Oklahoma’s opening game in El Paso was more like a 10 rounder between a highly-promoted prize fighter and a tough-nosed gym rat that went the distance.
But, the Sooners managed to outlast the UTEP Miners 24-7 in what most Oklahoma fans would just call a plain old ugly brawl marred by inconsistent offense and kicking game miscues.
The game did establish receiver Kenny Stills (6 receptions for 121 yards) as QB Landry Jones’ (21 of 36 for 222 yards) go-to guy. In the first quarter Jones showed greater mobililty from last year when he rolled left and threw to the right sideline, where Stills streaked in for a 68-yard touchdown.
But, it took three quarters before the Sooners quarterback found WRs Justin Brown and Trey Metoyer with any consistency. In fact it was a 18 yard TD pass to TE Brannon Green that delivered some breathing room for the Sooners, grabbing a 17-7 lead early in the 4th quarter. The play was set up when a UTEP fake punt was stuffed.
The 30-point underdog Miners weren’t intimidated by the Sooners, the highest-ranked team they had faced at home.
Nathan Jeffrey ran for 177 yards and returned a blocked punt 24 yards for a touchdown for UTEP, which also had a blocked field goal to remain tied with Oklahoma at the half.
But the Miners had two kickers miss three field goals and gave the Sooners a short field with the fake punt in their own end in the fourth quarter, setting up the TD pass from Jones to Green that made it 17-7.
The Sooners played with a thin defensive line, due to pre-season medical issues of some regulars. King seemed to be holding the Sooners’ hopes in his ends during the first half, which ended with a 7-7 tie, following a first quarter march down the field for UTEP’s first drive.
UTEP’s place kickers gave the Sooners some breaks. One missed a 45-yard field goal at the end of that drive, but Oklahoma’s first offensive possession resulted in a touchdown for the Miners when Richard Spencer blocked Tress Way’s punt and Jeffrey ran it in 24 yards to give UTEP a surprising 7-0 lead after Oklahoma had scored 89 straight points in the series.
Jeffrey kept them in it in the third quarter by bursting through some big holes, including a 71-yard yard run that put the Miners in scoring position. That chance came up empty when Steven Valadez, kicking in place of Warren, hooked a 37-yard field goal to the right in the third quarter.
Williams gave the Sooners a sigh of relief with his 68-yard run, going through a hole to the right and streaking to the left pylon to finish off the difficult win.
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