UTEP regroups from Texas Tech loss with open QB competition

The UTEP football team traveled to Texas Tech on Saturday night in search of an upset of Big-12 foe Texas Tech.

They came back to El Paso with a humbling loss, and an open competition at Quarterback.

The Miners were dismantled at the hands of Texas Tech 38-3, falling behind 21-0 at the break after a first half in which the Miners mustered just 54 total yards of offense.

After struggling to move the football behind QB Brandon Jones, Coach Dana Dimel turned to QB Kai Locksley in the 2nd Half.

Locksley was the starter for the Miners last season, but was arrested in the offseason on four charges. He was fully reinstated to the program prior to training camp.

Coach Dimel had said prior to camp that Jones would be given a long leash as the starter. But midway into the 2nd week of the season, the reins were turned over to Locksley.

Locksley was able to move the ball a bit more effectively than Jones, converting on a 3rd and short with his legs to extend a drive into Texas Tech territory in the 3rd Quarter. However, the drive stalled when Garrett Baechle missed a 47-yard field goal.

Neither Jones nor Locksley had sucess throwing the football, as both Quarterbacks combined to throw for a paltry 54 yards.

After the game, Coach Dimel was non-committal to a starter moving forward.

“I think both kids did good things, I think both kids made mistakes,” said Dimel of Jones and Locksley. “And so I need to look at the film. But they’re both talented kids who need to be utilized in our offensive system. But right now, no definitive answers on naming any starters or anything like that.”

It did sound like both Quarterbacks could be featured moving forward.

“Both of the kids are deserving of playing. And both of them are talented enough to win games for us down the stretch.”

UTEP is off this week, before hosting Nevada September 21st at 6pm MT.

KVIA 2019