If things couldn’t get any more enticing for UTEP football, the Miners head into their bye week after a cliff-hanger outing to Mountain West contender, the Colorado State Rams.
The Miners fell to the Rams 27-17.
The start of Saturday’s affair prolonged the concerns of the Miners fan base searching for optimism. As Colorado State would head into the locker rooms at halftime with a two-possession lead, one which they would extend early in the third, putting the Rams up 21-3.
The second half is where the impact of UTEP’s week four matchup is truly highlighted.
As the third quarter began, coach Scotty Walden pulled sophomore quarterback Skylar Locklear, who had thrown an interception in the red zone during the second quarter, from the game and inserted junior Cade McConnell.
McConnell, who hasn’t played since UTEP’s opener against Nebraska, came into the game and put the Rams on notice.
In the middle of the third quarter, the junior got into a groove, connecting with five different receivers on a 75-yard drive which would culminate in a 28-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Kenny Odom.
After the UTEP defense forced Colorado State to punt, McConnell would once again lead the Miners down the field and connect with none other than Odom, this time from 55 yards out.
Unfortunately, holding calls plagued the Miners when in the depths of the gridiron, preventing UTEP from converting a key third and 1, and erasing a potential 67-yard pick six by senior Josiah Allen.
“We had two fourth downs that we didn’t convert, and that’s the disappointing part,” said Walden. “I’m very proud of the fight in the second half. But we must become a consistent football team.”
In total, McConnell threw for 220 yards, and two touchdowns. Odom had his best collegiate football outing, with 128 yards, and two touchdowns, a career high.
UTEP’s loss to a prestigious group of five opponents is nothing to be pessimistic about, as the Miners exceeded pundit expectations.
McConnell led the Miners to two nationally televised wins last year after starting the last six games under previous head coach Dana Dimel.
The Miners head into the bye week with a quarterback decision that possibly holds the fate of the season, and UTEP’s football future, in their hands.
The Miners return to the Sun Bowl at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3 to face off in their first C-USA matchup of the season against Sam Houston State.
Sebastian Perez-Navarro is a staff reporter for The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected]
