SAN JOSE, Calif. — The University of New Mexico built up a 14-7 second quarter lead, but San José State got 263 yards rushing from Tyler Ervin and the Spartans scored 24 unanswered to race past the Lobos 31-21.
The Loss for New Mexico (4-4, 2-2 MW) cost the Lobos a tie for first place in the Mountain Division, but UNM still sits just one game out of first and controls its own destiny for a division title. San José State (4-4, 3-2 MW) sits 1.5 games behind leader San Diego State in second place in the West Division, although SDSU has the tiebreaker.
The Lobos didn’t get the start it envisioned when Ervin went 71 yards on the second play of the game, but Teriyon Gipson answered just two drives later with a 79-yard run right up the seam for a 7-7 tie. It was his longest career rush and he would finish with nine carries for 99 yards.
UNM went up 14-7 with just 6:25 left in the half when DIquon Woodhouse scored his first career touchdown to put the Lobos up, but UNM wouldn’t score again until midway through the fourth. SJSU tied it on the next drive with a 35-yard touchdown on a slant pass, and then after a questionable pass interference penalty kept a drive alive, SJSU got a 25-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left in the half for a 21-14 lead.
The game stayed there until Kenny Potter was flushed out of the pocket, and somehow escaped a Lobo rush and scored on a 12-yard dizzying run to make it 28-14. After a field goal made it 31-14, UNM got within 10 when Jhurell Pressley scored from 4-yards out with 7:46 left in the game, but SJSU chewed up most of the clock and effectively ended the game.
UNM starting quarterback Austin Apodaca was 8-for-20 for 130 yards and an interception, and he rushed for 59 yards in his first start.
Postgame Notes: San José State 31, New Mexico 21
This was the 17th meeting between the two teams.
San José State now leads the series 11-4-1
San José State leads 6-2 in Albuquerque
San José State now leads 6-2-1 in San Jose
San José State has won three straight in the series
San José State has won four straight in San Jose
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: QB-Austin Apodaca for Lamar Jordan
Defense: NT-Taylor Timmons for Garrett Hughes (William Udeh slid to left end)
*New Mexico’s captains were Lamar Jordan, Dakota Cox and Reece White
* San José State won the toss and elected to receive.
*New Mexico kicked off to start the game for the third straight game after receiving the opening kick the first five
*Zack Rogers carried the New Mexico flag onto the field.
TEAM NOTES:
*SJSU scored on a 71-yard run to open the game. UNM’s opponents now have six 50-yard or more TDs from scrimmage (four rushing, two passing).
*The game marked the sixth time in eight games this season that UNM trailed at the half.
*New Mexico lost the turnover battle 2-0. It marked the first time this season that UNM didn’t record a takeaway, and the first time since the Boise State game last year, when neither team turned it over in a 60-49 Bronco win.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
*Austin Apodaca made his first Lobo start at quarterback
*Teriyon Gipson scored on a career-long 79-yard run. It was his 18th career touchdown and he is now in the top 25 in career rushing with 1,531 yards, moving into a tie for 23rd with Sam Scarber.
*Zack Rogers had a 28-yard field goal attempt blocked. Dating back to last year, his last three missed field goals were all blocked (Boise State, Wyoming and now San José State).
*Carlos Wiggins had a career-long 23-yard punt return in the second quarter.
*Diquon Woodhouse scored his first career touchdown on a 4-yard run. He entered the game with five career rushing yards.
*It was his third career 100-yard rushing game, and second this season.
*Pressley tied Willie Turral for career rushing touchdowns with his 29th. They are tied for fourth.
Lobos Can’t Hold Early Lead, Fall in San Jose 31-21
