Although it surrendered 23 points and 304 yards of total offense, the UTEP defense had nothing to be ashamed of.

On the field for more than 37 minutes and repeatedly having only three plays to rest before reentering, the Miners' defense never gave up in a game that was over early.

"Defensively, what impressed me was that we hung in there, " Texas-El Paso head coach Charle Bailey said. "In the second half we held them to six points and showed that we can play."

Last season the Miners' defense was one of the worst in the nation, giving up an average of 486 total yards a game while surrendering an average of more than 40 points.

This season it has been projected to do just as bad, switching to a 3-4 defense and depending on a number of junior college transfers to help immediately.

"I really felt that our players went out to compete," Bailey said. "They proved that defensively we have some depth. We ran people in and out all night and down the road that is going to help us."

The secondary had a solid night. It limited the Wildcats to 109 yards passing and ended one potential UA score when David Terrell intercepted Arizona quarterback Brady Batten's third pass of the game in the end zone.

Terrell, the Miners' second-leading tackler a year ago, started the game with five tackles in the Wildcats' first two possessions.

Up front, the defensive line was pushed around at times, but finished the game allowing only 3.5 yards per carry.

With a nonexistent offense, the defense never had a chance to recuperate. With an interception on their first play from scrimmage and only two first downs after the third quarter, the time of possession was the Miners' worst enemy.

"It was a big key - considering the number of people we had to play, the score could of been a lot worse," Bailey said. "They did all that we could of expected from them."

"You can't stay out there that long," defensive captain Micheal Comer said. "You have got to get some help. You can condition all you want and it won't help. Being out there for that long, you are going to give up something."

What they gave was a good fight. The Wildcats had numerous opportunities that folded. In the second half, the Wildcats never got inside the Miner 15-yard line and were repeatedly stopped on third down.

"When our defense was playing that good, we have to convert," UTEP running back Joseph Polk said. "You can't keep going three and out."

The UTEP offense was its own worst enemy, putting together only a couple of series that could be considered drives. It repeatedly set up the defense with bad field position with poor punt coverage.

"We finally have some depth," Comer said. "It is nice to know that when you come off the field that the guy going in will do the job."

The defense will have to remain confident with the offense still in slow-motion and struggling to get on track.

"I thought that we out-hit them all night, but as far as execution they were a little bit better than we were," Comer said. "We can only get better from here, though. There is not going to be any drop-off or let down."

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