UTEP falls to Oklahoma 56-7 in season opener

The UTEP Miners knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

Kicking off the 2017 campaign in Norman, Oklahoma taking on the 7th ranked team in the nation, the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners got on the board first on their first drive after Rodney Anderson rushed for a 2 yard touchdown.

That made it 7 to 0 Oklahoma.

UTEP responded on their first drive of the game with a 17-yard touchdown run by Walter Dawn Jr. to tie up the game.

Those would be the only points UTEP would get in the contest.

On the Sooners’ next possession, Dimitri Flowers rushed for a 3 yard touchdown to put Oklahoma back on top 14-7.

Oklahoma QB and Heisman Trophy candidate, Baker Mayfield, then started to attack the UTEP secondary.

He threw for 329 yards and 3 TDs.

By halftime the score was 35-7 in favor of the Sooners.

UTEP QB Ryan Metz was held to just 56 yards passing and no TDs.

Miner RB Walter Dawn Jr. rushed for 56 yards and 1 TD.

The final score was 56-7 Oklahoma.

UTEP will now have to regroup and prepare for their home opener next Saturday against Conference USA rival, the Rice Owls.

For the first half of next week’s game, UTEP will be without one of their star players on defense.

Linebacker Alivin Jones was ejected from the Oklahoma game for roughing Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray during a touchdown play.

As punishment, Jones will have to sit out the first half of the Rice game.