EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — In front of 41,609 fans at the Sun Bowl, UTEP football suffered a 27-24 overtime loss to Southern Utah on Saturday night.
Down 27-24 in overtime, UTEP kicker Buzz Flabiano missed a 32-yard field goal to tie the game.
Earlier in that drive, Flabiano missed a 38-yard field goal attempt on 4th and 5, but an offsides penalty on Southern Utah’s defense gave UTEP an automatic first down and extended its drive.
A loss in front of more than 40,000 fans at the Sun Bowl in the Miners’ first home game of the season was a punch to the gut for a UTEP team that was favored to win the game.
“I want to apologize to our fans. Says a lot about the 915 and the passion of our fans. I hate that we start our home opener like this. The crowd was electric. They affected the game multiple game.” UTEP football head coach Scotty Walden said postgame.
With the loss to the FCS program, UTEP is off to an 0-2 start to the season.
One thing that hurt the Miners a ton in its game against Southern Utah was penalties. The Miners recorded 14 penalties for 122 yards.
“Inexcusable. The thing that’s frustrating is we beat ourselves. This loss is on me. 14 penalties. That was the name of the game.” Walden said postgame.
UTEP started the game off on the right foot. Skyler Locklear connected with Jevon Jackson on a short, five-yard pass for the first touchdown of the game. Miners took a 7-0 lead with 10:33 to go in the first quarter.
Later in the first, Southern Utah struck back. Bronson Barron linked up with Zach Mitchell for a 40-yard touchdown. Southern Utah failed on a two-point conversion and was down a point.
Next drive for UTEP ended with a touchdown. Locklear recorded a five-yard rushing touchdown to give UTEP a 14-6 lead with 1:35 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter with 2:57 to go, Flabiano nailed a 43-yard field goal to extend UTEP’s lead to 17-6. The Miners lead by 11 at the half.
In the third quarter, Southern Utah’s Targhee Lambson scored a 20-yard rushing touchdown. Thunderbirds trailed 17-14 after that score with 6:31 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, Lambson scored again, this time he found the endzone after a 46-yard run. Lambson’s touchdown gave Southern Utah a 21-17 lead over UTEP with 13:15 left in the game.
Later in the quarter, Southern Utah kicker Danny King extended the Thunderbirds’ lead to 24-17 after he made a 38-yard field goal with 2:39 left in the contest.
In its final drive of regulation, UTEP marched all the way down to SUU’s 4-yard line and tied the game with a trick play. In the last seconds of regulation, UTEP wide receiver Jaden Smith connected with Locklear on the trick play for the touchdown. Flabiano then made the extra point to tie the game at 24 and send it into overtime.
In overtime, Southern Utah was unable to score a touchdown and settled for a successful 33-yard field goal by King. That gave Southern Utah a 27-24 lead.
Flabiano’s missed 32-yard field goal led to Southern Utah securing its first win of the season.
UTEP quarterback Skyler Locklear completed 22-of-29 passes for 295 yards. He recorded a passing touchdown, rushing touchdown, and receiving touchdown. Running back Jevon Jackson recorded 80 rushing yards on 20 carries and had a receiving touchdown. UTEP DB Kory Chapman totaled up 13 tackles, seven of them solo tackles, and 2.5 tackles for loss.
UP NEXT
UTEP (0-2, 0-0 CUSA) will travel to Lynchburg, Virginia to take on the reigning Conference USA Champions, Liberty (1-1, 0-1 CUSA), to begin league play on Saturday, Sept. 14.
Southern Utah (1-1, 0-0 UAC) will return home to Cedar City and play UC Davis in its home opener on Saturday, Sept. 14.
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