The UTEP Miners pulled within two points of the heavily favored Fresno State Bulldogs in Saturday afternoon’s New Mexico Bowl with some classic misdirection.
Facing a 3-and-1 from midfield down nine, UTEP approached the line of scrimmage in a bunch formation with three in the backfield. All signs pointed to a run play, and Fresno State responded accordingly, putting 11 in the box.
What happened next was one of the gutsiest play calls we’ve seen all season.
Quarterback Calvin Brownholtz acted like he was going to run it up the gut, but at the last second, he dropped back and found a wide-open Trent Thompson streaking down the field with no defenders in sight. He connected with his tight end for a 51-yard touchdown to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 26-24.
You read that correctly. The Miners ran a FAKE QB SNEAK. From the bunch formation!
TOUCHDOWN UTEP
UTEP WITH THE CALL OF THE YEAR! #Utep #UAB pic.twitter.com/iKnduXEfmA
— Sideline CFB (@SidelineCFB) December 18, 2021
It’s unclear if this was an audible based on what Brownholtz and the coaches saw at the line of scrimmage, or if Miners coach Dana Dimel just has ice-cold water coursing through his veins at all times. Let’s just ignore the fact that Brownholtz looks to the sideline right before the snap and assume it’s the latter.
Regardless, it’s plays like these that make even the lower-tier bowl games magical. Long live the New Mexico Bowl.
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