DJ McKinney and Hunter Watson help Sam Houston to its fourth straight win, 41-21 over UTEP

EL PASO, Texas (AP) DJ McKinney ran for 138 yards with two touchdowns, Hunter Watson threw for two scores and Sam Houston beat UTEP 41-21 for its fourth straight win on Thursday night.

Sam Houston drove 62 yards, 90 yards and 68 yards for touchdowns in the third quarter, making the score 38-7. The first two drives were capped by Watson touchdown passes that gave the Bearkats a 31-7 lead. Watson connected with Qua'Vez Humphreys 33 yards for a TD on the first drive and hit Michael Phoenix II for 34 yards to cap the second. McKinney rushed 59 yards for the third score of the quarter.

Sam Houston had 206 yards of total offense in the third quarter.

The Miners scored their first offensive touchdown late in the third period when Cade McConnell hit Marcus Vinson on a 52-yard pass that made it 38-14. Ezell Jolly had a short touchdown run that made it 38-21 before Sam Houston added a late field goal.

Watson completed 19 of 29 passes for 224 yards. He didn't play in the fourth quarter. Led by McKinney, the Bearkats (5-1, 2-0 Conference USA) had 295 rushing yards and 517 total yards.

McConnell was 15 of 28 passing for 204 yards for the Miners (0-5, 0-2).

The Bearkats dominated the first half, outscoring the Miners 263-70 total yards, but only led 17-7 at halftime.

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