Vattiato’s late run helped Middle Tennessee beat UTEP 20-13.

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Nicholas Vattiato threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Myles Butler and ran for a 1-yard touchdown with 1:53 left to help Middle Tennessee beat UTEP 20-13 on Saturday.

Vattiato was 21 of 35 for 239 yards with two interceptions for Middle Tennessee (3-6, 2-3 Conference USA). Butler finished with five receptions for a season-high 101 yards.

On the go-ahead play, the UTEP defense was called offsides on third-and-1 and was called for pass interference on third-and-9 a few plays later, giving the Blue Raiders more sets of downs before Vattiato’s TD ended the game. scoring.

Zeke Rankin kicked a 21-yard field goal for MTSU to open the scoring midway through the first quarter. About 5 minutes later, Buzz Flabiano kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 3-3, and Jay Peoples added a 17-yard touchdown run to give the Miners a seven-point lead with 7:31 left in the first half.

Vattiato hit Butler over the middle at the UTEP 45, and he evaded a would-be tackler near the 40 and then raced the rest of the way to the end zone to make it 10-10 with 3:40 left in the second.

Dorian Hopkins intercepted the pass and returned it 20 yards to the UTEP 46 for Flabiano’s 29-yard field goal to give UTEP (1-8, 1-5) a 13-10 lead with 13:34 left in the third. quarter.

JP Pickles was 18 of 33 passing for 145 yards with an interception and added 77 yards on 17 carries for the Miners. Jevon Jackson rushed for 83 yards on 21 carries and caught five passes for 33 yards.

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