EL PASO, Texas -- Sammy Garza threw a 24-yard TD pass to John Harvey, and Robert Murray intercepted a pass at the goal line in the final minute Saturday night to lift Texas-El paso to a 21-19 victory over Colorado State in a Western Athletic conference game.
Colorado State's Steve Bartalo, the nation's leading scorer, rushed for two second-half touchdowns, his 18th and 19th of the season.
In his final collegiate game, Bartalo gained 162 yards, moving him into seventh place on the all-time NCAA rushing list with a career total of 4,813. He holds the NCAA record for career rushes with 1,205, and his 294 points are the most ever by a non-kicker.
The victory was the Miners' third of the year, the most by the school in one season since 1974.
Murray's interception stopped a 16-play, 66-yard drive to the UTEP 21. Kelly Stouffer threw a second-down pass to the end zone with 1:13 left, and Murray picked it off. His play atoned for an earlier drop of a possible interception at the Colorado State 3.
UTEP used a trick play to take a 14-6 lead midway through the second period. Tight end Bob Keseday took a handoff from Garza on an end-around, stopped and threw the ball to Arnie Atkison for a 4-yard touchdown.
Colorado State took a 3-0 lead on its first drive of the game on a 38 yard field goal by Steve DeLine. The Miners came back late in the first quarter by taking advantage of an 18-yard punt by Colorado State. UTEP drove 42 yards on seven plays, capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass from Garza to Harold Collins to give the Miners a 7-3 lead.
DeLine added a second field goal three minutes into the second quarter from 42 yards out.
