Jordan Palmer threw for three touchdowns, leading the blue team to a 65-6 victory over the orange at UTEP's annual spring football game on Friday at the Sun Bowl.

Palmer hit Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. for a pair of touchdowns and Chris Francies for another as the Miners wrapped up spring drills on a high note.

UTEP Coach Mike Price was not only pleased with his team's performance, but also with the estimated crowd of 8,300.

"The turnout was great," he said. "It really helped make it a game-like atmosphere, which we needed with 10 new players."

Chris Hurd, splitting time between the blue and orange squads, passed for a game-high 203 yards and a pair of long scores. He found Marcus Thomas for a 75-yard touchdown and Daniel Robinson for a 58-yard catch.

Thomas, who also played for both teams, was the leading receiver with two catches for 111 yards. He also rushed 16 times for 54 yards.

Tyler Ebell rambled for 61 yards on 17 carries with a TD for the blue team.

Robinson snared four balls for 100 yards, and Higgins reeled in five catches for 74 yards. Matt Ellis pulled in a 71-yard scoring pass from Orlando Cruz early in the game.

Reagan Schneider scored 11 points on the evening, connecting on a 55-yard field goal and eight extra points.

Alfonso Auelua, one of several junior college additions to the roster, was the leading tackler with nine takedowns, and Chris Mineo supplied two sacks.

"I thought we were much more under control at the beginning of the game than we were a year ago," Price said. "It was a good all-around effort."

Blue 65, Orange 6

Scoring Plays
Blue Jordan Palmer 20 pass to Chris Francies (Reagan Schneider kick)
Blue Jordan Palmer 27 pass to Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. (Reagan Schneider kick)
Orange Orlando Cruz 71 pass to Matt Ellis (kick failed)
Blue Jordan Palmer 5 run (Reagan Schneider kick)
Blue Jeremy Jones 6 fumble return (Reagan Schneider kick)
Blue Josh Ferguson 23 interception return (Reagan Schneider kick)
Blue Jordan Palmer 15 pass to Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. (Reagan Schneider kick)
Blue Reagan Schneider 55 field goal
Blue Tyler Ebell 4 run (kick failed)
Blue Chris Hurd 75 pass to Marcus Thomas (Reagan Schneider kick)
Blue Chris Hurd 58 pass to Daniel Robinson (Reagan Schneider kick)

Rushing Leaders Tyler Ebell 17-61-TD, Marcus Thomas 16-54.

Passing Leaders Chris Hurd 8-18-203-2 TD-2 INT, Jordan Palmer 12-19-170-3 TD-1 INT, Orlando Cruz 9-16-130-TD.

Receiving Leaders Marcus Thomas 2-111-TD, Daniel Robinson 4-100-TD, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr. 5-74-2 TD, Matt Ellis 1-71-TD, Chris Francies 3-43-TD.

Tackle Leaders Alfonso Auelua 9, Tony Barnes 7, Emeri Spence 7, Rocco Bene 6, Troy Collavo 6, Thomas Howard 6.