UTEP's season came to a close one win shy of bowl eligibility on a two-game losing streak in a 31-14 loss to UCF Nov. 25 in Orlando.
The loss gives the Miners a 0-17-1 record when playing in the Eastern Time zone. The Knights denied UTEP the right to a bowl berth and the end zone for all of three quarters.
The Miners scored their first points of the game with 11:23 left in the fourth quarter on a drive that started with 2:21 left in the third quarter taking 14 plays to travel 56 yards. Junior quarterback Nick Lamaison found wide receiver Jordan Leslie for a 2-yard strike in the end zone.
By then, the score was out of reach as UCF had scored 31 unanswered points.
UTEP started the game with a big play as senior cornerback Antwon Blake intercepted sophomore quarterback Jeff Godfrey on the first play from scrimmage. That would be the only blemish Godfrey would have, completing all of his five attempts after that for 56 yards.
The Knights would score on five of their ensuing seven drives. One drive resulted in a missed field goal while the other was halted by halftime.
UCF's redshirt junior Latavius Murray ran through the Miner defense scoring 18 of the 31 points for the Knights. Murray rushed for two touchdowns, while gaining 223 yards on 21 carries and adding a third touchdown receiving.
Godfrey was rotated with redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Bortles who completed nine of 12 attempts for 158 yards and a touchdown.
Lamaison started his first game since going down with a groin injury during the first quarter against ECU Nov.12 at the Sun Bowl. He finished the night 19-of-35 for 190 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Miner head coach Mike Price would also use sophomore quarterback Carson Meger in rotation with Lamaison to run the no huddle offense. Meger finished five of nine for 59 yards.
UCF outgained UTEP 269 yards to 66 on the ground and 460-315 in total offense.
Daniel Ornelas may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.
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