ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — With the National Championship game come and gone, that’s it for the 2016 football season, and for the first time in the history of The University of New Mexico program, the Lobos have led the nation in rushing.
Not only did the Lobos lead the nation with 350.0 yards per game, but UNM also led the nation in total rushing yards (4,550) and yards per carry (6.61). The 350.0 yards per game marked the 10th time that the Lobos have finished in the top 10 in rushing, but it’s the fifth time in five years under head coach Bob Davie that UNM has done it.
It also marks the fifth time that the Lobo football team has led the nation in one of the major categories. UNM led the nation in kickoff return average in 1995 (27.1 yards per return), in net punting in 1954 (42.6) and 1993 (41.8), and also in passing defense in 1962 (56.8 yards per game).
This season the Lobos actually led the NCAA in 11 different statistics. Along with rushing yards, rushing yards per game and rushing yards per carry, UNM led the nation in rushes of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 yards and also in touchback percentage.
Teriyon Gipson led the NCAA in yards per carry at 8.75 yards per tote, and he also led the nation in runs of 50 yards (7), 60 yards (3) and 70 yards (3). Jason Sanders led the nation with an 82.14% mark on touchbacks.
The Lobos also set 11 record in 2016, nine as a team and two by Jason Sanders. While UNM doesn’t have an official record for touchback percentage, Sanders did set a record with 61 extra points made and 62 attempted, which were also two of the team records. UNM also set team records for rushing yards in a season, rushing yards per carry, rushing first downs (200) and rushing touchdowns (48).
The Lobos also set records for total points (477) and points per game (36.7) as well as for total offense (5,939 yards), yards per play for the season (6.85) and for single-game total offense yards per play, as the team averaged 13.53 per play against Wyoming with 691 yards on just 51 plays.
The team also tied and set a few record in terms of wins. The 16 wins over the last two seasons tied for the most in any two-year period at UNM, and the 11 conference wins marked the most conference wins over any two-year period. It was also just the fifth back-to-back 7+ win seasons in school history. UNM’s 23-20 win over UTSA in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl marked the second bowl win in over the past 61 seasons.
Lobo Statistical Records and Marks of Significance
Lead NCAA
Rushing Yards 4,450
Rushing Yards per game 350.0
Rushing Yards per carry 6.61
Touchback Percentage 82.14%
Rushes of 10 yards or more 129
Rushes of 20 yards or more 48
Rushes of 30 yards or more 28
Rushes of 40 yards or more 21
Rushes of 50 yards or more 17
Rushes of 60 yards or more 10
Rushes of 70 yards or more 6
Yards Per Carry – Teriyon Gipson 8.75
Rushes of 50 yards or more – Teriyon Gipson 7
Rushes of 60 yards or more – Teriyon Gipson 3
Rushes of 70 yards or more – Teriyon Gipson 3
Touchback Percentage – Jason Sanders 82.14
Rushing – Individual
Single game Yards – Teriyon Gipson, 217 vs. Wyoming, 9th
Single Season Yards – Teriyon Gipson, 1,269, 4th
Single Season Yards – Tyrone Owens, 1,097, 12th
Single Season TDs – Richard McQuarley, 18, 2nd
Single Season TDs – Teriyon Gipson, 13, T-6th
Longest Run from Scrimmage – Teriyon Gipson, 84 vs. South Dakota, T-4th
Longest Run from Scrimmage – Tyrone Owns, 83 vs. ULM, 6th
Rushing – Team
Yards in a Season – 4,550, 1st
Average Per Rush, Season – 6.61, 1st
Touchdowns, Season – 48, 1st
First Downs – 200, 1st
Single Game Yards, 568 vs. Wyoming, 2nd
Yards per game, Season – 350.0, 3rd
Total Offense – Team
Total Offense, Season – 5,939, 1st
Yards Per Play, Game – 13.53 vs. Wyoming, 1st
Yards Per Play, Season – 6.85, 1st
Single Game Yards – 690 vs. Wyoming, T-2nd
Single Game Yards – 622 vs. ULM, T-12th
Single Game Yards – 615 vs. South Dakota, 17th
Scoring – Individual
Extra Points Made – Jason Sanders, 61, 1st
Extra Points Attempted – Jason Sanders, 62, 1st
Total Touchdowns – Richard McQuarley, 18, 2nd
Total Touchdowns – Teriyon Gipson, 14, T-7th
Single Season Scoring – Richard McQuarley, 110, 3rd
Single Season Scoring – Jason Sanders, 97, 7th
Scoring – Team
Most Points in a Season – 477, 1st
Most Points Per Game – 36.7, 1st
Most Points in a Quarter, Game – 28 vs. ULM (1st), T-4th
Most Points in a Half, Game – 35 vs. Wyoming, vs. South Dakota, vs. Air Force, vs. ULM, T-11th
Miscellaneous
Yards From Scrimmage – Teriyon Gipson, 1,349, 8th
Most Passes Defended, Season – Nias Martin, 11, T-10th
Fewest Turnovers in a Season – 14, T-2nd
Lobo Football Officially Leads Nation in Rushing
