GAME BOOK | POSTGAME NOTES

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Trailing 24-7 to Missouri State at halftime, the UTEP football team roared back with 17 unanswered points to knot the game heading to the fourth quarter. But Bears quarterback Jacob Clark connected with Tristian Gardner for the go-ahead, 12-yard TD with 11:09 remaining, spurring the Bears' 38-24 win over the Miners on Saturday at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.

Clark completed 30-of-39 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns for the Bears (7-3, 5-1 Conference USA), who stayed within striking distance of the league title in their first year both as an FBS and CUSA member.

The Miners (2-8, 1-5 CUSA) tied the game on a blocked punt return for a TD by Ekow Taylor with 2:15 left in the third quarter. It was the first blocked punt return for a score by UTEP since 2016, and the first in a road game since 2011. But Missouri State put the game away with back-to-back TD drives. Clark's three-yard touchdown pass to Dash Luke with 3:12 to go was the clincher.

"We weren't ready to play, and that's on me as the head coach. All year long, that's been our story," second-year UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said. "I got to do more. I've searched for different ways. At practice, we've made adjustments, and there's no doubt it's been addressed, but we cannot seem to come out with a fast start, and that's been very disappointing. It's been a lot of short-term intensity and not a lot of long-term consistency. I'm extremely disappointed and sorry to our fans, sorry to our players, and we didn't play to the standard today by any means. It's frustrating. [Missouri State] absolutely destroyed us on time of possession, which again I don't care unless we're being super explosive, which we weren't on offense. They did a great job at extending drives. I give them credit, they went through a big lull, they responded. When they punched back, we couldn't respond. We scored 17 points in the third quarter and it was probably the best quarter of completely complimentary football that we played all year."

Shomari Lawrence rushed for 109 yards for Missouri State, which amassed 436 yards of offense to UTEP's 240.

Skyler Locklear had 125 yards passing and 56 rushing to pace the Miner offense. Micah Davey was once again the star of the defense with 12 tackles, including eight solos.

After Missouri State scored on all four of its first-half possessions, the Miners held the Bears to one first down on their first three drives of the second half to get back in the game.

The Miners capitalized on a season-long 41-yard punt return by Nik Henry early in the third quarter and converted a 26-yard field goal by Tanner Cragun to draw within 14 points (24-10). 

Then, after the UTEP defense forced a second consecutive three-and-out by the Bears, the Miners marched 54 yards down the field and cut the deficit to seven (24-17) on a four-yard rushing TD by Locklear.

Locklear tied the UTEP single-season record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (seven), set by Bobby McKinley in 1974.

Taylor's blocked punt return put the Miners in position to spring the upset. But UTEP wouldn't score again.

Clark completed 18-of-23 passes for 218 yards and two scores in the first half, leading the Bears to a 17-0 lead.

The Miners finally dented the scoreboard on a one-yard touchdown run by Locklear shortly before halftime. But the Bears got the points right back, moving 74 yards on seven plays in a little over a minute to claim a 24-7 advantage at the break. 

Missouri State compiled 269 yards of offense in the first half.

UP NEXT
The "Battle of I-10" returns to El Paso next Saturday (Nov. 22) when the Miners host NM State in the final home game of the season.  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. MT. Fans can purchase a hot dog and medium soda for $9.15 (regular price $11.50). Plus, fans who purchase a ticket to the football game are eligible for a $1 ticket to the UTEP women's basketball game versus UT Martin later that day. Tickets are available by calling (915) 747-UTEP or by visiting www.UTEPMiners.com.