Lobos Face UNLV on Homecoming in ABQ

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Danny Gonzales has been at the helm of the New Mexico Lobos for 11 Mountain West games and 15 overall, and in that time, he has ended two significant, and quite frankly, miserable streaks.  The first was last December when UNM defeated Wyoming to end the nation’s longest conference losing streak at 20 straight games.  Two weeks ago, UNM defeated Wyoming 14-3 to end the nation’s longest road losing streak at 16 games (and in the process turning that streak over to rival New Mexico State, which has now lost 16 in a row).

Now, UNM will have another strange streak to end, this one not quite as miserable, but certainly significant. New Mexico hosts UNLV at 5:06 pm on Saturday, November 6 with a chance to keep bowl hopes alive and and win a second straight game.  The game will be available online via Stadium, and on the radio and online via the Lobo Radio Network.

Now, about that other streak.  UNM has not defeated the Rebels at University Stadium since 2011, when the Lobos won 21-14 in the only win in the short interim head coaching career of George Barlow.  While the two teams don’t play every year as both are in opposite divisions, the Lobos and Rebels have seen the road team win in each of the last four meetings.  That’s the streak that UNM aims to end in one of the latest Homecoming battles in years.

Now while UNM has streaks its trying to end, UNLV has a massive streak that it wants to end.  UNMLV has lost 14 in a row, going 0-6 in 2020 and 0-8 so far this season.  While UNLV’s last win was a wild 33-30 win at Nevada that sent the Fremont Cannon to Las Vegas for a red paint job.  Now there’s 0-14, and then there is UNLV’s 0-14.  The Rebels have been so close all season long, as five of the eight loses are by a single score:

Lost to Eastern Washington 35-33, scoring two TDs in the final quarter to tie.
Lost to No. 22 Fresno State 38-30, leading 30-29 with 6:38 to go.
Lost to now-ranked UTSA 24-17, had the ball at the end with a chance to tie.
Lost to Utah State 28-24, allowing winning TD with 35 seconds left.
Lost to San Jose State 27-20, entering the fourth with a 20-13 lead.

UNLV also has faced two other foes in non-conference play that were nationally-ranked in No. 14 Iowa State and No. 23 Arizona State.  While it’s cliche to say that a team is better than its record, there is no doubt that UNLV is clearly better than their record, and that will make this game one to watch.

Danny Gonzales knows that UNM is in for a dogfight, in part because he knows that UNLV features one of the best running backs in the Mountain West in Charles Williams.  Williams is averaging 93.6 yards per game, rushing for 749 yards on just 162 attempts.  He also has eight touchdowns to easily lead the Rebels.  UNLV quarterback Cameron Freel has completed 64.5% of his passes for 1,142 yards and four TDs with Steve Jenkins and Kyle Williams being the main targets.  Jenkins has caught 32 passes for 420 yards and four TD and Williams has 30 catches for 384 yards and a score.

“Coach Arroyo is trying to build something special at UNLV, just like we are trying to do here,” said Gonzales, “and those kids believe in what they are doing watching the tape.  I mean they were down 34-0 to Nevada and they fought their way back scoring 20 points.”

After playing a schedule with three nationally-ranked teams and a fourth that is now in the top 20, Gonzales knows that UNLV will be more than ready for the opportunity to play a program that is in a rebuilding phase, much like themselves.  “I promise you New Mexico is one that they put on their schedule that they can end the losing streak that they’re on.  It’s  agreat opportunity to go out there and compete Saturday against a team thta is going to be hungry.”

For UNM, the Lobos are in the same boat as two weeks ago at quarterback.  Terry Wilson is still working his way back from his dislocated elbow, and if he isn’t available, it will be Isaiah Chavez once again in what would be his third career start, and first in front of the home crowd for the Rio Rancho native.

The game is not only Homecoming, but UNM’s “Salute to Service” game.  There will be plenty of military and first responder displays in the Howl Zone, and there will also be a swearing in ceremony for new members of the military.