LA Tech is the best of the West and tough. We slugged it out with them and it was no pillow fight. I know, 42 to 21 looks like it was a whuppin' but the offense was able to move the ball pretty well against the Tech defense and the defense bent, and bent pretty far, but didn't break!
We had four fumbles. We lost 3 and retained possession on one of them but had lost so much yardage that it was basically a turnover, too. LA Tech got the ball four extra times! The fumble at the beginning of the second quarter took us from the Tech 33 yard line after moving 33 yards in two plays. The offense was in field goal range and was moving the ball. That was a score wiped from the books. Instead, LA Tech started their drive on the Miners 41 and scored. 14 point difference that shouldn't have happened.
On the next UTEP possession Locksley fumbled at the 11 yard line and took another 7 points off of the scoreboard. Tech marched from their 9 and scored. I figure we lost 7 points but I figure Tech would have gotten the ball after what should have been a touchdown and done that. Lost 7 points that shouldn't have happened.
The second half we punted, they punted, we punted again and then they scored. Valid.
Locksley fumbled while being sacked with LA Tech getting the ball on the UTEP 26. They scored. Gift of 7 points.
Long drive and UTEP scores.
They punt and we fumble while being sacked at the UTEP 43. The fumble was just a sack as we recovered it, but had to punt. This fumble did no damage, though.
UTEP Interception and scores.
So, Take away the fumbles lost and we could have been at 21 all in the second quarter instead of 28 to 7.
Of course I understand that if ifs and buts were candy and nuts Christmas would be just dandy. But they aren't. But if you are Dimel, you have a valid argument that we might have even won that game had the fumbles not happened. I would have to agree, and that is just on scoring, not to mention the extra time on the field for the defense. Sonofabitch if the Miners probably would have won the time of possession and the game. Maybe. The point is that it was fumbles that lost the game. The coaching and play calling was good enough to hang with Tech.
If the team plays this well and eliminates the turnovers, the Miners could easily win four more games this season. I know, they could lose them all. But, the team played well enough to beat UNT, Charlotte, NMSU, and Rice.
