Lobos Lose 23-10 at Wyoming
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LARAMIE, Wyo. — New Mexico had eight straight drives move into Wyoming territory to end the game, but the Lobos netted just 10 points on those six drives, and it wasn’t nearly enough as UNM lost at Wyoming 23-10 in a solid defensive effort for the Lobos. The loss dropped UNM to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the Mountain West, while Wyoming moved to 5-2 and 2-1, one win from bowl eligibility.
UNM’s defensive played well, as Wyoming didn’t break the 300-yard mark for the game until well into the fourth quarter. The only score of the first half followed a turnover, as UNM’s Bryson Carroll fumbled inside of Lobo territory. Sean Chambers was able to convert it into points with a 1-yard run, and that left it at 7-0 Wyoming. UNM didn’t have much of an issue moving into Wyoming territory, but the issue was getting into field goal range.
UNM ran out of time at the end of the first half at the Wyoming 40. Two other drives in the first half stalled at the Cowboy 44 and on the 50. The Lobos defense was stout, holding on most Cowboy drives. The only other scoring chance for the Cowboys came on a missed 47-yard field goal.
The second half saw UNM open and drive quickly into Wyoming territory, but the drive stalled when UNM passed on a 47-yard field goal try into a stiff breeze and got stopped on fourth down. While UNM kept scuffling inside Wyoming territory, Wyoming got a 41-yard scramble by Chambers to set up a 3-yard run by Xavian Valladay to make it 13-0.
Q4 | Tuioti hits Aaron Molina for a 21-yard TD on fourth-and-15. It’s 20-10 Wyoming with 6:31 to go #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/sfHUuSN2Gr
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) October 19, 2019
Finally, on UNM’s sixth foray into Wyoming territory, it got on the board when Aaron Molina had to turn into a defender to prevent an interception, and Andrew Shelley followed with a 25-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter. Wyoming pushed the lead to 20-3 when Chambers hit Josh Harshman for a 15-yard touchdown.
UNM head coach Bob Davie made a switch and inserted Tevaka Tuioti into the game, and he reaped an immediate dividend. UNM got a huge 40-yard run from Ahmari Davis, and then on fourth-and-15 from the 21, Tuioti hit Aaron Molina for a 21-yard touchdown, slicing the lead to 20-10. Wyoming got another long scramble run on third down, this one of 40 yards by Chambers, and the Cowboys led 23-10 with 58 seconds left.
Without much time, UNM moved from the 25 to the Wyoming 17 before time ran out after Tuioti missed Emmanuel Logan-Greene in the end zone.
Overall, UNM outgained the Cowboys 372-345 and threw for 203 through the air, but the lost fumble in the first half was the games’ only turnover. Wyoming also had the ball about 10 more minutes, 35:13 to 24:47.
Postgame Notes: Wyoming 23, New Mexico 10
This was the 72nd meeting between the two teams.
Wyoming now leads 38-34
Wyoming now leads 20-15 in Laramie
New Mexico leads 19-18 in Albuquerque
Wyoming has now won three straight in the series
Wyoming has now two one in a row in Laramie
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Bryson Carroll started at running back instead of Ahmari Davis.
Defense: None.
*New Mexico’s captains were Alex Hart, Kyle Stapley and Trent Sellers
*UNM won the toss and deferred. The Lobos kicked off to start the game, defending the south goal. UNM is now 3-4 on the coin toss.
*Micah Gray carried the New Mexico flag onto the field leading the team.
TEAM NOTES:
*New Mexico was shutout in the first half. The last time UNM was shutout in the first half was October 28, 2017 when Wyoming shutout UNM in the first half of a 42-3 Cowboy victory.
*Eight of New Mexico’s 10 drives ended at midfield or inside Wyoming territory.
*The 259 yards gained rushing by Wyoming is the most allowed by UNM this season. Conversely the 86 yards allowed passing was the fewest allowed by UNM.
*The 86 yards passing allowed was the fewest allowed since UNM allowed 45 against Mississippi Valley State on September 1, 2015.
*Wyoming had two 100-yard rushers in the game for the second straight year against New Mexico. Valladay had 127 and Chambers had 117. Last year Valladay had 192 rushing and Nico Evans had 142.
*UNM had six tackles for losses of 35 yards.
*Nico Bolden became the 40th Lobo to start a game this season, and UNM has used 80 players. UNM entered the game tied with UMass for the most starters used.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
*Bryson Carroll’s fumble in the first quarter marked the third straight game with a fumble, but the first that was a forced fumble.
*Thomas Vieria gained four yards on a lateral pass, the first touch of his five-year career. On the same drive he recorded his first career reception.
*Jordan Kress nearly had a second 100-yard game, finishing with 94.
*Ahmari Davis returned to the lineup and rushed for a team-high 86 yards.
*Tyson Dyer’s streak of punts inside the 20 ended at 10 straight, but he now has 23 of his 36 punts on the year inside the 20 after totaling three more in the game.
*Andrew Shelley’s 25-yard field goal was his eighth of the season, a career-high.
*Emmanuel Logan-Greene’s three catches were a career-high.
*Johnny Hernandez had a career-high 11 tackles.
*Jacobi Hearn had a career-high two sacks and a career-high eight tackles.