Box Score | 2016 Season Statistics
HONOLULU, Hawaii — In a game that felt like a defensive play would win it … a defensive play won it. Daniel Henry zipped through the line and forced a Diocemy Saint Juste fumble and Lee Crosby scooped and scored from 46 yards out as New Mexico won its third straight for the first time since 2007 as UNM beat Hawai’i 28-21 in a game marred by torrential rain throughout.
After Crosby’s and Henry’s heroics, UNM needed one more stop defensively, and the third time on the drive was the charm. Hawai’i methodically moved down the field after Crosby’s touchdown with 8:53 left, converting two straight fourth-and-2 opportunities. After an eight-yard pass to the UNM 8-yard line, Nik D’Avanzo and Donnie White teamed up to hold Steve Lakalaka to a yard on third down, setting up another fourth down opportunity. With the clock winding down and under 2:30 to go, D’Avanzo knifed through the Hawai’i line and took down Lakalaka for no gain after a measurement.
From there, UNM needed two first downs and Diquon Woodhouse, Teriyon Gipson and Tyrone Owens combined to get them, giving UNM a hard fought win on the island of Oahu.
Tied at 14-14, UNM took the lead late in the third quarter when Owens burst up the middle and got a tremendous downfield block from Matt Quarells and scored to make it 21-14, pushing him over the 100-yard mark in the process. The Rainbow Warriors (4-5, 3-2 MW) answered with a 56-yard drive to tie it at 21-21 as Lakalaka scored from four yards out.
UNM punted after that, but a big tackle on coverage by Bijon Parker set up the stage for the ensuing run plays by Hawai’i and the fumble recovery that won it.
UNM went up 14-0 in the first quarter, scoring on runs by Richard McQuarley of 1-yard and 11 yards by Teriyon Gipson. Hawai’i answered with 14 in the second quarter, scoring on a 6-yard quarterback run and a 2-yard run on a fake field goal at the halftime gun.
Lamar Jordan started for UNM and was 4-for-6 for 58 yards and a pick in the first half. Austin Apodaca came in for the second half and was 7-for-9 for 26 yards, but his accuracy opened up the middle of the field, allowing Owens to take advantage.
Postgame Notes: New Mexico 28, Hawai’i 21
This was the 24th meeting between the two teams.
Hawai’i now leads 14-10
Hawai’i now leads 11-6 in Honolulu
New Mexico leads 4-3 in Albuquerque
New Mexico has won 7 in a row overall
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: None
Defense: RUSH-54 Donnie White for 58 Maurice Daniels; WLB-47 Austin Ocasio for 2 Kimmie Carson
*New Mexico’s captains were Lamar Jordan, Dakota Cox, Daniel Henry and Austin Apodaca
* Javohn Jones, a walk-on running back, carried the New Mexico flag onto the field as the New Mexico Man.
*UNM lost the toss for the eighth time this season, and that’s every game.
TEAM NOTES:
*New Mexico went for it on fourth down on the opening drive and got it, making them 9-for-12 on fourth down this season. Conversely, Hawai’i failed on its fourth down attempt on its first drive and UNM opponent are now just 3-for-7 on fourth down.
*Amazingly, UNM has now scored a touchdown on its second possession of the game in all eight games this season.
*UNM has scored on all eight takeaways this season, and UNM’s opponents are just 7-for-11.
*The Lobos have now scored three defensive touchdowns this season.
*The win was New Mexico’s first official road win of the season. The win over Air Force was technically a neutral site win.
*The last time UNM won three straight was October 13-25, 2007 when it beat Wyoming 20-3, San Diego State 20-17 and Air Force 34-31.
*New Mexico won its fourth October game of the season. It’s only the sixth time in school history the team has won four in October, and the first time in 34 years, since 1982.
*The Lobos are now just one win from becoming bowl eligible for the second straight year. UNM has only played in back-to-back bowl games three times in school history.
*Owens’ 72-yard touchdown run was UNM’s fourth 70-yard run this year, leading the nation.
*UNM hasn’t won four in a row since winning five in 2004.
*The Lobos had a season-high seven passes broken up.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
*Richard McQuarley scored on a 1-yard run, giving him 11 touchdowns on the season.
*Teriyon Gipson’s first quarter 11-yard touchdown moved him into a tie with Mike Williams for sixth place on the UNM career rushing touchdown list with 27.
*Teriyon Gipson surpassed Willie Turral for 8th place on the UNM career rushing list.
*Dakota Cox moved into 10th place on the career tackles list, moving ahead of Charlie Baker.
*Tyrone Owens’ 72-yard touchdown run in the third quarter pushed him over the 100-yard mark for the third straight game and the fourth time this season.
*Lee Crosby’s 46-yard fumble return for a touchdown was UNM’s first such score since game eight of last year when Nias Martin scored against Nevada on a 77-yard return.
*Jason Sanders hit his opening kickoff out of bounds and had a kickoff returned out of the end zone, just the fifth and sixth non-touchbacks this year.
Crosby’s Scoop and Score Wins It 28-21 at Hawai’i
