Boise State Broncos 60, New Mexico Lobos 49
By Richard Stevens – Senior Writer/GoLobos.com
There was “incredible” and “amazing” just about wherever you chose to look. It almost went down as one of the greater wins in the history of New Mexico football. However, that “almost” reared its ugly head to spoil things for Bob Davie’s Lobos.
The Boise State Broncos, on their heels for most of the game, rallied in the final quarter to outscore UNM 19-0 and escape Branch Field at University Stadium with a 60-49 Mountain West win. It is a key road win that keeps the Broncos on pace to win a MW title.
“This game can tear your heart out and this game was one of them,” said Davie. “We had a chance.”
For the Lobos, there was the disappointment that comes with defeat, but there was so much positive to carry into future games.
The Lobos racked up 627 total yards and 505 rushing yards against one of the better defenses in the Mountain West. UNM carried a 49-41 lead into the last quarter before Boise State, spurred by a booth review that turned a Lobo first down into a Boise first down, rallied for the win.
The two teams were simply stunning on offense. They combined for 1,285 total yards, 109 points, 52 first downs, 796 rushing yards and 489 passing yards. The score 23 seconds into the game was 7-7 and both teams had 75 yards on offense. UNM 75 yards on the ground. Boise State 75 yards through the air. Both teams scored on their offensive play.
For sure, the Lobos put a scare into the Broncos and the Broncos’ bid to outrace Colorado State and Utah State to the Mountain Division crown.
“Offensively, we do some incredible things,” said Davie. “You see the contributions of some of the younger guys who give you hope for the future. But not being able to stop them. We have got to get a defense built here at UNM. We are not good enough yet to win that kind of game.”
The first half was an amazing display of offense and explosions and most of the fireworks were coming from Lobos running straight at the Boise State defense.
New Mexico ended the game with 505 yards rushing with Teriyon Gipson racing for 205 and Jhurell Pressley sprinting for 154. The Lobos averaged 10.3 yards per carry. A lot of the credit for this rushing output goes to the UNM O-line which produced huge holes, especially in the first half. Boise State, deeper and more experienced, took advantage of those factors to wear down the Lobos in the second half.
The Lobos’ running game was hurt when Pressley hobbled off to the locker room late in the first half and did not return to the field. UNM also had sophomore quarterback Cole Gautsche on the sidelines with a foot injury.
The Lobos also saw linebacker Dakota Cox helped off the field near the end of the game nursing a knee injury. Cox had 15 tackles vs. Boise.
“To lose a game like this and to lose a player like Dakota…” said Davie.
The loss dropped UNM to 3-6 on the season and 1-4 in Mountain West play. Boise State jumps to 7-2 and 4-1 in league play.
“They (losses) all hurt, but this one hurts really bad because that is the best I’ve seen our offense do all year,” said Lobo DB David Guthrie. “That is so exciting to see as a defense because our offense is just putting up a ton of points.”
The Lobos stunned Boise State early because the Broncos were supposed to step onto Branch Field and pretty much stomp down the heavy underdogs called Lobos.
It didn’t happen.
The Lobos took a 49-41 lead into the fourth quarter. Boise State quickly – was there any other way to score on this night? – scored to make it 49-47, but Bronco quarterback Grant Hedrick failed to run the ball in on a two-point conversion attempt.
It was one of the few times Hedrick failed vs. the UNM defense. He went 21-of-32 passing for 367 yards and four touchdowns. He ran for 131 yards averaging 8.7 yards per carry and added two more scores on the ground. Jay Ajayi added 161 yards rushing for Boise State.
“Their quarterback played his butt off,” said Davie. “They are as good on offense as anyone in the country. At the end, give Boise credit. They made enough plays to win.”
Boise got the go-ahead TD with 7:00 to play when Bronco Chaz Anderson muscled down a Hedrick pass as he fell into the end zone. The Broncos again went for two points, but again failed on an Ajayi run. It was 53-49 with seven minutes to play. The Lobos needed to score.
The Lobos converted on third-and-long, but then ran into a fourth-and-two with 4:11 to play. UNM called time. Jordan rolled around UNM’s left side, was hit behind the first-down mark, but his lunge carried him to the first down near the 50-yard line.
The field officials went to the booth for a replay on the mark. The official review stunned the Lobo crowd by ruling Jordan’s elbow touched the turf on Branch Field before his momentum carried him to the first down. Boise took over on downs.
“You would have loved to have seen us with first-and-ten at the 50 with a chance to go win the game,” said Davie. “All that matters is if it was the right call and I’m sure it was or they wouldn’t have changed it.”
Boise State took over looking to wear down the clock while keeping possession. The Broncos finished it with an Ajayi touchdown that pushed the scoreboard to 60-49.
The game had a lot of positives for UNM. Lamar Jordan passed well going 9-of-16 for 122 yards. Reece White had three receptions for 47 yards. Ridge Jones had 75 yards rushing on a single carry and also ran back a kickoff – six yards into the end zone – for a touchdown. Pressley got his 154 yards on seven carries for a 22-yard average per carry.
However, Davie said he was not in the mood to embrace a moral victory for pushing one of the top programs in the nation to the edge.
“There’s none,” said Davie of a moral victory. “I’m not in a philosophical frame of mind right now. I thought it was a great game. I appreciate what these kids are doing. I appreciate what our coaches are doing.
“Now we have to go on the road to Colorado State and Utah State and we are pretty beat up.”