Rutgers Tops New Mexico 37-28
Rutgers Defeats UNM 37-28
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Rutgers scored 31 straight points, and despite UNM’s defense limiting the Scarlet Knights to just 350 yards, the Lobos dropped a 37-28 decision in Piscataway in a game in which three long Rutgers touchdowns basically amounted to their offense.
The Lobos defensively allowed just 88 yards in the second half, but The Scarlet Knights took advantage of two short fields, getting fourth quarter field goals on drives that started at the UNM 35 and the UNM 16. UNM might have lost more than just the game as starting quarterback Austin Apodaca suffered an injury to his throwing shoulder late in the game on a sack.
Down 31-21 in the fourth, the Lobos made a game of it, converting a fourth down on the way to a touchdown as Richard McQuarley bolted in from 22 yards out to make it 31-28 with 12:06 to go. UNM went for the surprise onside kick, but Rutgers recovered at midfield, setting up a field position battle that eventually led to a field goal.
Needed nine points, UNM went for a late field goal, but it was missed, allowing Rutgers to take a knee and end the game.
Overall, UNM’s defense allowed 350 yards, 155 on two long scoring plays, and then just 195 on the other 60 plays. Offensively, the Lobos rolled for 462 yards on 80 plays and holding the ball for over 38 minutes.
Everything went UNM’s way early. Corey Bojorquez’ first punt went 50 yards and was fumbled by Janarion Grant, with Bijon Parker recovering at the Rutgers 19-yard line. Daryl Chestnut scored on the next play to make it 7-0. After a drive that ended on fourth-and-one at the 20, UNM got on the board again when Apodaca had time and hit Patrick Reed for a 36-yard score.
Right before the quarter ended, Lamar Jordan somehow escaped a tackle and raced 52 yards for a touchdown and with 13 seconds left in the first quarter, UNM led 21-0. However, Rutgers got the first of three long scoring plays on a 75-yard pass from Chris Lovianoto to Jawuan Harris with three seconds left in the quarter.
The next drive saw some trickery as Grant, a receiver, threw a TD pass to make it 21-14, and then on the next offensive play, Robert Martin raced up the middle 80 yards to tie the game up. Rutgers took the lead with 1:04 left in the half when Grant made up for his earlier mistake on the fumbled punt with a 69-yard punt return for a touchdown, his eighth return for a TD in his career on either punts or kickoffs. That made it 28-21, although UNM had a shot to put point up at the end of the half, but Apodaca was intercepted on a deep ball at the three-yard line.
Postgame Notes: Rutgers 37, New Mexico 28
This was the first meeting between the two teams.
Someone leads 1-0
Someone leads 1-0 in Piscataway
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: None
Defense: None
*New Mexico’s captains were Lamar Jordan, Dakota Cox, Daniel Henry and Austin Apodaca.
*John Russo carried the New Mexico flag.
*UNM won the toss for the first time this season. UNM got the opening kick for the third time this season.
TEAM NOTES:
*Rutgers didn’t run a play in UNM’s red zone until under six minutes left in the game. Overall they ran six plays for five yards, kicking two field goals.
*UNM is now 1-2 for the second straight year, in identical fashion, having beaten an FCS team in the opener, losing to an FBS Group of Five team, and then a Power Five team on the road.
*UNM allowed 350 yards … it’s the third straight game allowing 350 or fewer and it’s the first time UNM has done that since the final three games of the 2007 season.
*UNM did not score on the opening possession for the first time this season. It did score a touchdown on the second possession for the third time this year.
*UNM dropped to 1-12 under Bob Davie when throwing the ball 20 or more times in a game.
*The Lobos were just 3-for-15 on third down, but 2-for-3 on fourth down.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
*Bojorquez’ hit two 50-yard punts, including a 52-yarder in the second half, the longest of his career.
*Bijon Parker’s first quarter fumble recovery was the first of his career.
*Lamar Jordan’s 52-yard touchdown run moved him into 25th on the UNM career rushing list. He now has 1,419 + yards.
*Anu Somoye caught a 25-yard pass in the second quarter, his first career catch.
*Lamar Jordan rushed for 101 yards, his fifth career 100-yard game.
*Michael Walsh also had his first career catch.
*Matt Quarells had a game-high five receptions, the most for a Lobo this season.
POSTGAME QUOTES – New Mexico
New Mexico Head Coach Bob Davie
Opening Statement: “I thought our kids really played hard. I’m really proud how hard they played, how physical they played. We all saw what happened. We were up 21-0. We get the big wheel route thrown on us for a touchdown and then we jump out of our gap and (Robert Martin) takes the long run. They had two long runs in first half and then the punt return. But I thought, for the most part, pretty much felt in control, quite honestly, from the game plan-strategy stand point. I felt good about our plan and how our kids played. We probably had more yards than what they had. Probably had a lot more time of possession. Then we turned the ball over one time on the fumble. We had the interception, but really the fumble hurt us. We punted the ball down the middle of the field when we didn’t want to. We missed a field goal there that would have gotten us within an on-side kick. Big picture, I’m proud of our kids. I’m proud of our team. (Rutgers) plays Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan their next three games and I’m more than proud of what we put on tape to have those three football teams watch what we did.”
On the on-side kick: “We stopped them after that. They didn’t score. We didn’t execute. We’ve been really good at (the on-side kick). You are supposed to bounce the ball over the kid’s head. We’ve been really good executing that. Just at that time, that moment, we didn’t get it executed the way we practiced it. But I don’t second guess it at all. We had some momentum there, back in the game, took our shot and didn’t quite get it executed.”
After going up 21-0: “Two busts. We had a corner on the wheel route that didn’t come off and play the wheel route for an 80-yard touchdown. We had a defensive end jump out of his gap on the touchdown run. We had two individual mistakes that hit us at the wrong time and gave up two explosive plays. That’s what the frustration is for our kids and our team. We are up 21-0 and then you give up that big pass, it’s like the air comes out of the balloon a little bit. But again, we rebounded from that. Our defense in the second half was backed up after the on-side kick. After the punt return, we had a short field. The defense fought their butt off in the second half. They gave up the two big plays and (Rutgers) walks out of here with 350 yards and they had 155 of them on two plays.”
On the bye week: “I think it’s a good time for us. We came up here without (running back) Teriyon Gipson, without (linebacker) Dakota Cox, (corner back) Jadon Boatright, arguably our best player on offense and best players on defense. Austin (Apodaca) went down with a shoulder. It comes at a good time. We’ve used a lot of energy these last two weeks. I think it comes at absolutely a good time before we get into conference.”
Looking at first three weeks of the season: “This one, we talked about the old thing – ‘don’t let New Mexico beat us twice.’ I thought our kids bounced back and played hard. We have a chance to be a good team. We talked about it after the game, we’ve got have a maniacal attitude of doing your job and doing the little things right. I feel better about our team right now than I did last Saturday from a standpoint of fighting against a good opponent. Again, we walk out of here with our heads held high and we have a chance to be a good team.”
On the kicking game: “I’m concerned. We do have a punter punting for the first time in major college football and we made a mistake floating it down the field. (Janarion Grant) is going to prove you wrong. You kick it to (Grant) and he’s going to score. The on-side – we had such an opportunity, but we just didn’t get it executed right. He’s really good at doing it and he didn’t get the same bounce on it that he normally gets.”
Redshirt Junior Quarterback Lamar Jordan
Despite the outcome, having barely played the first two games, how did it feel to be out there making plays? “That was a blessing, you know. Thank god, because those two weeks, that was hard. Playing football is my life, so I just have to thank him right now. He gave me the chance and the opportunity.”
You made some nice passes there in the second half, where is your confidence at? “I’ve always been an athlete. The coach and I sat down and decided to upgrade my passing. It was all about mechanics the whole way through. It might sound redundant and boring, and I might have gotten tired of it, but he kept having and getting me right. You can see it starting to flourish. I thank God for the opportunity.”
What’s the feeling like on the team? “Rutgers was a good team. New Mexico was a good team. We’re a good team and now all we’ve got to do is learn from those mistakes. We’ve been doing something good when we get out on the field. Now we’ve got to finish it.”
On not getting discouraged after Rutgers came back from down 21-0: “It was definitely hard. The Big Ten takes a lot of heart. It was our first time playing against the Big Ten conference. We knew they were going to bring the boom and we just had to respond. We played a good game, but they just beat us by one step.”
On the upcoming bye week: “We could just regroup after this game. You could tell our team is really gelling together. Rutgers was a good team and a good test for us. And I’m glad we got the opportunity.”
On the play of the running backs: “I’d take any of our backs over anybody in the country. We’ve got a lot of backs that have a lot of talent. Of course (Teriyon Gipson), you know, is superfast, but we’ve got a lot of backs with a lot of talent. I felt it like we played a good game, even though (Gipson) was out. But if we had, him, who knows, we might have added 14 more points. Our backs are good. Regardless of who’s in, I know they are going to shine.”
On the play of offensive lineman Avery Jordan: “I felt like he did good. He’s a young player and he’s still learning a lot of things, but he did good. You could tell he’s very athletic. The only way to learn is if you throw him in with the wolves. I felt like he did a good job. Now he can learn from there.”
Redshirt Senior Safety Ryan Santos
On holding Rutgers to less yardage: “It’s tough, you know. We preached about that early on in the season during camp. Big plays are what’s going to kill us and kill drives. We gave up a couple big plays on defense and some on special teams. It hurts because we’ve talked about giving up big plays.”
On how tough it was to come back after Rutgers bounced back from New Mexico’s 21-0 lead: “It’s tough. Mentally, we were all locked in. We talked on the sidelines, got the adjustments made. It wasn’t anything they did. Deep down inside, we knew we just had to fix ourselves and just execute the plays that were called.”
When you fix the mistakes, will you feel like you’re a good team? “Yes, I feel like we are a very good team. If we are executing on all cylinders, special teams, offense and defense, we are a very hard team to beat.”
On the upcoming bye week: “Losing two-in-a-row is never good, but we do have this open day coming up, and with these two losses, it means we have to mentally lock in for the start of conference play with San Jose. We’ve got to be ready since we’ve got a chip on our shoulder from last year.”
After the bye week last year, you came back a totally different team. Do you foresee the same thing happening again? “If I’m remembering correctly, we came off of the bye and played Boise the next week. We were all locked in and ready to go. We told ourselves that we couldn’t lose any more games. We came in very focused off the bye week last year and were ready to go.”