ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The fact that the Silver squad, which was basically the No. 2 offense and the No. 1 defense, took a 21-0 win on Saturday at University Stadium probably wasn’t the most important number.
Chad Alexander’s 135 yards rushing on 10 carries wasn’t it either, nor were local walk-on freshman Cody Moon’s 10 tackles. Nope … the most important number (besides no injuries) was the attendance.
4,769.
On what was a glorious day for football, Lobo fans found ways to socially distance and tailgate in the parking lots and then come in and cheer on the Lobos. All 4,769 of them. The smell of grills, burgers, brats and green chile permeated the air. Cornhole and all types of Lobo-branded cornhole sets dotted the landscape. It was perfect, and head coach Danny Gonzales even told the crowd so. During the game no less.
With Josue Gallegos roaming the sidelines interviewing players, coaches and special guests during the game, Coach Gonzales got on the microphone with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and thanked the administration, Coach Richard Pitino (who was on the sidelines with a few new coaches) and most of all, the fans.
As for the actual game, the Silver squad got a pair of long touchdown runs, one by Bobby Cole in the second quarter and one by Chad Alexander in the third quarter on the way to a 21-0 win.
Cole’s burst came midway through the second quarter and went for 76 yards while Alexander’s was early in the third quarter, going for 70. The other score came from the third running back in the game, Aaron Dumas, who scored on a bruising 11-yard run.
Most of the reps at quarterback were taken by Trae Hall with Isaiah Chavez sitting the game out with an arm injury. Bear Milacek did see action, and the true freshman was 4-of-7 for 21 yards. Hall was 28-for-47 for 212 yards, and he was hurt by a couple of drops, including a sure touchdown of 60 yards.
The running game offensively was in fine form. Alexander led everyone with 135 yards on 10 carries with Bobby Cole right behind at 104 yards on 11 carries. Dumas had 73 on 13 rushes.
Mannie Logan-Greene had five catches, and CJay Boone led all receivers with 62 yards on four grabs.