Lobo drop Finale 31-3 to Wyoming
Box Score | Final Season Statistics
(11/24/2018) FB_vs_WyALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Wyoming’s defense turned in a stifling effort, limiting New Mexico to just 83 yards of total offense, and the Cowboys rolled up 366 yards on the ground as the visitors from Laramie achieved bowl eligibility with a 31-3 win at Dreamstyle Stadium. The loss dropped UNM to 3-9 for the second straight season.
The Lobos couldn’t muster anything on offense for most of the day, with UNM going just 3-for-17 passing between Sheriron Jones, who played the first half, and Coltin Gerhart, who played the second half. UNM had just 49 yards rushing and 34 passing and only six first downs, three in the opening quarter.
After Wyoming got out to a 7-0 lead on its opening drive, UNM finally got into a rhythm offensively on its third drive, which started at the Lobo 10 after a punt. UNM got a third down conversion from Zahneer Shuler and a 15-yard run from Jones, and the Lobos moved the ball to the Wyoming 40-yard line, but a pass to Dalene Hart-Johnson went incomplete on third-and-six and UNM punted the football away.
Wyoming pushed its lead to 14-0 on a Nico Evans 30-yard run, and the Cowboys got the ball back before an error gave UNM great field position. On a punt, Wyoming punter Dontae Crow dropped a snap, recovered and was tackled after a gain of five yards, giving the Lobos the ball at the Wyoming 31. A pass interference penalty set up UNM at the Wyoming 11-yard line, but the Lobos couldn’t get it much closer than that. Andrew Shelley hit a 25-yard field goal to make it 14-3, and that’s where it stood at the break.
39-yard return by Marcus Hayes. New Mexico will get the ball starting at the Wyoming 45. @UNMLoboFB #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/Aw4mBZYBT7
— New Mexico Lobos (@UNMLOBOS) November 24, 2018
UNM switched from Jones to Gerhart at quarterback, but things on offense didn’t improve as UNM, which picked up 42 yards on 23 plays in the opening half, amassed just 41 yards on 28 plays in the second half. Wyoming put the game away with a 38-yard field goal by Cooper Rothe in the third quarter and then a pair of rushing touchdowns in the fourth. The first was from Austin Conway from 11 yards out, and the second was just 3:08 later on a Xazavian Holliday 20-yard run, his second score of the day.
Holliday ended the day with a career-best 192 yards rushing, and he was joined by Nico Evans, who had 142. Andrew Wingard finished the game with five tackles for Wyoming, and that gave him 454 for his career, tying the Mountain West career record for tackles, tying him with New Mexico linebacker Carmen Messina, who did it from 2008-11.
The game was Senior Day for the Lobos, who said good-bye to 22 seniors prior to kickoff.
Postgame Notes: Wyoming 31, New Mexico 3
This was the 71st meeting all-time between the two teams.
Wyoming now leads 37-34 overall
New Mexico now leads 19-18 in Albuquerque
Wyoming leads 19-15 in Laramie
Wyoming has now won two in a row overall
Wyoming now won one in a row in Albuquerque
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: UNM receiver Emmanuel Harris started for Jay Griffin. Receiver Elijah Lilly was the non-starter.
Defense: No changes.
*New Mexico’s captains were Aaron Jenkins, Alex Hart, D’Angelo Ross, Aaron Blackwell.
*New Mexico won the toss and deferred. It was the sixth time UNM won the coin toss, and the fifth time in a row.
*Hayden Wilson was the New Mexico Man and carried the New Mexico flag onto the field. It was his first career honor.
TEAM NOTES:
*UNM’s 83 yards of total offense was the first time not hitting triple digits since October 22, 2011 when UNM had 85 yards against TCU in a 69-0 loss.
*It was the fewest yards of total offense since September 17, 1988 when the Lobos gained 66 yards against Texas in a 47-0 loss. The game saw UNM quarterback Jeremy Leach get sacked nine times for 93 yards.
*New Mexico should move into the national lead in kickoff coverage as Danny Sutton’s two kickoffs went for touchbacks.
*UNM had over 500 yards of total offense three times, but the Lobos in the other nine games only broke 300 twice, and never got more than 325 yards.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
*Aaron Jenkins extended the UNM record for games played in a career with his 52nd game. He also extended the career record for starts with his 50th, and his 50th consecutive start. He tied the school record for consecutive games played with 50 in a row, tying David Anaya, Jhurell Pressley, Marquis Bundy, Steven Romero and Jason Sanders.
*Marcus Hayes returned one punt 39 yards, moving his average for the season to a school record 21.2 yards per return. That mark should end up leading the nation, making him the first Lobo to lead the nation in punt returns.
*Andrew Shelley hit a 25-yard field goal, making him 7-for-8 in his rookie season.
*Tyson Dyer’s 10 punts were a career-high. His season average ended at 44.3 yards per punt, putting him in the top-five for a season-season at UNM.
*Daquan Baker’s nine tackles were a career-high.