Lobos Take Rivalry 34-25 over NMSU
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Terry Wilson threw for 381 yards and three more touchdowns for the Lobos as UNM improved to 2-0 for the first time since the 2005 season with a 34-25 victory over rival New Mexico State in front of 28,470 fans. Wilson went 26-of-37 for the game and it easily topped his previous career best of 267 yards set in 2018.
UNM also won its fourth straight game dating back to last season.
New Mexico never trailed in the game, but the Lobos could never quite put the Aggies away until the fourth quarter when Mannie Logan-Greene hauled in a 58-yard touchdown pass with 12:01 to go to give UNM what amounted to the final margin of 34-25. UNM had several opportunities to score and misfired, which allowed NMSU to stay in the game. The Lobos missed two long field goals, and got stopped three times in inside Aggie territory on downs including twice inside the 10-yard line. UNM also couldn’t capitalize on a 53-yard punt return by Logan-Greene that gave UNM first-and-goal at the 8-yard line, getting only a field goal.
However, UNM was able to keep the Aggies at bay for most of the game, forcing two more turnovers on interceptions by Jerrick Reed II and Cody Moon. Offensively, UNM had its best day under Derek Warehime with 559 yards of offense led by Wilson’s 381 passing yards. That total was the 13th best passing day in school history and was the most by a Lobo quarterback since 2003.
Bobby Cole helped UNM establish the run game with 107 yards rushing on 20 carries including his first touchdown of the season. That touchdown came on the opening drive that took just three plays and went 64 yards. That drive started with a 51-yard bomb from Wilson to Zarak Scruggs, Jr. that set up UNM in the red zone.
After a field goal cut it to 7-3, UNM got on the board against when freshman Connor Witthoft scored his first career touchdown from 15 yards out, making 14-3.
State got a second Ethan Albertson field goal and then scored on a trick play when wide receiver Isaiah Garcia- Castaneda threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Whitford to make it 14-13.
After a punt, Cody Moon picked off a pass at the Aggie 48 while lying on his back, giving UNM the ball and Wilson was able to convert a fourth down pass to Andrew Erickson in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 21-13, but one play later Garcia-Castaneda got loose on a slant and raced for a 75-yard score to cut it 21-20, but Andrew Shelley’s 45-yard field goal right before half made it 24-20.
A safety call to open the second half gave New Mexico State two points. Wilson was flushed from the pocket while in the end zone, but his pass didn’t get past the line of scrimmage. However, UNM’s defense was stout, allowing just a field goal in the second half.
The teams traded field goals with Shelley hitting from 24 yards in the third quarter and Albertson from 37 in the fourth. However, Logan-Greene’s touchdown was just 31 seconds after Albertson made it 27-25, making it a two-score game. NMSU followed with a punt and UNM drove from its own 26 to the Aggie 1, and it looked like on third-and-goal from the 2 that Bobby Cole scored, with one official signaling touchdown and the far official ruling him down. It moved the fourth down and Cole lost two yards on the next play. Dino Maldonado, NMSU’s third string quarterback who entered in the first quarter due to an injury to Justin Johnson, threw his second interception of the game, effectively ending any chance of a comeback for State.
Postgame Notes
This was the 111th meeting between the two teams.
New Mexico now leads 73-33-5
New Mexico now leads 43-15-3 in Albuquerque
New Mexico leads 29-18-2 in Las Cruces
New Mexico has now won three straight in the series, and two straight in Albuquerque
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Luke Wysong (WR) started for Mannie Logan-Green (WR), Zarak Scruggs, Jr. (WR) started for Andrew Erickson (WR)
Defense: Syaire Riley (LB) started form Reco Hannah (LB)
*New Mexico’s captains were Terry Wilson, Jerrick Reed II, Kyle Stapley and Joey Noble.
*New Mexico’s Bryce Santana carried the state flag of New Mexico onto the field, and Kyle Jarvis carried the U.S. flag.
*New Mexico won the toss and elected to receive. UNM has received the opening kickoff in eight of Danny Gonzales’ nine games.
TEAM NOTES:
*New Mexico scored a touchdown on its opening drive for the second straight week.
*The Lobos recorded a touchdown after recording an interception, making UNM 2-for-5 this season on scores after a takeaway.
*New Mexico State recorded a safety to open the third quarter on an intentional grounding in the end zone. It marked the first time an opponent recorded a safety against UNM since TCU picked up a team safety on November 28, 2009.
*The crowd of 28,470 was the best since the UNM-New Mexico State game in 2017, which drew 32,427.
*New Mexico dominated time of possession 36:34 to 23:26
*The Lobos currently are tied for the eighth-longest active winning streak in the FBS.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
*Zarak Sruggs, Jr. caught a 51-yard pass on the opening play of the game.
*Connor Witthoft became the third Lobo tight end with a touchdown reception this season.
*Andrew Shelley missed his first two field goals of the season, both from 49 yards.
*Cody Moon recorded his first career interception in the second quarter.
*Terry Wilson’s 381 yards passing were a career-high in Division I. His previous best game was 267 yards on October 27, 2018 for Kentucky against Missouri. It was the 13th-most yards by a Lobo quarterback, and the most since Casey Kelly threw for 408 yards against UNLV on November 1, 2003.
*Bobby Cole’s 107 yards rushing was his third career 100-yard game, and third in the last four games.
*Jerrick Reed’s interception was his sixth career interception.
*New Mexico had 13 different players catch a pass.