Late TD Gets UNLV 38-35 Win
Box Score | 2017 Season Statistics
(11/17/2017) Football V. UNLV: Senior NIghtALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It looked like a storybook ending a fifth-year senior quarterback, dashing 41 yards for the winning score with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter. The problem was there was 1:11 left in the fourth quarter, and that was enough time for UNLV to cover 77 yards in five plays, the final 14 on a touchdown pass from Armani Rogers to Kendal Keys, and UNLV snatched themselves a win on UNM’s senior night 38-35.
The Lobos, who twice trailed by 10 in the game, took the first of four lead changes in the fourth quarter when Tyrone Owens scored from 2 yards out to make it 28-27 with 9:17 to go. UNLV bounced right back on the next drive, getting a 40-yard field goal that barely squeaked inside the upright to retake the lead at 30-28 with 6:11 to go.
After both teams punted, UNM took over at the 38 with 3:24 to go. Jordan rushed on second down to the 47 of UNLV for a first down, but UNM got just six yards on the next two plays, setting up a critical 3rd-and-4 at the Rebel 41. Needing one more first down to get into field goal range, Jordan booked it around the left side and raced untouched for a touchdown. UNM went for two and Jordan scored on a run, but a holding penalty nullified that, and UNM was forced to kick the extra point to go up 35-30.
That et the stage for Rogers and company. With 1:05 to go, Rogers dropped back to pass, scrambled and was taken down after two yards. After a Rebel timeout, he rushed for four, and UNLV burned a second timeout. Rogers than converted on third down to the Rebel 36.
The key play followed as Rogers hit Keys for a 50-yard catch and carry to the Lobo 14-yard line. Rogers then raced to the line and hit Keys on a diving catch in the end zone for the game-winner.
UNM took over with 20 seconds left at the Lobo 34, but Jordan, who rushed for 116 in the game, threw incomplete and then was intercepted. UNLV then took a knee to end it.
New Mexico went down 3-0 on the opening drive when Evan Pantels hit a 40-yard field goal, and then UNLV made it 10-0 one drive later with a 14 -yard Lexington Thomas run. UNM nearly ended that drive early, but a Jake Rothschiller interception was overturned on replay aftesr it was shown that the ball hit the ground.
UNM’s offense final awoke from its doldrums in the second quarter with a pair of long touchdown drives. Romell Jordan capped off a three-play 86-yard drive with an 8-yard run to make it 10-7. That touchdown was set up by a 67-yard run by Tyrone Owens.
Than after a 56-yard Pantels punt that rolled out of bounds at the 2-yard line, UNM methodically drove downfield, moving the ball 98 yards over 12 plays, all on the ground. That drive, UNM’s longest of the season, was capped off by a 1-yard Daryl Chestnut run.
It looked like it might stay 14-10 going into the half, but two explosive plays on consecutive snaps gave UNLV a 24-14 halftime advantage.
Postgame Notes: UNLV 38, New Mexico 35
This was the 23rd meeting between the two teams.
UNLV now leads 12-11
New Mexico now leads 7-6 in Albuquerque
UNLV leads 6-4 in Las Vegas
UNLV has won one straight in the series
UNLV has two straight in Albuquerque
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Romell Jordan was the non-starter
Defense: Jordan Flack started at RUSH for Rhashaun Epting
*New Mexico’s captains were Lamar Jordan, Blaise Fountain, Alex Hart and Jake Rothschiller
*Thomas Vieira of Albuquerque, New Mexico was the New Mexico Man and carried the New Mexico flag onto the field
*New Mexico won the toss for the eighth time this season, and is now 8-3 on coin tosses.
TEAM NOTES:
*The Lobos wore their white helmets with red tops and white pants for the second time this season. The outfit matches the season opener against Abilene Christian.
*New Mexico recorded four sacks in the game, its first multi-sack game since getting four against Air Force.
*UNM’s 12-play, 98-yard touchdown drive was the longest of the season for UNM since an 87-yard drive against Air Force. It was the longest since a 99-yard drive against Utah State in 2014.
*New Mexico’s 337 yards rushing were the most this season and the fourth 300-yard rushing game of the season.
*The game marked the first time this season in the FBS that both teams had a pair of 100-yard rushers.
*UNM had three 100-yard rushers in a game for the first time since having three in the home finale in 2016 against Wyoming.
*UNM’s six-game losing streak is the longest since losing seven in a row to end the 2012 season and start the 2013 season.
*The game marked the sixth time in school history that the Lobos passed for zero yards. The last time it happened was October 8, 1997 against Rice. UNM is now 2-4 in such games.
*In the last two games against UNLV, UNM has rushed for 783 yards and passed for five.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
*Tyrone Owens had a season-long 67-yard run to set up a touchdown. His previous long run was of 54 yards against Colorado State.
*Owens moved ahead of Holmon Wiggins, Rich Diller and Cole Gautsche and into 19th on the UNM career rushing list with 1,928 yards
*His 164-yard game was his second 100-yard game of the season and the seventh of his career.
*Jason Sanders had touchbacks on his first two kickoffs, giving him 25 touchbacks on his last 26 kickoffs.
*Lamar Jordan scored on a 40-yard run and a 41-yard run, his first two touchdowns of the season and the 16th of his career. He stayed in 10th place on the career rushing list with 2,502 yards.
*Daryl Chestnut’s 145 yards rushing was a career-high and his second career 100-yard game. His only other one was 108-yard game in his first game, against Mississippi Valley State.
*Corey Bojorquez averaged 48.2 yards per punt and had three inside the 20 and two of 50 yards. He improved his career average to 45.03.
*Jason Sanders now has 110 career extra points.
Postgame Quotes: UNLV 38, New Mexico 35
UNM coach Bob Davie:
Opening Statement
Tough loss. We were down by 10 twice in the game and came back. Obviously to take the lead like that with a minute left and give it up, that was a dagger right there. There were some stunned players and coaches in the locker room. But like always, you have to give them credit. Their quarterback is a good player. No. 10 made a heck of a catch at the end and then dragged us down closer. Right now it’s difficult. It’s a tough loss. But I’m proud of the players’ effort. I thought we played hard.
The run game for us was good. On the perimeter we had some things schematically going. We did some pretty good things. I don’t think we completed a pass, but we were able to run the ball and had some explosive plays. The backs ran hard and Lamar ran hard. Defensively we had a hard time with them. They are a good offense. The two long plays at the end of the (first) half were backbreakers.
On if he thought Rogers would start:
I thought Stanton would play. If (Rogers) did play, I thought it would be both of them and they would alternate them. I think the kid is such a weapon running the ball that they felt like if we pressure them, he gave them the best chance to win. I don’t know, maybe the other kid was hurt – I don’t know.
On Lamar’s last game at Dreamstyle Stadium:
I’m proud of him. It’s a shame a game-winner wasn’t the game-winner. It’s tough for all the seniors with the families here, but I’m very proud of the effort and I thought Lamar did some excellent things.
QB Lamar Jordan
It was definitely a heartbreaker with this being my last game at Dreamstyle Stadium. I definitely wanted the win. I wanted to do it for Markel and I wanted to do it for my fellow seniors. We just couldn’t get it done and we didn’t do enough.
On finding running room:
All season teams weren’t letting me get on the outside and this is the first team that let me get on the outside. I told myself and I know Coach Wright told me that if they let you run, make them pay for it.
It was encouraging (to come back from 10 down), it’s kind of the way this offense has been all season. It’s not what I expected it to be. We didn’t give up and I can walk out with my head held high knowing we didn’t give up and fought to the end.
LB Alex Hart
On the long pass on UNLV’s game-winning drive:
They beat us, we tried to bring pressure and watch that quarterback but he made a great throw and a great play. It’s unfortunate that it happened, but we got to learn from it.
On almost ending the losing streak:
It’s tough. Since the bye week we haven’t come up with a win and that’s been tough on a lot of players. It frustrates guys. But we do our best and we all love each other down there. As down as guys get, we have a lot of guys that will pick each other up. I love this team. We always fight, no matter what the result was. We got one more game left and we want to end it right for these seniors.
UNLV Coach Tony Sanchez:
“They gassed us with that offense, and we really struggled at times. We moved the ball really well. We had a lot of really good opportunities to really pull away, and we didn’t and we were down.”
“Armani stayed calm and collected, he gave us some opportunities there and he made three great throws in a row.”
QB Armani Rogers:
“I was trying to stay as calm as I can, because I didn’t want to get too up and start getting nervous. So I just tried to keep myself calm, cool, and collected.”
WR Kendal Keys
“We had all confidence in (Armani). He had a long run, and we knew that he was going to make to plays he needed to make.”