WKU Football: Three Missed Field Goals Doom UTEP in Tops’ 15–14 Victory
After having two weeks to prepare for a winless team with an interim coach and after Mike Sanford claimed that WKU was on the cusp of…
After having two weeks to prepare for a winless team with an interim coach and after Mike Sanford claimed that WKU was on the cusp of turning the corner and getting several players back with injuries, WKU limped to a 15–14 road win in El Paso on Saturday.
This game was a total let down when you consider how awful UTEP has played before this game. After a scoreless first quarter and a second quarter Mike White touchdown run, WKU preceded to trail an 0–5 UTEP squad 14–8 at the half.
Most of the problems that dogged the Hilltoppers during the first four weeks continued to rear their ugly head: Three-and-outs, zero consistency in the run game and poor pass blocking continued to dog Mike Sanford’s offense.
WKU did take the lead on what ended up being the go ahead score on a 13 play, 80 yard drive capped off by yet another Mike White touchdown run with 7:24 left in the third.
From there, WKU clinged to that one-point lead and gave UTEP ample opportunities to take the go ahead score. WKU’s defense repeatedly allowed backup quarterback Zach Greenlee to drive the Miners down the field before UTEP’s Brady Viles missed field goals of 47 and 41 yards in the second half.
Between those two missed field goals, there were a boat load of penalties, dropped passes, negative rushing yards and three punts by the WKU offense. After Viles last field goal attempt, White finally connected on an 11-yard third down pass to Deon Yelder that allowed the Hilltoppers to escape the Sun Bowl with a bad feeling victory.
On the day, WKU was outgained by the Miners 287–282 and had over six minutes less in time of possession than the now 0–6 Miners. If you’re looking for any bright spots, the defense continued their bend-but-dont-break ways, allowing just 14 points, in continuing their solid play.
After five games of data, I think we can now ask if Mike Sanford’s inexperience is a detriment to this team. The offense slept walked through this one and problems that have been persistent didn’t show any signs of getting better. The offense only put up 14 points against a team that had given up on average 45 points per game.
WKU now returns home at 3–2 on the year, and .500 in Conference USA play, to face another winless conference opponent in Charlotte on homecoming.
The only saving grace for WKU is the fact that Conference USA is miserably bad. The Tops could struggle the rest of the year and still potentially win six or seven games.The bar has now been lowered and it’s up to Sanford and his staff to regain the trust of the fan base before it’s too late.
Here are your final stats from tonight’s near disaster:
What did you think about the win? Did we miss any silver linings? Hit us up in a comment below, on Twitter at @TheTowelRackWKU or on our Facebook page.