UTEP loses at Rice for third-consecutive time

UTEP fell for the fifth time in their last six tries against Rice and for the third time in a row in Houston, losing Nov. 5 41-37.

Trailing 31-27 with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter, senior quarterback Nick Fanuzzi pioneered the Owls down the field from the start of the drive. He led with a 51-yard pass on the first play then capped it with a six-yard strike to freshman wide receiver Jordan Taylor for the touchdown. During the drive, Fanuzzi went 5-for-5 with 75 yards and nine rushing yards.

The Miners had their chance to take the lead again but junior quarterback Nick Lamaison was intercepted for the second time in the game on UTEP's third play of the drive.

Rice took over at their own 21-yard line with 6:37 to go. The Owls disallowed any hope of a UTEP comeback when Fanuzzi completed a 33-yard pass on a 2^nd-and-11. He then rushed for 14 yards on a 2^nd-and-25 and found senior WR Randy Kitchens from 23 yards out on third down.

UTEP put up one last touchdown on the board and missed the extra point on the ensuing drive with 42 seconds remaining but could not recover the onside kick.

Fanuzzi finished with 405 yards on 70-percent passing with three touchdowns. Rice completed the game with 671 total yards of offense and outgained UTEP on the ground, 222-98.

With the loss, the Miners must win two of their next three games to become bowl eligible for the second season in a row. UTEP hosts East Carolina at 6 p.m. Nov. 12 then stays at home to take on Tulsa at 1 p.m. Nov. 19 for senior night. The Miners close the 2011 season Nov. 25 at UCF.

William Vega may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.