After UTEP Football Falls to Southern Utah, The UTEP Two Step asks, has there ever been as much hype surrounding a football game between two teams entering 0-1... being blown out by a combined 89-7?
Let me answer this before you research. No.
However, there was a little fuel added to this otherwise forgettable week two game of the college season between two teams that aren't rivals and more than likely won't play against one another in the near future.
How and where was this fuel added?
When SUU Head Football Coach, DeLane Fitzgerald did the unfathomable... He dared to question UTEP's rebuilding process, normally empty stadium and went with the low lying fruit of calling El Paso a "vacation destination" in a sarcastic manor.
None of this is major, but sports fans need something, don't take this from us!
There it was, the motivation players and coaches from other cities that just transferred to a new city need to play a little harder!
UTEP was a 7.5 point favorite to win their home opener in the historic Sun Bowl and came out of the gates, hot... well, hot for them.
Skylar Locklear (transfer from Austin Peay) tossed a 5 yards tuddy and then ran for a 5 yard tuddy and at the end of the first, UTEP had a 14-6 lead.
The second quarter saw a Buzz Flabiano fieldgoad to swell the Miners lead to 17-6 and the 3rd quarter saw SUU score a TD when Targhee Lambson rumbled in from 20 yards out. SUU then converted the 2 point try and the game entered the 4th Quarter, 17-14 UTEP... Not too happy if you bet the Over and for UTEP to cover the spread.
However, in the 4th Quarter, the game went INSANE!
Lambson ran in a 46 yard TD, Daniel King kicked a 36 yard field goal and just like that UTEP was against the ropes, Down 24-17 with only 2:40 left.
Andy Morgan on the broadcast said "This might be good for UTEP, the high powered offense wants to get out and run!" His confidence and optimism were met with a rolling of my eyes... High Powered offense? They had 17 points and the game was almost over.
Boom! Big Play after Big Play and with no time left, UTEP scored When Jaden Smith threw a 4 yard TD to Locklear (Locklear's 3 overall TD for the game), off the UTEP Philly Special! 0:00 left on the clock and UTEP 's Buzz Flabiano kicked in a clutch extra point to send the game into OT.
UTEP's defense held SUU to a field goal (27-24) and then the unthinkable happened... on 4th and 4, UTEP missed a game tying field goal!
Wait... Flag on the play?!? Offsides from SUU 5 Free Yards and a new lease at life in this game!
UTEP moved the ball forward... penalty get called, nothing, nothing, nothing... time for Buzz Flabiano to redeem himself, from 36 yards out! WIDE LEFT!!!!
UTEP falls to SUU and starts the Scottie Walden Era 0-2.
BOX SCORES... That Matter
UTEP Offense:
Skylar Locklear: 3 Total TD's (5 yards passing, 5 yards rushing, 4 yards receiving)
22/29 - 295 Yards, 15 rushes for 47 yards
Jevon Jackson: 20 rushes for 80 yards
Kam Thomas: 5 receptions for 99 yards
Kenny Odom: 5 receptions for 97 yards
Southern Utah University Offense:
Targhee Lambson: 20 rushes for 183 yards (2TD)
Zach Mitchell: 3 receptions for 62 yards (1TD - 40 yards)
Surprisingly, 0 sacks, 0 fumbles, 0 interceptions in this game... Clean!
Buzz Flabiano: 1/3 FG's
Danny King: 2/3 FG's.
What's Next?
UTEP will face off against defending C-USA Champion, Liberty (1-1) in Lynchburg, VA at 4pm MST.
UTEP's next home game will be October 3rd vs Sam Houston. You can buy tickets
.
Comments