Following a 27-7 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Skyhawks traveled even further west in their search for their first win of the season.
However, they will be waiting another week after falling 42-17 to the UTEP Miners, who landed knockout punch after knockout punch to the Skyhawks on their way to a 25-point win. It was not the most ideal start for the Skyhawks–who fumbled on their opening drive and gave the Miners a short 25-yard drive to score their first points of the game and go up by seven.

Following a lightning delay, and some offense that looked as if both teams had napped during the delay, the Skyhawks responded with a turnover and touchdown drive of their own as WR Bryce Bailey took a jet sweep into the endzone through two Miner defenders two tie up the game 7-7. That marked the last moment the Skyhawks would be in this game, as the Miners scored three straight touchdowns unanswered in the 2nd quarter to go up 28-7 at halftime.

The Skyhawks’ offense struggled immensely against the Miners, especially on the ground–tallying just 76 rushing yards in the first half on 40 attempts (1.9 yards per carry).

However, another group pushed to be the worst unit for the Skyhawks today and that is the defensive backfield -allowing 278 yards and four touchdowns in this game to former 5-star QB Malachi Nelson. Whether it was coverage or poor tackling, the Skyhawks’ DBs could not get a handle on the Miners’ offensive weapons. Those being WR Kenny Odom who racked up 124 yards and a touchdown on five catches, and WR Toric Goins Jr. who had 105 yards and a touchdown on three catches.

“Defensively, we’re better than that…only 54 plays, but too many big plays,” head coach Jason Simpson said in a post game interview.

The lone bright spot in this game for UT Martin was starting QB Jase Bauer, who completed 23 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown for the Skyhawks’ offense. The highlight of Bauer’s day was a 71-yard bomb to his only consistent playmaker of the night Bailey, who took the ball all the way to the UTEP 4-yard line–the Skyhawks would not score on that drive.

“(Bryce) went and caught the deep ball, just couldn’t get in…Right now, Bryce is the only one that gives us any big play opportunity,” Simpson said in a post game interview.

Unfortunately, their efforts were not enough as the Skyhawks were outpaced by the explosiveness of the Miners–who had five plays of 48 yards or more on the night.

The Skyhawks’ next game brings them home to Martin, Tennessee, for their home opener–where they welcome the 1-1 Southern Illinois Salukis on September 13 at 6 p.m.