LAS CRUCES, N.M. — The New Mexico Lobos led for almost the entire game. They didn’t have the lead when it counted though…the end. New Mexico State took advantage of a short field and scored on an 8-yard pass with 5:46 to go, and UNM’s fourth and 15 try fell three yards short as New Mexico State won the Rio Grande Rivalry for the first time since 2011 with a 32-31 victory in front of 17,852.
After two straight seasons in which UNM needed second half comebacks in order to win, it was NMSU’s turn to pull the same trick. The Lobos took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field without an issue, going 75 yards in eight plays with Teriyon Gipson barreling over from 12-yards out just 4:35 into the game. UNM would then lead for the next 49:44, but the Lobos never could put away NMSU, and that would prove costly.
The Lobos took a 31-22 lead with 14:04 remaining when on a fourth-and-goal play, quarterback Austin Apodaca fakes a handoff to Richard McQuarley, and pitched to Gipson who walked into the end zone.
New Mexico State drove to the UNM 28, but back-to-back sacks moved the Aggies out of field goal range at the 37, facing third and 19. Tyler Rogers however converted, hitting a 26-yard pass, setting up Parker Davidson’s fourth field goal of the game to make it 31-25 with 10:12 to go.
The killer for the Lobos came on the next drive. Facing third and five, Apodaca threw behind his intended receiver, and instead of a first down, NMSU’s Terrill Hanks picked it off, giving the Aggies life at the Lobo 27.
On third and 2 from the 8-yard line, Rogers hit Gregory Hogan for a touchdown, and Davidson, who missed an earlier extra point, hit this one for NMSU’s only lead at 32-31.
UNM wasn’t done. Starting from their 30, the Lobos got a key fourth down conversion to Chris Davis, Jr.to the NMSU 45, and with just over two minutes left, it looked like one more first down would give kicker Jason Sanders a shot at being a hero.
That shot never came.
A pass to Patrick Reed was incomplete, and then NMSU’s only sack of the game made it third and 15. After another incompletion, UNM was left facing a fourth-and-15. Apodaca hit Gipson underneath for 12, falling three yards short, although a UNM penalty would have negated the gain. From there the Aggie ran off the final 1:28 for the win.
It looked early like NMSU would never stop UNM. After the opening 75-yard drive for UNM was answered with a field goal, The Lobos drove 80 yards, with Apodaca keeping and scoring from 23 yards out for his second career touchdown. From there, UNM’s offense dried up in the first half, mustering only a field goal with 28 seconds left to lead 17-9.
NMSU however went 69 yards in two plays and 21 seconds to make it 17-15 right before the half. Rogers hit a seem route for 49 yards, and after a pass interference penalty, Rogers through a five-yard TD pass to Jaleel Scott with four seconds left. Davison would miss the extra point, keeping it 17-15.
UNM scoring on its opening drive of the second half to make it 24-15 when McQuarley bulled his way if from 3 yards out, but after another stop, UNM couldn’t convert and NMSU ground out a 14-play, 63-yard drive that saw three third-down conversions, making it 24-22 UNM and setting up the final quarter.
Postgame Notes: New Mexico State 32, New Mexico 31
This was the 107th meeting between the two teams.
New Mexico leads 70-32-5
New Mexico leads 28-18-2 in Las Cruces
New Mexico leads 42-14-3 in Albuquerque
New Mexico State has won one straight in the series
New Mexico State has won one straight in Las Cruces
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: RG – Aaron Jenkins for Charlie Grammel; RT – Garrett Adcock for Aaron Jenkins
Defense: None
*New Mexico’s captains were Lamar Jordan, Dakota Cox and Reece White
*Cole Gautsche was the New Mexico Man for this game, the first time a student-athlete who never served as a walk-on was given the honor.
*For the second game in a row, UNM lost the toss but opened the game by receiving the opening kickoff as the opponent deferred.
TEAM NOTES:
*The Lobos finally allowed a play inside its own red zone, and it came at the 7:08 mark of the second quarter. UNM did not allow a yard and forced a field goal.
*Overall, UNM allowed three touchdowns and two field goals on five red zone attempts by NMSU.
*UNM outgained New Mexico State 336 to 307.
*New Mexico dropped to 1-11 under Bob Davie when attempting 20 or more passes in a game. The only win was last year against Hawai’i.
*It was the first game lost by three points or less for UNM since 2012, when the Lobos trailed Boise State 25-0 and eventually lost 32-29 in Albuquerque.
*UNM has had at least four rushing touchdowns in each of its last four games dating back to last year.
*The 307 yards allowed was the second-fewest allowed by UNM against an FBS team dating back to Oct. 27, 2012. UNM allowed 294 to Utah State last year in a 14-13 win.
*UNM allowed fewer than 350 yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2008, when UNM held San Diego State to 227 yards on October 18 and iAir Force to 228 on October 23.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
*Bob Davie was attempting to become the first Lobo coach in school history to open his career 5-0 against NMSU. Only he and Joe Lee Dunn have ever started 4-0.
*The Lobos dropped to 14-3 under Davie when leading through three quarters.
*Teriyon Gipson’s two rushing touchdowns give him 23, tying Fred Henry for 8th place on the UNM career list.
*Austin Apodaca’s first two rushes of the game went for 26 and 23 yards, his longest and second-longest rushes of his career.
*Gipson’s 56-yard kickoff return in the third quarter was his longest career kickoff return.
*Tyrone Owens picked up a career-high 76 yards on a career-high 16 carries.
*Kimmie Carson led UNM with 10 tackles.
*Nias Martin has three passes broken up.
Lobos Can’t Hang Onto Lead, Lose 32-31 to NMSU
