LA Tech offense too much for UTEP to handle, Miners fall 42-21
EL PASO, Texas - UTEP's woes on the gridiron continued Saturday as the Miners lost their 6th straight game of the season.
In front of the home crowd at the Sun Bowl , UTEP fell to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs by a final score of 42-21.
LA Tech would get on the board first in the contest after a one-yard touchdown run by running back Israel Tucker in the first quarter, 7-0 LA Tech.
But UTEP would answer right back on the following possession with a 5 yard rushing touchdown by UTEP running back Treyvon Hughes.
The game would be tied at 7 in the first quarter, but that's as close as the Miners would get.
UTEP would turn the ball over twice (fumbles) in the 2nd quarter, and both turnovers would lead to touchdowns for LA Tech.
While the Miners didn't throw any interceptions, they couldn't hold on to the football as the Miners fumbled the ball 3 times in the contest
The Bulldogs would go into the half with a 28-7 lead.
The UTEP offense came alive in the fourth quarter as starting quarterback Kai Locksley rushed for a one-yard TD, and connected with Jacob Cowing on a 54-yard pass for another score.
Locksley set UTEP highs with 17 completions, 30 pass attempts and 227 passing yards.
But it was the play of LA Tech's J'mar Smith that really gave the UTEP defense problems Saturday night.
Smith threw for 338 yards and 3 touchdowns.
He completed 29 passes to eight different receivers, as Cee Jay Powell led the way with six catches for 85 yards.Â
Henderson rushed 17 times for 65 yards.Â
LA Tech finished with 490 yards of offense and 29 first downs.
UTEP falls to 1-6 on the season.
The Miners will be on the road for three of the next four games, starting next Saturday (Nov. 2) when they play at North Texas.
