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UTEP football falls to 0-5, problems continue with loss to Sam Houston

Posted on by Vanessa
UTEP football falls to 0-5, problems continue with loss to Sam Houston

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This isn't a huge revelation so much as a reiteration of the obvious, but the UTEP football team's offensive problems go deeper than the quarterback. The problems are everywhere and extensive.

That was evident all year and was evident again in the 41-21 loss to Sam Houston that dropped the Miners to 0-5. The defense held tight to a point, contributing a first-half touchdown that accounted for seven more points than the offense scored in the first 44:30 minutes, but it received no help as UTEP once again lacked free football.

Cade McConnell took over at quarterback, and although his numbers were dismal in the first half – 5 of 14 passes for 17 yards – five drops, several of which would have been first downs, led to a number of punts and an inability to do much to play together.

In the third quarter, UTEP drove to the 10 — eventually breaking the 100-yard mark of offense for the game — and fumbled a run that would have given it a first down. The Miners reached the 100-yard mark shortly afterward when the defense finally collapsed.

After UTEP made five straight starts starting on Sam's second possession, the Bearkats scored on five of the next six possessions.

UTEP was in a deficit from the first possession that they are ill-equipped to overcome. The story sounded familiar, as a defense that had been repeatedly sent out on the field became exhausted and a Sam Houston team that had learned how to win in its second season of FBS football pulled away.

The Miners added two cosmetic touchdowns to build on in the final 15:23 against Sam Houston's reserves, but that was long gone before the UTEP offense scored its first score.

Since UTEP's win over Sam Houston last season, which dropped the Bearkats to 0-8, Sam Houston is 8-2 and the Miners are 0-8.

At least for this season, better times seem to be a long way off.\

Sam Houston led 17-7 at halftime

UTEP had a 263-70 yardage lead in the first half and was fortunate to be within 17-7 in the first half, including a defensive touchdown by the Miners.

After Adam Jacklin's 63-yard punt, his UTEP highlight, pinned the Bearkats at the 1-yard line, Sam Houston thwarted an option handoff on the next play and Kory Chapman recovered for the first defensive touchdown of the year for UTEP.

That brought UTEP to 14-7, but other than that play, Sam Houston found its offense again after a period of Miner dominance.

Although the Bearkats opened with a 75-yard drive, they only got one first down on their next five possessions, two of which started in UTEP territory and ended in punts.

But UTEP couldn't keep its offense on the field as it couldn't find consistency in the running game, couldn't find consistency in catching the ball and couldn't get into a rhythm.

Next up is UTEP football

UTEP travels to Western Kentucky for the Hilltoppers' Red Out game on Thursday, October 10th. Kickoff at 6 p.m. Mountain Time in Bowling Green will be televised on ESPNU. A timing oddity: Sam Houston's next game is against Western Kentucky. After a bye week, the Bearkats host the Hilltoppers on Wednesday, October 16 on ESPN2.

Bret Bloomquist can be reached at [email protected]; @Bretbloomquist on X

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