Fresno State Defeats UNM 38-7
Box Score | Season Stats | Post Game Audio Files
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Fresno State was able to handle UNM’s offense, and several drives that started in great field position paved the way for the Bulldogs to win their seventh straight game against New Mexico, taking a 38-7 decision over the Lobos. The loss dropped UNM to 1-2 in the Mountain West and 3-4 overall while Fresno State stayed undefeated in league play at 3-0 and 6-1 overall, earning bowl eligibility for the second straight year.
Fresno State twice started drives in UNM territory, and consistently had UNM starting far away from the goal line. UNM’s best starting position was its own 29-yard line, and seven of its first eight drives started at the 25 or in.
UNM looked to be in business on its first drive, but Delane Hart-Johnson’s 43-yard catch to the Fresno State 16 was wiped out on an offensive pass interference call, and it was a sign of things to come. The defense held on Fresno State’s opening drive, forcing a missed field goal, but the Lobos only mustered one first down in the opening quarter.
After the Bulldogs opened the scoring with a 30-yard field goal, UNM was forced to start at its own 4-yard line after a bizarre call in which Elijah Lilly attempted to return a kickoff off, but the play was whistled dead when Emmanuel Harris signaled to his blockers that the ball would be returned and it was interpreted as a fair catch. That was really the sign of things to come.
Ronnie Rivers scored on a 16-yard run with 18 seconds left in the opening quarter to make it 10-0, and he did it again from the 1-yard line to make it 17-0 in the second. UNM got on the board with 57 seconds left when Elijah Lilly caught a pass from Sheriron Jones and cruised it in to make it 17-7. However, UNM couldn’t keep it there before halftime. After a short pass, UNM was whistled for two personal fouls on the same play, moving the ball 30 yards and well into UNM territory. Marcuc McMaryion then hit Keesan Johsnon for a 34-yard touchdown, answering with a touchdown in just 21 seconds, making it 24-7 at the break.
The Bulldogs put it away in the second half, scoring on both third quarter drives, the first a 15-yard pass from McMaryion to Johnson and the second a 23-yard pass from McMaryion to Ronnie Rivers.
The Lobos were bit by the penalty bug. UNM was whistled for nine personal fouls before finally getting a 5-yard false start. Twice UNM picked up two personal fouls on the same play, and a targeting ejection.
In what portended to a fitting end, the Lobos drove from their own 17 all the way down to the Fresno State 3-yard line, facing fourth and goal with 14 seconds left. On fourth, Jones threw over the middle to a wide-open Hart-Johnson. Hart-Johnson shook his defender, but as he was catching the pass, the umpire couldn’t avoid the play, in effect breaking the pass up and denying UNM a touchdown.
The Lobos will face a second straight one-loss team as UNM travels to Logan, Utah to face the first-place team in the Mountain Division in 6-1 Utah State. That game will be on Stadium/Facebook and it will take place at 2 p.m. at Maverik Stadium.
Postgame Notes: Fresno State 38, New Mexico 7
This was the 17th meeting all-time between the two teams.
Fresno State now leads 13-4
Fresno State now leads 5-3 in Albuquerque
Fresno State leads 8-1 in Fresno
Fresno State has won seven straight overall
Fresno State has won five straight in Albuquerque
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Jarred Sylvester started at left tackle for Chris Estrella, who started for Charlie Grammel at left guard. Patrick Reed was the non-starter on offense.
Defense: Rhashaun Epting started as a second rush end for Nahje Flowers.
*New Mexico’s captains were Aaron Jenkins, Cody Baker and Sitivena Tamaivena
*New Mexico lost the toss for the sixth time in seven tries. Fresno State deferred and UNM received the opening kickoff
*Cade Hackey of Hatch, New Mexico was the New Mexico Man, carrying the state flag onto the field. It was his first career honor.
TEAM NOTES:
*After going 9-3 in winning the coin toss last year, UNM dropped to 1-6.
*The Lobos were held under 300 yards for the second straight game.
*UNM became the first Mountain West team to score a touchdown against Fresno State. The Bulldogs had allowed a single field goal in each of their first two games.
*UNM only suffered one tackle for loss. Fresno State entered the day leading the Mountain West in that category.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
*Zahneer Shuler was ejected for a targeting penalty in the second quarter.
*Elijah Lilly’s 16-yard touchdown reception gave him a receiving touchdown in five of UNM’s seven games this season.
*Tyrone Owens gained 83 yards and is now just 11 yards from moving into 10th place on the UNM career rushing list.
*Due to a lateral after a reception that lost yardage, Elijah Lilly had an odd statline of one catch for 14 yards, but with a long of 16.
*Tyson Dyer averaged 47.1 yards per punt on eight kicks.