For week two of the 2025 season, the Skyhawks will stay on the road and travel to El Paso, Texas. 

*All stats are per espn.com, www.ourlads.com or https://utmsports.com/sports/football.* 

Before the start of the season, the University of Texas at El Paso Miners announced former USC and five-star recruit quarterback Malachi Nelson would be their starter for the week one opener against the Utah State Aggies. After an up-and-down game with one touchdown to one interception and a 64% completion, the Miners benched Nelson late in the third quarter in favor of redshirt freshman Shay Smith for the remainder of the game. 

The Miners could not stop just about a thing in week one against the Aggies, allowing 233 passing yards and one passing touchdown while allowing 129 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The Miners lost to the Aggies 16-28. Even with the loss, the Miners hope to get back on track and for Nelson to bring out what made him a five star recruit. Per Miners head coach, Scotty Walden, the team wants to hit on more explosive plays. 

Head Coach Jason Simpson’s Skyhawks have a lot to work on before their week two contest against the Miners, as both the offense and defense struggled in week one. The Skyhawks’ lone score came in the first quarter from a 39-yard trick play pass from senior wide receiver Bryce Bailey to graduate running back John Gentry. 

Redshirt senior quarterback Jase Bauer’s first start was something to forget about. In the game Bauer threw just 70 passing yards on nine completions through 16 attempts. The team did attempt to use his dual-threat ability with 11 carries on the ground. Unfortunately similar to most of the offense, Bauer could not get much, if anything, going with only 37 rushing yards. To give Bauer some leeway though–his protection from the offensive line needs to improve as he was sacked four times with three of those coming from Oklahoma State Cowboys’ redshirt freshman linebacker Wendell Gregory.

The Miners struggles to the stop the run is something the Skyhawks should look to take advantage of with Gentry who, despite only averaging 3.2 yards a carry, showed plenty of promise to pick up where former Skyhawks running back Patrick Smith left off with his impressive 5.6 yards a carry and 1228 rushing yards.

Overall, the team should to get more consistent offensive drives going this game over one explosive play. While yes a trick play here and there can help, you cannot rely on those types of plays to work every drive. 

The Skyhawks take on the Miners on September 6, 2025, at eight p.m. in El Paso, Texas.