UTSA 25, UTEP 6: What We Learned

The first half was as bad as the weather. UTSA and UTEP players faced downpours, heavy wind, and lightning delays at the Sun Bowl on Saturday night. Lightning delayed first half play for 75 minutes and UTEP officials lumped halftime into the second delay, after cancelling the final 11 seconds of the first half. The Miners and Roadrunners combined for 10 punts on 15 possessions, and both teams missed a field goal. UTEP was picked off on its second drive, and UTSA was in the red after its first two drives. It lost yards on four of its nine plays, and had -15 yards. Everything felt off. UTEP gave away points. It was a three point game after the game’s second lightning delay, but UTEP handed out 22 points in the second half. The Roadrunners scored 15 points in the first five minutes of the second half, and jumped out to an 18-0 lead. UTEP started its first drive at its own two after a great Yannis Routsas punt. Jarveon Williams scored a rushing touchdown after Kavika Johnson was caught for a safety on the previous drive. Three plays later, Michael Egwuagu returned a Ryan Metz interception for a touchdown. It happened again at the 1:47 mark in the fourth quarter. Nate Gaines returned the interception 11 yards for the game’s final score. The Miners finished the game with four interceptions and a fumble. UTSA: Too many missed opportunities. UTSA had more chances to score, but it was plagued by missed opportunities, like it had been all season. Luckily, it wasn’t turnovers, like it was against Arizona, Oklahoma State and Colorado State. They actually won that battle tonight. Instead, it was the inability to drive down the field consistently, like the second half collapse against Kansas State. When they did, Daniel Portillo missed three field goals and a PAT. That has to get better.