UTEP drops fifth straight in 35-21 loss to Florida International

It's been a rough year for UTEP football. After beating NMSU for the eighth consecutive time in the season opener, the Miners took a four-game losing streak into their matchup with the Golden Panthers of Florida International -- a team they lost to last season 52-12.

FIU extended the Miners' streak to five games Saturday night, beating UTEP 35-21 in front of 17,751 loyal fans at the Sun Bowl.

Alex McGough threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns, Thomas Owens caught two TDs off seven catches for 125 yards, Alex Gardner ran for 141 yards (TD), and Anthony Jones ran for 128 -- all paving the way for 499 yards of total offense for the Panthers.

After UTEP missed a field goal on the game's first drive, and an FIU attempt at three points was successful on the Panthers' own first possession, Aaron Jones gave the Miners a 7-3 lead with a thrilling 49-yard run -- 5:40 in the 1st quarter.

Just like other long TD runs that have come throughout this season, though, Jones' brilliance wasn't a harbinger of continued offensive success for UTEP -- and the junior running back was limited to just eight carries for the night (73 yards, 2 touchdowns, 9.1 yards per carry).

FIU shut down UTEP's offense for the rest of the half, while the Panthers used a touchdown and another field goal to take a 13-7 lead into the locker rooms.

The Panthers then went on a 12-play, 75-yard drive out of the break to take a 20-7 lead with 9:13 left in the 3rd.

After the teams exchanged punts, the Miners used their last successful effort to make it a game again with a two-play drive that saw Eddie Sinegal take a wideout reverse 42 yards and Aaron Jones punch in his second touchdown from one yard out.

FIU responded with another extended 10-play, 75-yard drive on the ensuing possession and converted a two-point conversion to go up 28-14 with 1:59 in the 3rd.

The Panthers then capitalized on an interception after their kickoff -- going 34 yards in five plays -- and all but sealed it with 13:26 to play.

Zack Greenlee got the Miners back within two TDs off a 12-yard pass to Cole Freytag with the clock reading 8:51, but UTEP couldn't score again using its final two possessions of the game.

The Miners now enter their bye week before visiting UTSA on Oct. 22 in search of their second win.