History Makers: Denney’s career night carries Vaqueros to win No. 7
EDINBURG — UTRGV running back Nathan Denney looked primed for a big night early in Saturday’s conference game against Nicholls.
The graduate student exploded for a 12-yard carry on the game’s first play, then followed it with another run for a first down. The sequence set the tone for a career performance, as Denney rushed for a career-high 120 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vaqueros past the Colonels 28-14 at Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium.
The victory marked the Vaqueros’ seventh of the season, making them the first program since South Alabama in 2009 to win seven games during their inaugural campaign.
“Every game on offense is a mixture of pass and run,” Denney said. “It depends on who we’re playing. Going throughout the week, there was a big emphasis on the run game. We were just able to execute. Our offensive game plan was to run the rock, and we did so successfully. Shoutout to Eddie and the front five. Just a phenomenal job up front.”
UTRGV struck first when quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger connected with receiver Tony Diaz for a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The score was the eighth of the season between the quarterback and the receiver.
Nicholls answered with a 4-yard touchdown run by Miequle Brock Jr., but Denney’s first touchdown of the night put the Vaqueros back on top 14-7 heading into halftime.
After a game-tying touchdown pass from Ean Rodriguez to Everett Hunter in the third quarter, the Vaqueros responded with back-to-back scores to regain control.
Denney’s second touchdown, a 7-yard run with 3:29 left in the third, gave UTRGV the lead for good. Marburger then connected with receiver Tavian Cord on a 44-yard strike early in the fourth to extend the advantage to 28-14. Cord finished with a career-high four catches for 84 yards and one touchdown.
“Coach Bush just had a good game plan for the slots today,” Cord said. “Shoutout to Eddie and the O-line for being able to execute. They got some really good balls to me, and I took them. It’s hard to drop them when he puts them right on you. Eddie being so precise and the O-line picking up blitzes, credit to everyone.”
Nicholls tried to rally in the fourth quarter, but UTRGV sealed the win when defensive lineman Ian Box sacked the Colonels’ quarterback for an 11-yard loss on their final drive.
With the win, the Vaqueros improved to 7-3 overall and 3-3 in conference play, securing a winning record in their inaugural season.
UTRGV closes its road schedule next week, facing McNeese at 6 p.m. Saturday at Navarre Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Vaqueros are still searching for their first conference road win, entering the matchup 0-3 away from home.
“We’re going to take it one day at a time,” UTRGV head coach Travis Bush said. “We’ll take tonight, look at it and learn from it. Part of it is learning how to win on the road, learning how to prepare and go into that environment. That’s still a piece we’re working and growing on. This is our last opportunity. We’re going to get that conference road win at some point, and we’d love for it to be with this first group. That’s going to be the challenge this week.”
