What We Learned: UTEP vs. Jacksonville State
Photo Credit: Jacksonville State University
FINAL: UTEP 14 - Jacksonville State 17
A Conference USA match-up kicks off Jacksonville State’s first season as an FBS school, led by veteran head coach Rich Rodriguez. The C-USA championship is up for grabs this year, making this an important game for both schools. UTEP head coach Dana Dimel is looking to get the Miners back to a bowl game after a five-win season last year, and it all starts here in Game 1.
UTEP had a great first drive of the game, but it went downhill after the Miners’ touchdown catch was called incomplete when the wide receiver bobbled it in the end zone. The correct call was made, but it was a waste of a great pass from quarterback Gavin Hardison. The Miners still got down to the 50-yard line, but the play calling on fourth-and-three was abysmal. UTEP came out into a three-back set like the Philadelphia Eagles did last year in short-yardage situations. Instead of a power run play, which would make sense because the UTEP offensive line outweighs Jax State’s by at least 30 pounds, quarterback Gavin Hardison was sacked for a loss of at least six yards. Basic football knowledge tells us: Run the Damn Ball! This becomes a theme for the rest of the game. Jacksonville State has a good enough drive, and their kicker Alen Karajic buries a 41-yard field goal to take the lead: 3-0 Jax State.
The Miners’ offensive line may have outweighed Jax State, but they were dominated up front. QB Hardison did not have much time to throw the ball. The stunts that the Gamecocks’ defensive line implemented gave plenty of trouble to the Miners’ O-line.
Jax State’s third drive showed how much stronger their offensive line is than UTEP’s. The Gamecocks were able to run the ball and give Webb plenty of time to throw. Unlike Hardison, Webb was getting rid of the ball quickly. Jack State was blowing UTEP off the ball and marched its way into the end zone to go up 10-0 in the first quarter.
After the Gamecocks’ touchdown, UTEP put another solid drive together by running the ball downhill with Torrance Burgess Jr. (Pearland, TX) and Mike Franklin. It was all for nothing after a missed 43-yard field goal by Justin Duff.
The Miners get the ball back after a Gamecocks three-and-out. Hardison is setting his feet and completing passes over the middle. More importantly, he is getting time in the pocket to complete passes over the middle. Then there was nickel blitz from Jax State, and they were able to create a sack fumble on Hardison. The stunts and blitzes were very impressive in the first half, giving UTEP constant pressure. Again, the UTEP defense stays strong leading to another three-and-out.
UTEP got back to work, and Hardison began to move the ball during their two-minute drill. Again, no pressure, and Hardison can move the ball. A pass interference call put the Miners on the three-yard line. It was second-and-goal from the one-yard line with six seconds before halftime when Deion Hankins (El Paso, TX) punched it in for a touchdown. UTEP takes the game to halftime down 10-7.
UTEP started the second half running the football, trying to get around the edges. It did not last long. Hardison had time to throw, but it went to the other team who was sitting in the zone defense. Terrible decision and throw. The Miners cannot stop getting out of their own way.
In the third quarter, Zion Webb and the offense really started to move the ball by using the ground game. Jacksonville State continued to run the ball and bully the UTEP defensive line. Running the ball out of shotgun was working wonders for the Gamecocks’ running backs. When Ron Wiggins and Malik Jackson (Lufkin, TX) get outside the tackles, they were burning the defense. Jax State jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the third.
UTEP got the ball back and capped it off with a deep Gavin Hardison pass completed to WR Kelly Akharaiyi (Irving, TX) for a 32-yard touchdown. Hardison again proves he can move the ball when he has time.
The theme of third and short happens again. UTEP was able to push forward on fourth-and-one out of the three-back formation, barely. They were then stopped on third-and-three after the tight end dropped a pass. The defense makes another stop to get the ball back with only three and a half minutes left.
Jacksonville State was unable to get pressure on Hardison, so he began to move the ball. With a minute and a few seconds left, it was third-and-one in a two-tight-end step-jump package, and instead of running the ball, UTEP runs play action and throws a shot into the end zone. The ball is dropped, and it was then fourth-and-one. UTEP burns its last timeout trying to get a play together. The Miners run another passing play; Hardison had plenty of time to throw, he had two targets wide open in the middle of the field, and he proceeds to make a late bad decision that turned into an incompletion. Game over. Jax State ices the game to begin its FBS journey 1-0, and UTEP starts the season 0-1.
What We Learned:
Jacksonville State’s offense and defense did enough to win, but UTEP beat themselves just as much as Jack State did. The Miners’ offensive line could not get any kind of push or protection when it needed it, even though they are much bigger than the Gamecocks’ linemen. If they had been dominant, the coaching staff may have had more confidence putting the game in the running backs’ hands on third and short. Instead, it forced Hardison to make some tough plays where he faltered. Hardison threw some nice balls, but he was incredibly inefficient. The Miners were 3-12 (25%) on third down, which is terrible. UTEP also had three turnovers to Jack State’s zero. The main difference in this game was coaching and line play. Jacksonville State may have been “undersized,” but it did not matter because of their effort. The offensive line was able to block well enough for them to rush for 208 yards, and the defensive line stunts made life hard on Gavin Hardison. It is extremely rare for a team to win any game being inefficient from missing field goals, blocking up front, and turnovers. Other than the UTEP running backs and LB Tyrice Knight, this was a depressing performance by the Miners. Jacksonville State deserved to win because of their effort on both sides of the football. Hats off to HC Rich Rodriguez for getting his team ready to play in Week 0.
DDSN Player of the Game:
Senior RB Malik Jackson (Lufkin, TX): 13 carries 76 yards and 1 touchdown
