EL PASO, Texas — Reagan Schneider kicked a school-record five field goals, including a 42-yarder in double overtime, then Quintin Demps intercepted a pass near the goal line that made it hold up, giving Texas-El Paso a 44-41 victory over Houston on Friday night.
The first-ever Conference USA game for UTEP (2-0, 1-0) started out real ugly, but proved to be very exciting.
Jordan Palmer threw two first-half interceptions and so many more ugly passes that he was booed early in the third quarter, then led the Miners on six straight scoring drives, turning a 19-5 deficit into a 34-26 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
The Cougars (1-2, 0-1) responded with a touchdown and a 2-point conversion that tied it. Schneider had a chance to win in it in regulation, but missed a 27-yarder with 2.9 seconds left. He had been 4-of-4, hitting from 42, 21, 32 and 25 yards.
The teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime, then Palmer opened the next series with three straight incompletions. Schneider followed with a kick that would have been good from another 10 yards back.
Houston's last chance ended with Demps picking off a pass from Kevin Kolb around the 2-yard line, with no receiver close by. It was the fifth interception of the game by Kolb, who only threw six in each of his first two seasons. He balanced his career-worst pickoffs with a career-best five TD passes.