Lobos Return to Field to Face No. 19 Boise State

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THURSDAY
The Opening Drive: 7:30 am, Jeff Siembieda and J.J. Buck Player Interview Listen Live

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Normalcy is pretty easily defined, but this week for the University of New Mexico, normalcy is getting ready for a football game.  After not playing last week after the passing of teammate and starting nose tackle Nahje Flowers, the Lobos are looking to get back into a bit of normalcy as the squad takes on powerhouse Boise State on Saturday night.  The game with the No. 19 ranked Broncos will take place at 8:20 p.m. and it will be a nationally broadcast game on ESPN 2 with Mike Corey and Rene Ingoglia on the call.

The Lobos were able to practice twice last week on Wednesday and Thursday, and then after the team held a memorial on Friday, the team took Saturday off before starting a normal week of practice with a Sunday night practice, a Monday off and then back at it today.  The return to the regular weekly schedule was important for the team.  “All of us, in our own way, are trying to get back to some normalcy, some routine,” said Davie as he opened up his Tuesday press conference.  “There’s no right or wrong way to feel right now.  However you feel is how you feel.  I am confident that as the week goes on, the guys’ competitive spirit and their love of football and their resiliency, I think all of those things will get us back where we are ready to go play this football game.”

UNM, which is 2-7, has a tough stretch to end the season with Boise State, Air Force and Utah State on the docket.  That first one is the UNM’s first test against a nationally-ranked team since losing to Notre Dame in week two.  That game was the first of two not coached on the sidelines by Davie, who suffered a “serious medical condition” after the opener and missed the next three weeks, including two games.  Davie was asked if he has ever seen a season like this in his 40+ years in the game.  “I never have been around a season like this,” he said.

And while the season has certainly had its ups and downs, the downs have made the headlines but the ups shouldn’t be ignored.  UNM’s Tyson Dyer is a potential Ray Guy finalist candidate.  The Lobo punter leads the nation in punts inside the 20 (he has 28) and percentage of punts inside the 20 (62.2% of his 45 punts).  Teton Saltes is UNM’s third semifinalist for the Wuerffel Trophy.in the last five seasons.  Ahmari Davis is closing in on a 1,000 yard season despite missing a game, and UNM’s offensive line has been one of the nation’s top units.

Even UNM’s pro guys are still lighting it up.  Miami’s Jason Sanders had a fourth quarter game-winning field goal, and Bills punter Corey Bojorquez was incredible against Cleveland with a 49.8 net, three punts inside the 20, one of which led to a game-tying safety.
 

Congrats to former Lobo @jasonsanderss for an incredible game! He hits from 47 in the 1st half, and then boomed the go-ahead kick from 48 & an insurance kick from 48, going a perfect 3-for-3 in Miami’s 16-12 win. Great job Jason!!! Should be NFL ST Player of the Week #GoLobos https://t.co/yL6GyKAVuN

— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) November 11, 2019

As for Boise State, Davie knows the task is tough, but it has nothing to do with a blue field.  It has everything to do with the players in the blue jerseys.  Still, he noted that UNM played both Nevada and Wyoming fairly even, and last week those two teams went to face 7-1 teams, with Nevada winning at No. 24 San Diego State 17-13 and Wyoming losing in overtime 20-17 at then No. 21 Boise State 20-17.  He feels UNM is close, but against Boise State, close just won’t cut it.  “It sounds elementary but we have to score.  You go back to Nevada … the first half there’s so many good things, but it’s only seven points.  There’s so many good things in the second half but you leave Reno with 10 points.  That’s not going to get it done,” said Davie, who added that creating a turnover and getting some explosive plays will also be keys.

And about that blue field.  “You know,” Davie quipped, “I noticed Eastern Michigan has a grey field, Eastern Washington has a red field … Boise State hands down wins that with the blue turf,  no disrespect to Eastern Michigan or Eastern Washington.

It all starts on Saturday night at 8:20 pm on ESPN2.