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LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Senior quarterback Justin Millea, making his first start in relief of the injured Casey Kelly, rushed for 148 yards on 20 carries to lead the Lobos to a 25-16 win over UNLV Saturday and spoil the Rebels’ homecoming.
The Lobo defense also pitched in, scoring 10 of UNM’s points on an interception return for a touchdown by Desmar Black, a late safety of UNLV quarterback Kirk Nantkes and a defensive extra point.
It was the Lobos’ first ever win in Las Vegas, and it moved UNM to 3-4 overall, 1-1 in Mountain West Conference action.
Both teams struggled offensively in the first quarter.
Then midway through the second quarter, Millea drove the Lobos’ offensive unit 90 yards in 10 plays for UNM’s first points of the night. Millea rushed for 54 yards on three carries during the drive while freshman running back DonTrell Moore chipped in a 22-yard run and a three-yard touchdown run with 7:34 to play in the half.
The Lobos made the score 14-3 on an interception return after senior linebacker Charles Moss picked off a Jason Thomas pass and pitched a lateral to Black, who ran it into the end zone with 4:41 to play.
In the second half, Millea ripped off a 73-yard touchdown run to increase the Lobos’ lead to 21-10, the longest run from scrimmage for UNM since 1997. And though Kurt Nantkes, who replaced Jason Thomas with 40 seconds to play in the third quarter, threw a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the Lobos would hold on for the conference victory.
Millea’s 148 yards rushing were the most by a UNM quarterback since Graham Leigh ran for 102 against BYU on November 15, 1997. He finished with two completions on eight attempts and 20 yards on the night.
Thomas finished 12-for-30 passing for 188 yards and one interception while Nantkes was 5-of-14 with one touchdown and two interceptions.
The Lobos play a non-conference game at Utah State next Saturday, Oct. 19.
LEADING PASSER |UNM|Justin Millea|2-8|20 yds.|0 TD|1 INT||UNLV|Jason Thomas|12-30|188 yds.|0 TD|1 INT|
LEADING RUSHER|UNM|Justin Millea|20-148 yds.|1 TD||UNLV|Joe Haro|16-72 yds.|0 TD|
LEADING RECEIVER|UNM|Adrian Boyd/DonTrell Moore|1-10 yds.| 0 TD||UNLV|Earvin Johnson|8-141 yds.|0 TD|
LEADING TACKLER|UNM|David Crockett|7 solo|2 ast.|9 tot.||UNLV|Jamaal Brimmer|5 solo|5 ast.|10 tot.|Q