Lobos Drop Finale 38-25 to Utah State
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(11/30/2019) Football vs. Utah State ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico got within 13 in the second half with a pair of touchdowns to open the third quarter, but Jordan Love’s third touchdown pass quelled UNM’s comeback attempt as the Lobos lost their ninth straight game to end the season, falling 38-25 to Utah State.
UNM ended the season 2-10, and 0-8 in the Mountain West, UNM’s first winless conference season since 1989. That season UNM also went 2-10 overall, but 0-7 in the Western Athletic Conference.
The game started out with both teams trying to figure each other out combining for six punts on the first six drives. Utah State finally got moving on offense first, with Jordan Love hitting Caleb Repp for a 5-yard touchdown.
Utah State moved ahead 10-0 when UNM got going as Trae Hall led a 75-yard drive that ended in a 7-yard pass from Hall to Jordan Kress for a touchdown. UNM missed the extra point, and that would be a running theme.
The game turned late in the second quarter as UNM suffered three straight turnovers, and the final two were fumbles in UNM territory. The first led to a 1 -yard run by Gerold Bright, and the second a touchdown pass from Love to Derek Wright. That turned a tight 17-6 game into a 31-6 halftime advantage.
UNM came out hot after the break and scored two touchdown in its first two drives. Hall moved UNM down the field 75 yards in nine plays, finishing it off himself with a 1-yard run. After Andrew Shelley missed the extra point on the first touchdown, UNM switched to freshman Donovan Murphree, but his kick was blocked. UNM then got an interception by De’John Rogers, and UNM turned that into points as well, with Hall finding Marcus Williams in the corner of the end zone for a 19-yard score.
(11/30/2019) Football Senior DayUNM went for two and got it, but a pass interference penalty negated it, and Murphree’s 35-yard extra point was wide left, making it 31-18. Utah State then salted it away when Love’s third TD pass of the game, this to Siaosi Mariner for 10 yards to make it 38-18.
Hall added another touchdown run as he went over 100 yards for the game, scoring from seven yards out. That made it 38-25. In the waning moments, he drove UNM into Aggie territory, but a diving interception ended the game.
Postgame Notes: Utah State 38, New Mexico 25
This was the 26th meeting between the two teams.
Series is now tied 13-13
New Mexico now leads in Albuquerque 9-6
Utah State leads 7-4 in Logan
Utah State has now won two straight in the series
Utah State has now won two in a row in Albuquerque
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Thomas Vieira started for Logan-Greene at slot
Defense None:
*New Mexico’s captains were Alex Hart, Kyle Stapley and Trent Sellers
*New Mexico won the toss and deferred. Utah State received off to start the game, defending the south goal. UNM finished 6-6 on the coin toss.
*Hayden Wilson served as New Mexico Man. It was his second career honor as he was New Mexico Man for the season finale last year.
Highlights: Here are the highlights from our season finale, a 38-25 loss to Utah State #GoLobos pic.twitter.com/05KuvlY4s8
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB) December 1, 2019
TEAM NOTES:
*New Mexico has three new starters on offense (Trae Hall, Bobby Cole and Thomas Vieira), giving UNM 47 different starters on offense and defense this year.
*UNM allowed 24 points in the second quarter. For the season, UNM allowed 161 points in the second quarter, the most in any quarter this year. UNM allowed 171 points in the second half all season.
*UNM suffered three turnovers, all in the second quarter. For the year UNM suffered 25 giveaways with only 11 takeaways.
*UNM missed its fifth, sixth and seventh extra points of the season.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
*Tyson Dyer averaged 46.2 yards per punt with two inside the 20, finishing the year averaging 46.1 yards per punt with 35 inside the 20-yard line.
*Trae Hall rushed for a career-high 115 yards, and he also threw for a career-high 107 yards. He became the 15th player at UNM to throw for 100 yards and run for 100 yards in a game, and the second this year after Sheriron Jones. It marked the 28th time in school history there was a 100/100 game, and Hall became the Lobo to do it in his first start since Coltin Gerhart did in on September 23 against Tulsa.
*De’John Rogers picked off Jordan Love in the third quarter, his first of the season and the second of his career.
*Donovan Murphree was called on for an extra point attempt, the first of his career, but it was blocked. He then missed from 35 yards on his second attempt.