Big Defensive Effort, Key Plays Fuel 17-16 win over Pokes
LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The University of New Mexico got big play after big play on defense, and when the squad needed a big play on offense, a true freshman walk-on quarterback from Rio Rancho High School Isaiah Chavez threw the winning touchdown pass with 6:22 to go as New Mexico picked up its first win of the season, and the first for head coach Danny Gonzales with a 17-16 win over Wyoming.
The loss ended a 14-game losing streak, and UNM did it in the face of long odds. Down its three scholarship quarterbacks, UNM turned the game to redshirt freshman walk-on quarterback Connor Genal, who led UNM to 10 points in the opening half. Seven of those came on the legs of true freshman Nathaniel Jones, who scampered 21 yards untouched through a gaping hole that was set up by blocks from Teton Saltes and Isaac Gutierrez and a key kickout block from tight end Marcus Williams. Wyoming took a 10-7 lead on a 58-yard run from Trey Smith, but Genal got UNM into field goal range and Donovan Murphree hit a 40-yard field goal for a 10-10 tie.
That kick was set up on a screen pass to Bobby Cole, but on it Genal went down awkwardly on his left wrist, and that ended his night.
Wyoming took a 13-10 lead into the break on a second short field goal from John Hoyland, this from 26 yards, but those field goal for Wyoming were a sign of UNM’s defense stepping up. The Cowboys got into the red zone twice in the first half, including on their opening drive when the Cowboys recovered a fumble and returned it to the 15-yard line. Wyoming could get just three yards on the drive.
Chavez, the last man standing in the quarterback room, nearly got UNM into field goal range at the end of the half, and then late in the third he did, driving UNM from the Lobo 22 to a fourth-and-a-long-one at the Wyoming 6-yard line. UNM went for it and Cole was stopped inches short, turning the ball over on downs.
Wyoming went to work and drove 86 yards in nine plays, but they again couldn’t get through UNM’s red zone defense, failing three times from the 8-yard line. Hoyland’s third field goal made it 16-10 with 13:08 left.
Both teams traded punts and UNM caught a break when Emmanuel Logan-Greene, who had a 72-yard kickoff return earlier in the half fumbled a fair catch, but Patrick Peek alertly recovered for UNM. Setting up shop at the Wyoming 47, Cole ran for three yards and then found daylight on a seam route. Chavez hit hi in stride for a 44-yard touchdown to tie the game, and Murphree’s extra point gave UNM the lead at 17-16. From there the defense took over.
After a kickoff return to midfield, Wyoming converted a fourth-down with its third-string quarterback in the game as Gavin Beerup raced to the Lobo 7-yard line after a 38-yard run. Smith rushed to the four and on second down, Brandon Shook hit him behind the line of scrimmage, and popped the ball loose. Jake Saltonstall recovered at the 5-yard line with 3:10 left.
UNM couldn’t get a first down and after a punt, Wyoming was nearly in field goal range to start its final drive with 1:38 left, starting at the Lobo 43-yard line. Beerup however twice short-hopped receivers, and then on a deep ball Donte Martin was able to knock a ball away at the 10-yard line. On fourth-and-10, Beerup was chased out of the pocket and threw across his body, but Shook picked him off, and UNM was able to run out the clock.
UNM gained 315 yards behind its two rookie quarterbacks, and the Lobo defense was stellar, holding Wyoming to just 1-for-11 on third down and 1-for-3 on fourth down. Wyoming was 0-for-6 on third down in the second half.
Postgame Notes
This was the 73rd meeting between the two teams.
Wyoming now leads 38-35
Series tied 19-19 in Laramie
Wyoming leads 19-15 in Albuquerque
New Mexico leads 1-0 in Las Vegas
New Mexico has now won 1 straight in the series
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Cedric Patterson III started at WR for Elijah Queen.
Defense: Shaddrick Lowery started at WOLF for Jerrick Reed II
*New Mexico’s captains were Teton Saltes, Kyle Stapley, Brandon Shook and Joey Noble.
*New Mexico’s Corey Hightower carried the state flag of New Mexico onto the field.
TEAM NOTES:
*UNM won the toss and elected to receive and it defended the North goal. UNM received the opening kickoff for the sixth straight week and is 3-3 in the coin toss.
*New Mexico has used 20 true freshmen on the season.
*New Mexico allowed three field goals in the red zone. UNM entered the game allowing just five touchdowns on 11 opposing red zone trips, tied for 21st nationally. UNM has now allowed five touchdowns in 15 trips.
*UNM trailed 13-10 after the third quarter. UNM had lost 35 straight games when trailing entering the fourth quarter. UNM’s last win was a 28-27 win when trailing 24-21 to Hawai’i on October 17, 2015. Ironically in that game UNM was down three (24-21) entering the fourth quarter, kicked a field goal to go up six and then didn’t score when getting to the UNM 5-yard. That identical scenario happened tonight.
*In a fitting note, the last time UNM started a walk-on quarterback was October 6, 2001 when Casey Kelly started as a sophomore walk-on and led UNM to a 1-point victory, 30-29, against Wyoming.
*UNM ended the nation’s longest losing streak at 14 games. The Lobos inherited the streak around 4 p.m. on Saturday when Akron defeated Bowling Green in a battle of winless teams. The longest losing streak in the nation now belongs to Kansas, which has lost 14 in a row and shared the longest streak with New Mexico for a few hours.
*After allowing an average of 410.3 yards passing over the first three games of the season, the Lobo defense has allowed an average of 133.3 yards per game through the air.
*UNM had been outscored 101-41 in the second half this season before outscoring Wyoming 7-3.
*The 17 points was UNM’s lowest score in a win since winning 16-13 at Tulsa on September 23, 2017.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
*Corey Hightower made his first career start. He is a fifth-year senior.
*Fifth-string quarterback and true freshman Isaiah Chavez, a true freshman, made his collegiate debut on the opening drive.
*True freshman Austin Erickson made his collegiate debut. He became the 19th true freshman to play for UNM this season.
*True freshman OJ Bartley made his collegiate debut in the second quarter. He became the 20th true freshman to play for UNM this season.
*Emmanuel Logan-Greene’s 72-yard kickoff return in the second quarter was the first kickoff return of his career.
*Bobby Cole’s 131 yards rushing was a career-high and his first career 100-yard game. His previous best was 96 yards at Hawai’i earlier this year. He added 53 yards receiving giving him a career-high 184 yards of offense.
*Brandon Shook ended the final two drives for Wyoming with a forced fumble and an interception. It was the first interception of the season not recorded by Jerrick Reed II. It was his second forced fumble in as many games and the fifth of his career. He also added 13 tackles.
*Reco Hannah had a career-high seven tackles. He entered the game with 15 in his two-year career.
*Emmanuel Logan-Greene’s 72-yard kickoff return was the longest since Elijah Lilly returned one 100 yards for a touchdown on November 11, 2017 at Texas A&M.