EL PASO, Texas- The UTEP Miners once again found themselves undone by offensive struggles Wednesday night at the Sun Bowl, falling 19-8 to the Liberty Flames.
Despite being outgained 408 to 167 in total yards, the Miner defense delivered a gritty performance, holding the Flames to just one touchdown, a two-yard keeper by quarterback Ethan Vasko on the opening drive that gave Liberty an early 7-0 lead. From there, UTEP’s defense settled in, forcing field goals on multiple red zone stands. Liberty kicker Jay Billingsley connected on four attempts, accounting for the remainder of the Flames’ points.
The Miners’ defense gave their team every opportunity to stay in the game, but another anemic offensive showing made those efforts moot. UTEP managed only two first downs in the first half and did not cross midfield until early in the fourth quarter, already trailing 19-0.
Head Coach Scotty Walden alternated between quarterbacks Skylar Locklear and Malachi Nelson, but neither could spark life into the offense. The same issues that have plagued the Miners all season, dropped passes, inconsistent protection, and a nonexistent rushing attack, continued to derail drives. UTEP’s ground game mustered just 56 yards on 25 attempts, with most of the positive plays coming from Locklear’s scrambles under pressure.
Locklear provided the lone bright spot for the Miners, turning a broken play into a 19-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to 19-8 after a successful two-point conversion. The UTEP defense responded with a stop, handing the offense a chance to mount a comeback. However, Locklear’s second interception of the night, thrown across midfield, effectively ended any hopes of a late rally.
With the loss, UTEP falls to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in Conference USA play. While the defense continues to show fight, the Miners’ ongoing offensive inefficiency, regardless of who’s under center, remains the defining storyline of their season.
Story by Chris Gomez