UTEP Miners host final scrimmage before regular season

Head Coach Sean Kugler and the Miners hosted their final scrimmage before the start of the regular season. Kugler said Saturday’s performance was one of the best of training camp.

“I feel better about all of the quarterbacks, the entire group coming out of camp than I did going into it.” Kugler said.

The offense tallied 411 total yards and scored seven touchdowns, but the defense was no slouch as it made key plays to halt the offense during different scenarios.

UTEP Senior Linebacker Jimmy Musgrave said he felt good about the defense’s overall performance.

“It is all about being comfortable with the system,” Musgrave said. “the more you know, the more you can just go out there and play ball. I am not stressed about much anymore, just need to go out there and just make plays.”

The game scenarios included: move the ball drill, which started at the offense’s own 25-yard line, the red zone offense at the 20-yard line, gotta have it (a fourth-and-six from the 50-yard line), the two-minute drill from the offense’s own 35-yard line, backed up at own one-yard line and the four-minute drill (running the clock out with 2:20 to play).

UTEP quarterbacks combined for 231 yards on 24-of-48 passing and three touchdowns with zero interceptions. Mack Leftwich threw for 71 yards (8-of-18), Ryan Metz was 4-of-11 for 46 yards, and Kavika Johnson went 8-of-14 for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson mostly ran the red zone offense as he found Jaquan White for a pair of 20-yard scores. White caught three passes for 58 yards. Warren Redix paced the squad with four receptions for 51 yards.

Kugler is expected to make a starting quarterback decision for the Miners by Tuesday.