(Reliant Stadium-Houston, December 29, 2004) The Colorado Buffaloes came back from a 21-13 half time defecit to defeat the University of Texas at El Paso Miners with the score of 33-28. The Buffaloes scored 20 points in the second half to take the lead on a 39 yard pass from quarterback Joel Klatt to receiver Evan Judge to seal up the victory.

The game was must less about defense and much more about offense, with a total of 61 points and 852 yards between the teams.

With a rousing fanfare from their band and spartan fan base, Head Coach Gary Barnett lead his Colorado Buffaloes on the field at Reliant Stadium in Houston hoping to take the momentum before the game started.

It was evident that the game really stated before the kickoff when the heavily partisan crowd saw their Miners win the coin toss, and from that point on, neither team looked back.

After the first series of downs, the Miners were forced to punt, with the Buffalos getting the ball on their 34 yard line.

Colorado drove down the field and scored first with 8:32 left in the first quarter. Sophomore Mason Crosby kicked a 26 yard field goal to give the Buffaloes a 3-0 lead.

Colorado soon got back in the game with an eight play 82 yard drive, ending with a nine yard run by Howard Jackson to score a touchdown, along with the conversion kick from Reagan Schneider to give UTEP a 7-3 lead.

After a short series of downs by the Buffaloes, El Paso again struck pay dirt again, with a seven play, 67 yard drive to take the score to 14-3 at the end of the first quarter.

The Buffaloes came charging back with a six play, 77 yard drive, climaxing with a one yard run by Hugh Charles and the conversion by Crosby to cut the Miners lead to 14-10.

The Buffaloes again cut the lead to one when Crosby kicked a 54 yard field goal. Crosby has the NCAA leading punt this season at 60 yards.

The Miners struck back with a 80 yard drive in 14 plays to score on a 17 yard touchdown pass form Jordan Palmer to Jason Boyd, with the conversion by Schneider, to take the score to 21-13.

After some changes in their defensive alignment at the half, he Buffaloes scored first in the second half with a Crosby 37 yard field gold, to allow them to cut the UTEP lead to 21-16.

From that point, the game was strictly the Buffaloes.

The Miners did manage to get on the board one more time with a three yard TD pass from Palmer to Johnnie Higgins, but Colorado answered that with two TD passes from Klatt of 78 and 39 yards to seal up the victory.

Colorado quaterback Joel Klatt and safety Tom Hubbard were selected as the Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Players, respectively. Klatt went 24 for 33, with 333 yards and two touchdowns. Hubbard had two interceptions and three tackles defensively.

Colorado Quaterback Joel Klatt went 24 for 33, 333 yards and two touchdowns to receive the EV1.net Houston Bowl Most Outstanding Offensive Player Award.

Colorado Safety Tom Hubbard had two interceptions and three tackles to lead the defense and be named the EV1.net Houston Bowl Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award.