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.