Violent collisions happen in football sometimes and Tuesday’s game between Louisiana Tech and UTEP witnessed one such incident. To add to the misery of a 1-6 season, the Miners got on the road only to face another grim scenario of watching their quarterback suffer one of the hardest hits this season. 

In their Week 9 Conference USA matchup at Joe Aillet Stadium, Skyler Locklear was violently knocked down in what is “a personal foul roughing the passer with targeting.” As College Football Alerts captioned on X on October 23, Louisiana Tech LB Zach Zimos hitting the UTEP junior QB is “one of the dirtiest hits you’ll ever see in a game.”

It happened at the end of the third quarter during a 2nd & 9 attempt from their 21-yard line. Trying to avoid the tacklers on the sides, Locklear heaved the football through the middle of the pocket. As the ball left his hand, Zimos appeared and knocked the QB from under the chin with his head sending him flying backwards on the ground in what is a scary moment for the viewers.  

Thankfully, Locklear was able to get up and walk to the sidelines on his own. His pass was a 15-yard completion to Kam Thomas. Following the hit, Zimos was ejected for targeting with a 15-yard penalty. After Locklear left the game, freshman JP Pickles filled in to record 12 rushes for 53 yards. But in the end, Louisiana Tech still took the crown.

Louisiana Tech hands UTEP a huge blow

Louisiana Tech entered as the favorite to win and they delivered the expectations as they defeated UTEP in an intense 14-10 win. But the Bulldogs only picked up pace in the fourth quarter after the 1-yard TD by RB Amani Givens. While Tru Edwards and the receiver room’s play was okay, they also suffered in the running game as they recorded only seven rushing yards on 30 attempts. UTEP fared even worse. 

With less than two minutes remaining, UTEP missed their comeback chance when Pickles’ pass to WR Kenny Odom was ruled incomplete. The Miners also suffered from multiple turnovers but the last also saw UTEP document the third straight 100-yard rush game with Jevon Jackson carrying 22 times for 112 yards. With this loss, they’re officially eliminated from bowl eligibility. As for LA Tech, who are 3-4 (2-2 CUSA), they still have a chance to turn their fate around with their next challenge against Sam Houston in Huntsville.