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Logan, Utah – The University of New Mexico football team lost a close one this afternoon to the Utah State Aggies in Logan, Utah. The Lobos held a 38-31 lead with just three seconds left in regulation before Aggie quarterback Jose Fuentes connected on a Hail Mary pass to Chris Stallworth to tie the game with no time left in regulation. Both the Aggies and the Lobos scored touchdowns in the overtime, but UNM couldn’t convert the extra point as freshman Kenny Byrd’s game-tying attempt was wide-right. The Aggies (2-5) held on for a 45-44 win, dropping the Lobos’ record to 3-5 (1-1 MWC).
The two teams traded possessions in the first quarter, with UNM dominating the stats. The Lobos out-gained Utah State 113 to –18 yards in the first frame, but couldn’t get the ball in the end zone.
In the second quarter, the Lobos finally broke through when freshman running back DonTrell Moore scored on a five yard run. Moore’s fourth touchdown of the season gave UNM a 7-0 lead with 13:01 left in the half. The Lobo drive was kept alive when Utah State was called for holding on a fourth-and-six punt play, giving New Mexico a much-needed first down. New Mexico was again helped by USU mistakes when the Aggies were called for offsides after Byrd missed the extra-point attempt. Byrd, who was three-for-three in his first action last week against UNLV, took advantage of the call and drilled the second attempt.
Utah State answered back five minutes later when senior quarterback Jose Fuentes found sophomore receiver Donta’ Candler for a 25-yard strike, capping a nine play 70-yard drive. The Aggies’ first scoring drive tied the game at 7-7 with 8:07 left in the first half.
Once again, UNM got help from Utah State on their next possession when the Aggies were called for two crucial penalties. USU had New Mexico with a second-and-20 on their own 49-yard line, but was called for pass interference, giving UNM another first down. Later in the drive, Utah State was called for a personal foul when they had UNM in a third-and-seven situation, giving the Lobos another first down. New Mexico was able to capitalize when quarterback Casey Kelly found Hank Basket for a nine-yard touchdown pass. Basket, a freshman from Clovis, N.M., was in on the first play of his career and helped put UNM up 14-7 with 2:17 left in the first half.
Utah State almost tied the game on the ensuing kick-off when sophomore Jerome Dennis returned the ball to UNM’s 30-yard line where he was forced out of bounds. Two plays later USU did knot the game at 14-14 with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Fuentes to tight end Chris Cooley with 1:20 left in the half.
UNM was able to take advantage of the last minute of the half, mainly due to the 40 yards receiver Joe Manning gained after a screen pass from Kelly. That play led to Byrd’s first field goal attempt of his career, which he converted from 32 yards out to give UNM a 17-14 lead at the half.
New Mexico wasn’t able to hold that lead for long as it took Utah State less than two minutes in the second half to go ahead for the first time. Aggie All-American Kevin Curtis had been quiet in the first half with just one reception for 14 yards, but caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Fuentes with 13:37 left in the third quarter. His second 80-yard touchdown play of the season put the Aggies up 21-17. USU added to their lead with 3:27 left in the third when Dane Kidman connected on a 37-yard field goal.
Late in the third quarter, the Lobos produced a game-tying drive of their own, highlighted by a 23-yard touchdown run by Moore. Moore’s second score of the game finished off a six-play, 80-yard drive that evened the game at 24-24 with 1:47 left in the third quarter.
The Lobos weren’t able to hold the lead due to a turnover on their next possession when Kelly fumbled the ball on USU’s 47-yard line. The Aggies struck back quickly with a 39-yard pass play from Fuentes to Curtis that set up a 5-yard scoring run by freshman Richard Watson. The Utah State now held a 31-24 lead with 12:56 left in the game.
USU looked like they were about to extend their lead when Fuentes again tried for Curtis in the end zone. However, Lobo safety Terrell Golden stepped in and made the interception, allowing UNM to take over on their 5-yard line with 8:16 left in the game. The Lobos proceeded to march down the field on their longest scoring drive of the season, ending with a nine-yard pass from Kelly to Brian Penley. The drive took 13 plays and 95-yards to tie the game at 31-31 with 1:18 left in the game. Moore was UNM’s workhorse on this possession, accounting for 76 of the 95 yards. He had six carries for 68 yards and one catch for eight yards in the possession.
USU started their next drive from their own 28 yard-line and were looking for the go ahead score. Instead, UNM’s Golden picked-off his second pass of the game and took this one for 59 yards and the touchdown. Golden, who only had two career picks prior to today’s game, came up with two huge plays on defense this afternoon for the Lobos. UNM looked as if they were headed for their fourth win of the season, leading 38-31 with just 25 seconds left in the game.
Despite being down, Utah State wanted to give their homecoming crowd some extra football and delivered with a last second touchdown pass from Fuentes to Stallworth. The 32-yard Hail Mary and extra point conversion tied the game at 38-38, sending the Lobos to their second overtime game of the season.
In the overtime, Utah State scored on just three plays when James Samuel rushed in from eight yards out for a 45-38 lead. UNM got their chance from the Aggie 25-yard line and need a Moore conversion of a fourth-and-one to stay alive. Kelly then found Basket for a 12-yard touchdown reception, putting UNM in position to tie the game. However, Byrd’s extra-point attempt was wide-right and the Aggies held on for a 45-44 overtime win.
Moore led UNM on the ground with 164 yards on 24 carries and two touchdowns. It was the first time since Reginald Johnson in 1996 that a Lobo freshman topped the 100-yard mark. Kelly, who was playing in his first game since breaking his left arm against Texas Tech on September 27, was 18-25 passing for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Manning had the best game of a Lobo receiver this season, making six catches for 104 yards.
The Lobos return home for a Mountain West Conference game against Utah in University Stadium on Saturday, October 26. Utah State travels to Louisiana-Monroe next Saturday.