New Mexico Game Notes | Air Force Game Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — UNM’s ground game seems to have returned, and so has starting quarterback Lamar Jordan, just in time as the Air Force Falcons roll into town for a Homecoming matchup at Dreamstyle Stadium on Saturday at 5:02 p.m. in a game broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network. UNM enters the contest at 2-2, while Air Force is 1-2, and both teams need to get into the conference win column as both sit at 0-1 in the league.
The Lobos are coming off a thriller in Tulsa, a 16-13 win over the Golden Hurricane in a game that saw UNM dominate the line of scrimmage both ways, allowing just 286 yards to Tulsa’s high-flying offense, and racking up 336 yards on the ground themselves. That defensive effort against the lightning quick, go-go-go offense of Tulsa has only been topped once by another team in the Philip Montgomery era, and that was by Ohio State. For Air Force, they are coming off a pair of losses to nationally ranked teams, losing 29-13 at Michigan and then at home to San Diego State last week 28-24 in a game that saw a long lightning delay in the second quarter.
It’s an annual battle of option offenses from the Mountain West’s Mountain Division, and UNM has had the upper hand the last two seasons, winning 45-40 in Dallas at The Cotton Bowl last year, and 47-35 in the regular season finale in 2015. The Lobos were led in both of the those wins by Lamar Jordan, who is back after missing the Tulsa game with concussion symptoms. Jordan was actually cleared on Friday before the Tulsa game, but was hadn’t practiced, and Coltin Gerhart led UNM’s offense to a 16-13 win. Gerhart was injured in that game, potentially limiting him this week. Also back for UNM is quarterback Tevaka Tuioti, who suffered concussion symptoms after a hit in the New Mexico State game.
Air Force is led at quarterback by Aaron Worthman, who has rushed for 155 yards and thrown for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Air Force utilizes plenty of men on offense, as 20 different players have recorded a run. Tim McVey has been the workhorse over the last few years, leading the team with 204 yards and two scores. Two years ago in UNM’s 47-35 win over Air Force, McVey scored all five Air Force touchdowns.