No. 7/5 A&M Hands UNM First Loss

BRYAN/COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas A&M scored touchdowns on its first two drives less than six minutes into the game, and the Lobo offense could never get on track against one of the nation’s best defenses, and the No. 7/5 Texas A&M Aggies defeated UNM 34-0.

The Lobos were stunned in the first six minutes and never truly recovered.  The Aggies scored two touchdowns on their first four offensive plays.  After a three-and-out by UNM to open the game, a long punt return set up the Aggies at the Lobo 43-yard line.  On the third play, Zach Calzada hit Davon Achane from 26 yards out for a 7-0 lead.  After another punt, Calzada took advantage of a blown coverage and hit Demond Demas for a 70-yard catch and run touchdown and the Aggies led 14-0 just 5:22 into the game.

UNM’s defense settled down after that, allowing just two field goals and a touchdown until late in the third quarter when the Aggie starters punched in a fourth touchdown against a defense that had five players getting their first snaps on defense.

Offensively, Terry Wilson was harassed into a 10-for-23 day for just 33 yards.  UNM never got over the 100-yard mark until the third quarter, but two sacks knocked UNM out of triple digits.  Wilson also was sacked four times as the A&M defense had seven tackles for loss in the game.

Where A&M really hurt UNM was on special teams, as returner Ainias Smith returned four punts for 78 yards.  He had much more than that but a penalty halted one long return and an elbow on the ground turned a 50-yard return into a 1-yarder.  Aaron Rodriguez punted a career-high 10 times for a 41.2-yard average.

UNM was led in the rushing department by Aaron Dumas, who rushed 10 times for 49 yards.  Mannie Logan-Greene led the way receiving with three catches for 16 yards.

Tavian Combs had a solid day with 11 tackles and an interception as both teams had one turnover each.  Joey Noble had four tackles, a sack and a pair of hurries as UNM did show an ability to get to the quarterback.

Postgame Notes

This was the fifth meeting between the two teams.

Texas A&M now leads 5-0

Texas A&M now leads 4-0 in Bryan/College Station

Texas A&M leads 1-0 in Albuquerque

Texas A&M has now won five straight in the series, and four straight in Bryan/College Station

Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep

Offense: Elijah Queen started for Keyonta Lanier (WR), Trace Bruckler started for Kyle Jarvis (TE), Ben Davis started for Jacob Jankoviak (RT), Jace Taylor started for running back Bobby Cole (WR). UNM started 4 receivers and a tight end.

Defense: Ronald Wilson started for Patrick Peek (Wolf)

*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.

*New Mexico won the toss and elected to receive.  UNM has received the opening kickoff in nine of Danny Gonzales’ 10 games (Houston Baptist is the only exception).

TEAM NOTES:

*New Mexico did not score a touchdown on its opening drive for the first time this season.

*Texas A&M’s 70-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter marked back-to-back games in which UNM allowed a 70+ yard touchdown pass (New Mexico State had a 75-yarder).

*The Lobos allowed their first rushing touchdown of the season.

*Texas A&M’s third quarter field goal made opponents 6-for-6 this season on field goals against UNM, and that made 19 straight made fields against UNM, dating back to a 47-yard miss by Wyoming on October 19, 2019.  A&M missed a 37-yarder in the fourth quarter.

*The crowd of 84,748 is the fifth-largest crowd to witness a New Mexico football game.

*The last time UNM didn’t record 100 yards passing was last year against Wyoming (92 on December 5, 2000)

*The last time UNM didn’t record 100 yards rushing was last year against Air Force (83 on November 20, 2000)

*The last time UNM didn’t record 200 yards of total offense was on November 24, 2018 when UNM had 83 yards against Wyoming.

ATTEN.      DATE                        SITE                                          SCORE

100,990    Sept. 8, 2012            Austin, Texas                             Texas 45, UNM 0

99,051     Nov. 11, 2017           College Station, Texas                Texas A&M 55, UNM 14

93,875     Sept. 6, 1986            Knoxville, Tenn.                         Tennessee 35, UNM 21

89,792     Sept. 16, 1983           Knoxville, Tenn.                         Tennessee 31, UNM 6

84,748     Sept. 18, 2021          College Station, Texas               Texas A&M xx, New Mexico 0

77,622     Sept. 14, 2019           South Bend, Ind.                       Notre Dame 66, UNM 14

77,003     Sept. 8, 2018            Madison, Wisc.                         Wisconsin 45, UNM 14

75,902     Oct. 5, 1985              Lincoln, Neb.                             Nebraska 38, UNM 7

72,578     Oct. 21, 1989            Gainesville, Fla.                         Florida 28, UNM 21

73,887     Sept. 5, 2009            College Station, Texas                Texas A&M 41, UNM 6

66,086     Oct. 27, 1990            Provo, Utah                              BYU 55, UNM 31

64,740     Oct. 15, 1983            Provo, Utah                              BYU 66, UNM 21

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

*Ronald Wilson made his first career start at Wolf, and he hadn’t started or played in either of the first two games of the season.

*Jace Taylor and Trace Bruckler both made their first career starts for UNM along with Wilson.

*After not recording a sack against New Mexico State, UNM recorded three, by Justin Harris, Joey Noble and Ray Leutele.

*Tavian Combs picked off his second pass of the season, giving him the team lead.  He also added a pass breakup.