| Recap | Highlights | Press Conference |
The University of New Mexico Lobos are going bowling. In this seven-part series by Assistant A.D. for Communications Frank Mercogliano, we will look back at each of UNM’s seven wins that brought UNM to bowl eligibility. Part six is UNM’s stunning 31-24 upset of Boise State on the blue turf in which UNM was a 30-point underdog.
BOISE, Idaho — The University of New Mexico Lobos entered their final road game of the season against Boise State knowing two truths.
The first truth was that one more win would make UNM eligible for a bowl game for the first time since 2007. The second truth was that UNM was going to face Boise State on the famed blue turf, where the Broncos were 96-4 over the past 14 years.
Those UNM Lobos cared a whole about truth number one. As for truth number two? UNM brushed that away like a pesky gnat.
Despite statistics that said otherwise, UNM thoroughly outplayed Boise State, controlled the game for basically all four quarters and then had to survive a series of curious calls, strange luck and a near last second miracle. But, when it was over, the Lobos owned a 31-24 win over Boise State, handing the Broncos their largest home loss since September 8, 2001.
It was a shocker to say the least that UNM defeated Boise State1, except for the 120 or so folks in the official travel party who remember having BSU on the ropes twice in the previous three seasons, only to have fate intervene. Fate tried again, but this time the Lobos held firm.
Statistically, it’s amazing that UNM won the game when you look at stats like the following:
Boise State total plays: 115
Boise State total yards: 638
New Mexico Penalties: 16 for 135
New Mexico 3rd Down Conversions: 0-for-10
But the Lobos bent plenty, but hardly broke. Twice Ryan Langford stopped drives inside the UNM 5-yard line with takeaways2 (one a pick at the three on the opening possession and then a fumble recovery on the 1-yard line).
The Lobos took the lead late in the first quarter when Jhurell Pressley broke a few tackles and danced along the sidelines for what looked like a 74-yard touchdown. However, that play went to replay review, and although it did look like he might have stepped out, there was no conclusive evidence, so the call of a touchdown stood. It was the first conclusive piece of evidence that this night was going UNM’s way.
UNM would eventually give up a field goal but Lamar Jordan scored on a 19-yard run and UNM held a 14-3 lead. That lead would hold through halftime. UNM opened the second half with a stop and Austin Apodaca, who came in for an injured Jordan, led UNM to a field goal and a 17-3 lead.
However, this is the Boise State Broncos, and they didn’t go 96-4 at home by accident. Jeremy McNichols scored twice, the second time 12 seconds into the fourth quarter and it seemed like the game was slipping.
However, on the same night Holly Holm shocked the world and won a world UFC title over Rhonda Rousey, the Lobos would do likewise. Just one week after Delane Hart-Johnson caught an 86-yard touchdown, he nearly did it again, going out of bounds at the 1-yard line after an 81-yard strike. That led to a Richard McQuarley 1-yard run and UNM led again. The Cranston Jones picked off Brett Rypien, and UNM answered this time with a Teriyon Gipson TD run, and UNM led 31-17.
The Lobos kept getting big plays. Zach Rogers3climbed the ladder to tip a high snap on a punt to himself and somehow punt the ball between two players. UNM twice stopped Boise State on fourth down, once inside the red zone. BSU finally got within a score with 2:16 to go on a 28 yard pass where a UNM defender had coverage.
After an onside kick that was recovered by David Anaya, UNM would eventually punt with 1:17 left. But all looked fine when BSU had 4th-and-21 at its own 17. BSU went long, and Nias Martin brilliantly knocked the ball away for the win as UNM celebrated.
Then folks noticed a flag for pass interference. That it was later told to UNM that it was a missed call, it gave Boise State a first down, and ironically a 17-yard gain. Still, UNM was in good shape, and when BSU’s lateral play feel into Nik D’Avanzo’s hands and then out of bounds with one second left, the team celebrated yet again.
But that play went to review, and D’Avanzo had the ball in and around him, but he never possessed the ball, so when it went out of bounds, it went back to Boise State, with one second left.
If it were a movie, it would be “The Longest Second”. The Lobos put three defenders at the goal line, one of which was Markel Byrd. Rypien threw underneath to Thomas Sperbeck, who faked a lateral and kept the ball, which fooled just about everyone. As he got to the Lobo 44, he then flipped an overhand toss to Austin Cottrell, who looked bottled up but got a block and raced towards the end zone down the far sideline. The only Lobo left was Markel Byrd4, a former high school quarterback, who had to make the tackle.
Bob Davie would say later that running through his mind was will Boise State play for overtime or go for two. It was a question that would be left unanswered.
Cottrell tried to shake and bake at the 10-yard line, but Byrd went straight for his hips and took him down at the Lobo 4-yard line.
New Mexico 31, Boise State 24. Final. Finally.
Someone hit Bob Davie with the Gatorade shower. Helmets went flying. Reece White sunk to his knees. What Bob Davie had said at the end of the 2014 Lobo Senior Awards Banquet proved true. Davie said that night that next year in 2015, UNM would be at that banquet talking about having one more game to play.
The Lobos win clinched bowl eligibility after eight long years. It also kept UNM in the hunt for a Mountain Division title, a title that ultimately would be lost the following week. But that would be a different week. This was a night of two shocking upsets, one in the octagon by an Albuquerque native in Australia, and one on the blue turf by an Albuquerque team in Boise, Idaho. It was a game in which UNM football earned respect from the nation. Lobo football was finally back.
New Mexico will be playing in its first bowl game since the 2007 season. UNM will take on Arizona in the 10th Annual Gildan New Mexico Bowl at noon on Saturday, December 19. Tickets can be purchased through the UNM ticket office at www.unmtickets.com.
1 According to a Teddy Greenstein (Chicago Tribune) source, UNM was just the eighth team since 1981 to win an NCAA game as a 30-point or more underdog, and UNM was the first team ever win back-to-back weeks when at least a 20-point underdog in each week.
2 Langford earned his first Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honor for his efforts.
3 Rogers averaged 42.6 yards on eight punts and hit all of his placements to earn Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week.
4 After celebrating the win twice, it was hard for anyone on the Lobo sideline to see that far side of the field. When the crowd got loud, it felt like Boise State was going to score, because no one could see Byrd back in the end zone.
Road to a Bowl: Win #6 – UNM 31, Boise State 24
