UTEP’s first-ever Mountain West game ended in a 61-7 loss at New Mexico. The Miners are 1-4 overall and 0-1 in the league, and nobody in El Paso should pretend this was close.
Buried Early
It was 14-0 after one quarter, 21-0 at the half, and 37-0 through three. UTEP didn’t score until the fourth quarter when qb Moore ran 86 yards for a UTEP’s only touchdown.
The start actually looked promising. The Miners had a touchdown erased by an illegal touch pass on their first drive, the defense stuffed UNM on fourth down at the UTEP 35. Then the wheels came off. The Lobos ripped off touchdowns on three straight drives, and the game was gone.
Turnovers and Special Teams Sank It
Five turnovers turned into 31 New Mexico points.
A pick-six early in the third made it 28-0. Later in that quarter, a blocked punt gave the Lobos a safety. That is just not going to produce winning football.
Toa Fa’avae went 15-of-19 for 249 yards and three touchdowns. New Mexico piled up 231 rushing yards and 262 through the air, and Cameron Mathews had 108 yards on just six carries. The Miners gave up 493 yards.
The Offense Never Got Going
UTEP finished with 271 total yards, and 86 of them came on one play. EJ Colson went 6-of-12 for 45 yards and 24 rushing before leaving early in the third quarter. The Lobos finished with four sacks, 10 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles.
That’s an offense getting hit in the mouth on every snap. That matters.
One Bright Spot: Raymond Moore III
Moore took over for Colson and ripped off an 86-yard touchdown run early in the fourth. It was the longest rush ever by a UTEP quarterback and the sixth-longest in school history.
He finished with 135 yards on 11 carries. No Miners QB had topped 100 rushing yards since Calvin Brownholtz in 2020. It’s a real highlight, but it came in a 54-point loss. Maybe there is a way to get him in the game more often.
Walden Owns It
Third-year head coach Scotty Walden didn’t dodge. He said he was embarrassed, apologized to the fans who made the trip, and said UTEP lost in every phase. He promised no excuses and no deflection.
That’s the right tone. Now the Miners have to show it on the field.
Why the Panic Is Fair
This was supposed to be a new era after 21 seasons in Conference USA. Instead, the Miners opened it with a 54-point loss and now sit at 1-4.
El Paso doesn’t need to be told to be patient. It needs to see a team that plays like it belongs in this league. A team that can be competitive on the scoreboard till the very end.
What to Watch
Nevada comes to town Saturday, Oct. 10, at 5 p.m. on FS1 for UTEP’s first Mountain West home game. Maybe one more game till full panic mode. But this game will be very telling as the Wolf Pack are 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the league. With both team having their woes this a very winnable game.
It’s also the one the Miners can’t afford to lose if there is going to be any hope for the rest of the season. Show up, El Paso. This team needs you more than ever.
