El Paso, Texas -- Cody Cardwell returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown with 1:22 remaining to lead SMU to its second victory of the season on Saturday, a 42-35 decision at UTEP in the Sun Bowl.
"Cody was close to going all the way on a couple of returns in the first half and he broke one at the best time," said Mustang head coach Phil Bennett. "It was a big-time play and I am so proud of him."
The win wasn't sealed until the final play though as UTEP quarterback Omar Duarte's pass into the end zone fell incomplete. Duarte had connected on a 46-yard Hail Mary four plays earlier on fourth-and-31 from the Miner nine-yard line to keep UTEP's hopes alive.
SMU trailed 21-14 at halftime but took control of the game early in the third period, scoring twice in the first 4:55 after intermission. Keylon Kincade accounted for all 38 yards - on three rushes - on the Mustangs' first drive of the second half, capping the possession with a 14-yard run to tie the game. Kris Briggs scored on an 11-yard run 2:25 later to give SMU its first lead at 28-21.
UTEP tied the game at 28 with 5:25 to play in the third when Duarte hit Terrance Minor for a 24-yard score.
SMU regained the lead on its first possession of the fourth period when Richard Bartel hit Derron Brown with a 14-yard TD pass. The score capped a six-play, 64-yard Mustang drive.
The Miners tied the game with 8:21 to play when Duarte hit Chris Francies with a 16-yard scoring pass.
The teams traded punts twice, setting up Cardwell's heroics. He fielded the punt at his own 34-yard line and went straight up the field nearly untouched for the winning score. It was the first time an SMU player had returned a punt for a score since Albert Johnson did it on Oct. 3, 1998 at Hawaii.
UTEP jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its second play from scrimmage when Duarte hit Sherman Austin with a 71-yard TD pass.
SMU tied the score on the first play of the second period when Bartel hit John Hampton with a 25-yard TD strike. The Mustangs were marching to take the lead on their next possession, but Weldon Cooks picked up a Cedric Vinson fumble and raced 68 yards for a score to give UTEP a 14-7 lead.
SMU tied the score on Bartel's 18-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Francis 2:20 before halftime. Duarte caught a five-yard pass from Austin on a pass back to the quarterback with 18 seconds remaining to give UTEP a 21-14 advantage at intermission.
Bartel completed 16-of-27 passes for 238 yards with three scoring passes. Hampton caught five passes for a career-best 124 yards. Kincade finished with 88 yards on 24 carries. Cardwell set a school and Sun Bowl record with 169 yards on six punt returns.
SMU will close the 2002 season next Saturday at home against Tulsa at 2:00 p.m.
