Skyhawks Fall At FBS Foe UTEP

Saturday, September 6

El Paso, Texas

8 p.m.

UT Martin

UTEP

Skyhawks Fall At FBS Foe UTEP

9/6/2025 11:51:00 PM | Football

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EL PASO, Texas – The second quarter proved costly for the University of Tennessee at Martin football squad this evening as the Skyhawks fell 42-17 at Conference USA member UTEP.

The contest was in a 43-minute lightning delay late in the first quarter but that didn't stop UT Martin from doubling up the host Miners in total yards (92 to 46) while holding an 11:25 to 3:35 advantage in time of possession through 15 minutes of play.

A turnover created by the Skyhawk defense led to a UT Martin touchdown on the first play of the second quarter, knotting the score at 7-all. However, UTEP scored 21 unanswered points to close out the first half on the way to the win.

As a team, the Skyhawks passed for 295 yards tonight – their highest since throwing for 318 yards at Tennessee Tech on Nov. 4, 2023. Jase Bauer completed 69.7 percent (23-for-33) of his passes for 273 yards and a touchdown while Julian Calvez added a 22-yard completion late in the fourth quarter. Phaizon Wilson snatched a game-high seven receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown while Bryce Bailey had four catches for a team-best 92 yards – including a 71-yard snag in the second quarter – and a rushing touchdown.

Jabaree Dawkins had a standout game defensively for UT Martin, making a team-high nine tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Jacob Stevenson tallied eight tackles while Shamari Weir (sack), Keyshawn Johnson (sack), Chris Wilson (blocked PAT) and Lebron Edmond (fumble recovery, blocked field goal) also contributed big plays for the Skyhawk defense.

On special teams, Cade Hechter was 2-for-2 in PAT's while adding a 21-yard field goal. Jaren Van Winkle booted six punts for an average of 47.0 yards per punt with a long of 56. Jordan Beasley averaged 19.8 yards over four kick returns for the Skyhawks (0-2).

The Miners were paced by Malachi Nelson's 278 passing yards and four touchdowns. Ashten Emory (three total touchdowns), Hahsaun Wilson (117 rushing yards, one touchdown), Kenny Odom (124 receiving yards, one touchdown) and Toric Goins, Jr. (105 receiving yards, one touchdown) guided the UTEP offense while Micah Davey (14 tackles) and Neil Campbell (2.5 tackles for loss) led the Miners defensively.

"Our short-yardage and goal-line offense was disappointing – we have to convert more of those and get the ball in the low redzone," UT Martin head coach Jason Simpson said. "We're better defensively than we showed tonight – UTEP has some speed and we allowed too many big plays. I still believe we have a chance to have a good football team – we have some work to do on both sides of the ball but we've seen some things that we can build off of. We knew these first two games were going to be tough – it'll be good to be at home for the first time next Saturday."


After UTEP scored on its first offensive possession, the Skyhawk defense came up with a big turnover to give the offense a short field. Dawkins broke through the line for a strip sack and Edmond was there for the fumble recovery, giving UT Martin the ball at the Miner 33-yard line.

The Skyhawks cashed in shortly thereafter as Bailey found the endzone on a jet sweep from 11 yards out. Hechter split the uprights to knot the score at 7-all with 14:48 to go in the opening half.

UTEP then scored touchdowns on three consecutive possessions to go ahead by a 28-7 margin at the halftime break.

The UT Martin defense held the Miners to four plays and a punt on the initial drive of the second half. The Skyhawks responded with a 13-play, 68-yard drive that milked 6:14 off the clock, capped off with a 21-yard field goal from Hechter that made the score 28-10.

UTEP recorded touchdowns on each of its final two drives of the third quarter but UT Martin got back on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter. Bauer hit Wilson for a 20-yard strike on 4^th-and-1, putting the finishing touches on a 12-play, 79-yard drive that lasted 5:58.

The Skyhawks held the Miners scoreless in the fourth quarter, holding UTEP to 51 total yards over the final 15 minutes.

UT Martin holds its home opener next week, hosting Southern Illinois for the annual "Hall of Fame Game". Kickoff from Hardy Graham Stadium is set for 6 p.m.