Lobos Head to Logan to Face Utah State
New Mexico Game Notes | Utah State Game Notes | Mountain West Notes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Here is the 2018 definition of a tough stretch in college football. One week you play the No. 2 defense in the country. The next week, it’s the No. 2 offense. Welcome to New Mexico’s current slate of games. One week after playing against the nation’s No. 2 scoring defense in Fresno State, the Lobos now face the task of taking on Utah State, owners of the No. 2 scoring offense. THe game will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday on the Lobo Radio Network with the broadcast on Facebook via Stadium at www.facebook.com/StadiumCollegeFootball.
The Lobos are coming off back-to-back losses for the first time this season, and they will now have to try to end that streak, and get back to 4-4 and 2-2 in the conference, with a tough matchup in Logan, Utah. The last time in Logan worked out for UNM as the Lobos won a tense 24-21 contest that featured Dakota Cox making a stop on the goal line on 4th-and-goal at 1, and then UNM driving for a 40-yard Jason Sanders field goal. That was the second of two straight thrillers against Utah State as UNM won the 2015 meeting 14-13 in Albuquerque.
UNM will have to figure out how to slow down Utah State’s high-flying offense that is averaging 47.7 points per game. The Aggies have won six straight and they feature quarterback Jordan Love, a three-time Mountain West Player of the Week. Over its six-game winning streak, the Aggies have posted point totals of 42, 45, 59, 60 and 73. They also have proven to be able to score when not on offense. The Aggies have seven non-offensive touchdowns with three defensive touchdowns, two kickoff returns, a punt return and a blocked punt return.
All of that has added up to Utah State sitting second in the other receiving votes category in the Associated Press poll. Despite all of that , head coach Bob Davie likes what his team is, and likes where his team is at. “I do think we are an improving team, and I do think that this has been a pretty competitive series.” Davie feels his team need to avoid self-inflicted mistakes, and after showing his players some of the penalties from last game on video, UNM will be ready to go. “It’s a Mountain West Conference game and I expect us to be competitive in it.”