Garza completed eight passes for 146 yards.
1997 UTEP vs BYU
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