ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Colorado State held New Mexico’s offense to just 69 yards as true freshman quarter C.J. Montes struggled in his first start and first real collegiate action as the Rams won their 11^th straight over the Lobos 23-7.  CSU improved to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West’s Mountain Division, while UNM fell to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the division.  UNM has lost five straight.

The result put a damper on a fun night as UNM celebrated a bit of history in the program.  Teton Saltes used his bye week with the New York Jets to be presented his Wuerffel Trophy from Danny Wuerffel himself, who also flew in for the occasion.  UNM’s Hall of Honor was feted at halftime, but the big story was DonTrell Moore having his name added to the Ring of Honor, just the sixth player in school history to earn that honor.

The Lobos struggled to move the ball all night, as Montes went just 3-for-19 passing for 11 yards with a pair of interceptions and a lost fumble as well.  The Lobos went just 2-for-12 on third down as well.  Aaron Dumas continued his strong running of the ball, gaining 68 yards on 14 carries, averaging 4.9 yards a tote.

Both teams didn’t score on its opening drives, and UNM moved the ball 33 yards on its second, taking advantage of three CSU penalties.  However, Montes threw an interception, and CSU then went 72 yards on 12 plays, getting a 2-yard touchdown from David Bailey.  The Rams added a field goal, one of three from Cayden Camper to take a 10-0 lead.

The Lobo defense played well, allowing just two touchdowns, one in each half.  The defense was undone by a struggling offense that had just 40 yards at the half and 47 through three quarters.  Montes opened the game with two completions on his first three passes, but he didn’t complete another pass until the fourth quarter on a shovel pass to Zarak Scruggs.

UNM did get back into the game in the second quarter when true freshman Luke Wysong received a punt at his own 37-yard line, cut right, then back left and danced down the sideline, diving into the end zone for a 67-yard touchdown.  CSU answered with a field goal, and then had an opportunity to tack on another at the end of the half, but Camper missed from 36 yards out.

The Rams took the opening drive of the second half and, aided by a 41-yard completion from Todd Centeio to Ty McCullough, scored on the end of a 75-yard drive as Bailey pounded it in for his second touchdown of the game.

That turned out to be more than enough as the Lobos were unable to muster anything offensively.  The Lobos never got inside the CSU 47-yard line during the game until the final drive when UNM got to the CSU 33, but back-to-back sacks ended the drive.

Postgame Notes

This was the 68th meeting between the two teams.

Colorado State now leads 43-25 all-time

Colorado State now leads 22-14 all-time

Colorado State leads 19-11 in Fort Collins

Colorado State leads 1-0 in Denver

Colorado State leads 1-0 in Las Vegas

Colorado State has won 11 straight in the series

Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep

Offense: C.J. Montes started at QB for Terry Wilson; Trace Bruckler started as a second tight end for Trae Hall (WR).

Defense: Tony Collier started at CB for Corey Hightower.

*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.

*Colorado State won the toss and deferred and UNM elected to receive, defending the north goal.  UNM has received the opening kickoff in 13 of Danny Gonzales’ 14 games (Houston Baptist is the only exception).

TEAM NOTES:

*New Mexico’s punt return for a touchdown was just the second such TD in the last 234 games, dating back to August 31, 2002.

*New Mexico’s 79 yards of total offense was the fewest since September 17, 1988 when the Lobos mustered just 66 yards of total offense (122 passing, -56 rushing) against Texas in a 47-0 loss.

*The 79 yards was the fewest yards by any team in a Mountain West game, as the previous low was 83 yards, by UNM against Wyoming in the final game of the 2018 season.

*Wysong’s touchdown gave UNM 11 on the season, and those 11 have been scored by 11 different players.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

*C.J. Montes made his first career start.  He became the sixth different Lobo to start at quarterback in the 14-game coaching career of Danny Gonzales, and he is the third freshman, and second true freshman.

*Luke Wysong’s 63-yard punt return for a touchdown was the first for UNM since Marcus Hayes returned a punt 86 yards against Boise State on November 16, 2018.

*Zarak Scruggs had a career-high three receptions, for 10 yards.

*Aaron Rodriguez punted nine times for a 41.8-yard average and 38.7-yard net.

*Wysong led UNM with 152 all purpose yards.

*True freshman Ronald Wilson had a career-high 12 tackles.