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For more than three quarters Tuesday night, UTEP’s overwhelming defensive effort was winning a long, lonely battle against Louisiana Tech’s offense and special teams.
That was never a likely formula for much more than heartbreak, and UTEP found it in a 14-10 loss to the Bulldogs that dropped it to 1-7.
UTEP receiver Kam Thomas sprints into the end zone in the first quarter Tuesday against Louisiana Tech to complete a 47-yard touchdown reception
The Miner defense deserved much better, but the offense and special teams didn’t. UTEP wasn’t moving the ball much behind quarterback Skyler Locklear, who was knocked out with an apparent head injury in the third quarter.
In came JP Pickles, fourth team three weeks ago, who led a field-goal drive to put UTEP up 10-7 with 2:02 left in the third quarter, but the Miners obviously weren’t going to let him throw the ball aggressively and they didn’t come close to scoring again.
Louisiana Tech stacked the line, daring it to win with the pass, and UTEP didn’t push the ball downfield. The Miners did get a 100-yard game from Jevon Jackson (112 yards on 22 carries), but other than that and a 47-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, the offense mostly traded three-and-outs with the Louisiana Tech offense.
Kory Chapman celebrates a sack during the first half of UTEP’s Tuesday game against Louisiana Tech in Ruston, La.
Then, the Miner defense, so good for so long, wore out and let Louisiana Tech go on a 97-yard drive that represented the bulk of their offensive output for the night. Louisiana Tech had one rushing yard when it began that drive, but it converted third-and-10 and third-and-13 on the drive that gave them their first lead.
UTEP got one final chance with 2:33 left, taking over at its own 31. It moved to their 46 on a personal foul penalty but couldn’t manage a first down. For the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/utep-football-drops-1-7-031751080.html
Author : The El Paso Times
Publish date : 2024-10-23 03:17:51
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