CSU’s Walk-off Field goal Edges UNM 20-18
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Wyatt Bryan of Colorado State atoned for a shocking 18-yard missed field goal by just squeaking in a 26-yarder with no time remaining as Colorado State nipped New Mexico 20-18 at the wire at Canvas Stadium in front of a sell-out crowd. The field goal extended Colorado State’s winning streak over UNM to nine straight, and this might have been the toughest of those to take.
New Mexico bounced back from a 14-3 halftime deficit on the arm of quarterback Sheriron Jones, who was masterful again, going 12-for-20 for 165 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover.
After forcing CSU to punt twice to open the second half, Jones led UNM on an 80-yard drive. Tyrone Owens opened it with an 18-yard run, and then Elijah Lilly went 20 yards on a short pass from Jones. Two more rushes put the ball at the 23, where Jones hit Lilly on a swing pass and Lilly turned on the jets for a 23-yard touchdown. UNM hit the extra point, but an offside penalty moved the ball closer, and head coach Bob Davie went for two and got it when Jones dove in to make it 14-11.
Colorado State answered with a 22-yard field goal from Bryan. After both teams punted, Marcus Hayes set up UNM’s next drive with a 53-yard punt return to the Ram 12-yard line. Three plays later Jones hit Delane Hart-Johnson, who leapt over two defenders for a 5-yard score, and Andrew Shelley’s extra point made it 18-17 UNM.
Another Jones TD, this to @DelaneHart and @UNMLoboFB leads 18-17 with 13 minutes left #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/xFM6GgbgWz
— New Mexico Lobos (@UNMLOBOS) October 13, 2018
After a punt with 8:37 to go, CSU drove 59 plays in 6:08 to set up a chip shot field goal of 18 yards. Sitting at second and goal, Michael Sewell, Jr. made a stop inches from the goal line, and then Nahje Flowers and Evahelotu Tohi made a stop on Izzy Matthews at the goal line. That forced an 18-yard field goal that was missed.
UNM then couldn’t get a first down to seal the game. UNM ran it twice to make CSU use timeouts, and on third and five, Jones looked for Jeffrey Jones, Jr., but the connection couldn’t be made under tight coverage. CSU then moved down the field, getting a key 12-yard run on second down to get into field goal range. Bryan came on with three seconds left, and his kick started wide but sliced back in for the win.
Things looked bad early as on the second play from scrimmage, Tyrone Owens was hit in the backfield and lost the ball with Tre Thomas sliding on it just before the ball went out of bounds, giving the Rams the ball at the Lobo 12. CSU converted that turnover into points two plays later when K.J. Carta-Samuels hit Preston Williams for a 5-yard score just 1:10 into the game.
New Mexico and CSU both didn’t get much going offensively in the opening half, but UNM twice got the ball inside the 6-yard line and could only come away with three points. Down 7-0 in the second quarter, UNM had 3rd-and-2 at the 5-yard line, but Tyrone Owens picked up just a yard on third down, and then Zahneer Shuler was short on the fourth-and-1 attempt, giving the ball back to CSU.
Marcus Hayes with a huge punt return to set up UNM in the red zone #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/GRlnvE6LyD
— New Mexico Lobos (@UNMLOBOS) October 13, 2018
The Rams then went on their only sustained drive of the first half, covering 96 yards on 16 plays. On the drive, CSU twice converted third downs, and on a near identical fourth-and-1 at the Lobo 4, Izzy Matthews just did get the first down up the middle. Two plays later K.J. Carta-Samuels faked a hand-off and fooled everyone for a 1-yard naked bootleg touchdown to make it 14-0.
UNM did respond, getting a 52-yard pass from Jones to Anselem Umeh to the CSU 6-yard line, but UNM could go no further, and Andrew Shelley got UNM on the board with a 29-yard field goal.
Postgame Notes:
This was the 67th meeting all-time between the two teams.
Colorado State now leads 41-25
Colorado State now leads 19-11 in Fort Collins
Colorado State leads 20-14 in Albuquerque
Colorado State leads 2-0 at neutral sites
Colorado State has won nine straight overall
Colorado State has won fivejhuhyj straight in Fort Collins
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Anselem Umeh started for Elijah Lilly at WR and Jeffrey Jones, Jr started at tight end for Marcus Williams. Patrick Reed was the non-starter for UNM at WR.
Defense: Stanley Barnwell, Jr. started at free safety instead of Bijon Parker.
*New Mexico’s captains were Aaron Jenkins, Alex Hart, Emmanuel Harris and Bijon Parker.
*New Mexico lost the toss for the fifth time in six tries. CSU deferred and UNM received the opening kickoff
*Kameron Miller of Las Cruces carried the New Mexico flag onto the field.
TEAM NOTES:
*The game was UNM’s first in new Canvas Stadium, and it was CSU’s Homecoming. UNM was CSU’s opponent in the final game at Hughes Stadium on November 19, 2016.
*The last time UNM finished a game with exactly 18 points was in 1964 against New Mexico State, an 18-14 win.
*UNM had the ball for just 7:58 of the second half.
*CSU ran 83 plays to UNM’s 55.
*UNM’s streak of consecutive games with a takeaway ended at six straight games dating back to last season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
*Emmanuel Harris, a wide receiver, had his first carry since October 1, 2016, against San Jose State.
*Tyrone Owens moved into 11th place on UNM’s all-time rushing list, moving ahead of Mike Carter. Next up is former teammate Lamar Jordan at 2,503 yards in 10th place.
*Aaron Blackwell recorded his two career sacks when he got to K.J. Carta-Samuels twice in the second half.
*Jeffrey Jones, Jr., who made his first career start, caught his first career pass in the third quarter.
*Sheriron Jones threw for two touchdowns, his 11th and 12th of the season.
*Michael Sewell, Jr. had a career-