New Mexico Lobos 21, UTSA Roadrunners 9
Up Next: 7 p.m., Friday – San Diego State at New Mexico
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
It’s probably not fair to say the New Mexico Lobos came of age Saturday on the turf in UTSA’s Alamodome, but it is obvious a lot of young Lobos did some growing up.
It’s possible a few Lobo baby teeth were replaced by the fangs of a Lobo.
The Lobos’ 21-9 win over the UTSA Roadrunners was a huge win, a huge step forward both for a New Mexico team and a New Mexico program.
“I think you saw a young defense starting to come to life. I think you saw a young program starting to come to life,” said Lobo Coach Bob Davie, who saw his Lobos move to 2-3 on the season. UNM will play host to San Diego State at 7 p.m., Friday on Branch Field at University Stadium.
Again, there were some huge big offensive plays and some bad breaks on defense that determined the outcome for New Mexico. However, it was the Lobo offense making the big plays and the Lobo defense that didn’t break.
Heck, the Lobo defense not only didn’t break (much), but it also threw in a few big plays and that unit surely was the hero in New Mexico’s semi-shocking non-conference win over the Roadrunners. The Lobos, one of the younger teams in the nation, upset a senior-laden and heavily favored UTSA team on its own turf.
“I thought we got better as the game went along,” said Davie. “We got some big plays, but overall our defense put us in position to win the game. We finally stepped up and played a complete game on defense.”
Really, it was not a surprise that New Mexico scored 21 points Saturday in San Antonio. The UNM pistol, the UNM option, can move the ball and score points and freshman quarterback Lamar Jordan was brilliant in orchestrating that option attack. He ran for 106 yards for an 11.8 average per carry and went 7-of-11 passing.
“I just trust in the 10 guys on the field,” said Jordan. “Without them, I couldn’t be me.”
Said Davie of Jordan: “He’s exactly what he was in high school. He has a little magic in him. He takes over. He takes charge. He is a competitive guy. I’m really encouraged by No. 13.”
Jordan was more than good enough to pace UNM to the win. However, the New Mexico defense that controlled the turf under the dome was simply outstanding and holding UTSA to nine points allowed UNM to rule the final scoreboard.
“We just executed,” said linebacker Dakota Cox. “We went out there and played our hearts out.”
The Lobos ran for 283 yards and totaled 370 yards on offense. UTSA had 229 yards passing and 112 yards rushing to total 341 yards.
The Lobos went into the half down 3-0, but only gave up a single touchdown in the second half. UNM scored three times with Jordan, Crusoe Gongbay and Jhurell Pressley each reaching the end zone.
Davie said at halftime there was some talk of making some adjustments, but had another plan to win the second half.
“I said, ‘let’s stop all this (talk of adjustments),” said Davie. “I said let’s look each kid in the eye and ask, ‘Do you really believe you can win this game?’ We challenged them.
“We said ‘Enough. Enough.’ We are either going to step up and win this game or we are going to be what we are and we are never going to turn this program around.
“Fortunately, they stepped up.”
The 3-0 hole at the half wasn’t much and UNM had to come up with a few big defensive stops to force UTSA to settle for that small lead. The Roadrunners had a good start to the second half marching 75 yards to take a 9-0 lead (point after blocked by Brett Bowers).
After that, it was almost all Lobos.
Jordan set up UNM’s first score by scrambling 61 yards. Gongbay got the 1-yard scoring plunge and Zack Rogers made it 9-7.
UNM’s Tevin Newman set up the next Lobo score by picking off a UTSA pass and returning it eight yards to the Roadrunners’ 19-yard line. The short field ended with Jordan slipping out of a collapsing pocket on third-and-goal at the 9-yard line. His score put UNM up 14-9. Really, that was all the Lobos needed.
Pressley put some icing on the scoreboard by going around the left side for 77 yards. The play started off looking like Pressley would go straight into the line, but there was nothing there. He then turned and sprinted to his left, but it didn’t look like the Lobo speedster would be able to turn the corner.
He did – and sprinted down the sideline to help UNM go up 21-9.
If there was a last gasp left in the Roadrunners – or a miracle finish – it ended with Markel Byrd intercepting a pass and setting up UNM’s offense at the UNM 41-yard line. There was still 6:28 to play and that miracle finish still had time – if USTA could get the ball back.
They couldn’t. UNM kept the football until the final gun.
“That’s a good football team,” Davie said of UTSA. “That’s a veteran football team that thought they were going to beat our butts.”