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UTEP Miners

UTEP Miners
Eazy E
30
Winner Louisiana Tech LAT 4-1 , 2-0
11
UTEP TEP 1-4 , 0-1
Winner
Louisiana Tech LAT
4-1 , 2-0
30
Final
11
UTEP TEP
1-4 , 0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
LAT Louisiana Tech 7 0 3 20 30
TEP UTEP 0 0 0 11 11

Game Recap: Football |

LA Tech Pulls Away Late, Beats UTEP 30-11 Saturday Night


GAME BOOK | POSTGAME NOTES

EL PASO – UTEP's defense recorded five sacks, recovered three fumbles and posted its first interception of the year en route to holding LA Tech to an opponent season-low 232 yards, but the Miners' offense couldn't quite get on track in a 30-11 setback in their Conference USA opener and 93rd Homecoming Game at Sun Bowl Stadium Saturday.
 
It marks the second straight year that UTEP (1-4, 0-1 CUSA) limited the Bulldogs (4-1, 2-0 CUSA) to fewer than 300 yards of total offense. It was a competitive first half, with the Orange and Blue down just a score (7-0) heading into the locker room. UTEP remained within striking distance (10-0) through three quarters of play before LA Tech pulled away down the stretch.
 
The three recovered fumbles by the Miners were the most since they also came up with a trio against no. 22 Liberty on Nov. 25, 2023.  UTEP added a season-high five pass breakups, to go along with the interception by Justin Content. Furthermore, the five sacks marked the third time this year the Orange and Blue posted four or more in a game.
 
Content (career-high 13), Micah Davey (12) and Neil Campbell (10) all reached double figures in tackles, while Jayden Wilson (season-most nine) and Xavier Smith (eight) were heavily involved as well. Udoka Ezeani forced two fumbles and had a career-high 2.0 sacks. Wilson had both a force and a recovery that he rambled for 34 yards late in the first half. Davey and Solo Barnes also had recoveries. 
 
UTEP had some good moments offensively and finished with 273 total yards, including 135 during a big fourth quarter where it produced 11 points, but it wasn't enough to mount a comeback. Tanner Cragun connected on a 38-yard field goal, the first of his UTEP career, to get UTEP on the board. The Miners then made it a two-possession game (24-11) after a touchdown and two-point conversion with 3:34 left, but LA Tech recovered the ensuing onside kick to snuff out the rally. 
 
"I told the guys after the game I'm truly proud of them and I mean this in every sense of the word. I know that the score in this game is nowhere near indicative of how close it was," UTEP Head Coach Scotty Walden said. "This week I felt like we didn't get out-efforted. I felt like we got our edge back and hunger back. We had a phenomenal week of preparation and practiced extremely physical, and our defense played championship football tonight. Offensively, the main issue was the turnovers. Those came in a cluster."
 
Malachi Nelson finished 17-of-37 for 71 yards, but he was hindered by four interceptions against the top defense in CUSA. Skyler Locklear orchestrated a four-play, 75-yard scoring drive in just 1:24 in relief of Nelson, which was capped by a 35-yard strike to reigning CUSA Freshman of the Week Wondame Davis Jr. He then found Josh Schuchts for the two-point conversion. 
 
Schuchts, playing his first game as a Miner, finished with a team-high tying four catches for 21 yards while also getting the start. Kenny Odom returned to the lineup for four snags and 11 yards. Davis Jr. hauled in two passes for 58 yards and the score.
 
Ashten Emory carried 11 times for a career-best 50 yards to pace the ground game. 
 
The first half was a defensive battle, as the Bulldogs' defense allowed only 82 yards of total offense, while the Miners' defense yielded 135 yards. 
 
The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard first following a Nelson interception at the 10:38 mark. Sifa Leota picked off the pass on a tipped ball and returned it to the LA Tech 40. Blake Baker led the 'Dogs on a 60-yard, 10-play drive that resulted in a Marques Singleton Jr. five-yard touchdown reception from Baker, helping to put LA Tech up 7-0 at the 6:14 mark of the first. 
 
Following a failed fourth-down conversion by the Miners at their own 48, LA Tech took the ball to the UTEP 5. However, the sophomore cornerback Content intercepted his first career pass in the end zone on an acrobatic one-handed catch. UTEP couldn't capitalize as it went three-and-out. 
 
LA Tech extended its lead to 10-0 following a Drew Henderson 37-yard field goal at the 5:47 mark of the third quarter. The Miners got things going in the final frame, but it wasn't enough to come all the way back.
 
Cragun got the Miners within seven points (10-3) early in the fourth quarter (14:55). However, the Bulldogs pulled away and grabbed momentum when Jakari Foster took an interception back 67 yards as LA Tech took a 17-3 advantage with 10:22 left in the game. Clay Thevenin's touchdown from four yards out extended the lead to 24-3 with 4:58 left.
 
Locklear came in relief under center and found Davis Jr. on a 35-yard touchdown, followed by Josh Schuchts's two-point conversion to make the count 24-11 with 3:34 left. But an Alonzo Jackson Jr. 23-yard pick-six put the game away. 
 
UP NEXT
UTEP will host Liberty to open Conference USA Midweek Madness on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. in the Sun Bowl. The Miners and Flames will be televised on CBSSN, and heard on "The Home of UTEP Football" 600 ESPN El Paso and the UTEP Miners app.
 
  
For complete coverage of UTEP Football, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPFB (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com. 
 
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