Attention Turns to Fresno State
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Due to the timing of the College Football Playoff rankings, UNM has never faced a team in the current rankings. That still will hold true this week as Fresno State’s 40-14 loss will assuredly drop them out of the No. 23 slot it held. But there is one problem … it’s still Fresno State, it’s still Jake Haener, it’s still Ronnie Rivers and Jordan Mims, and it’s still Jalen Cropper, Josh Kelly and Keric Wheatfall.
And that’s just the offense.
The Lobos and Fresno State face off in the final home game of the season for the Bulldogs at 4:06 pm Pacific Time, 5:06 pm Mountain Time on Stadium. The game will also be heard on the Lobo Radio Network with Robert Portnoy and DonTrell Moore.
The Lobos are taking on a team that is basically first or second in most of the offensive categories in the Mountain West. The Bulldogs are second in scoring offense (32.9 PPG), first in plays (735 compared to UNM’s 549), first in touchdowns (41), first in total yards (4,693), first in yards per play (6.39 ypp), second in total offense (469.3 ypg), first in offensive TDs (40), second in passing offense (331.3 ypg), second in completion percentage (65.2), second in passing attempts (405), second in yards per attempts (8.2), second in completions (264), first in passing TDs (27) and third in passing efficiency at 151.0.
That is what UNM’s defense will be tasked with, knowing that the Lobo offense has scuffled of late. Head coach Danny Gonzales knows the task at hand.
“They are a really, really good football team,” said Gonzales. “They went to the Rose Bowl and beat a good UCLA team, they beat a really good San Diego State team. That’s San Diego State’s only loss. They take Oregon who is in the top four of the CFP all the way to the wire. They have talent and ability and Coach DeBoer has done a great job. He is getting them to believe in what he wants them to be and it’s a great challenge.”
Last year the Lobos won the season finale against Fresno State, winning 49-39 in Las Vegas, coming back after trailing to start the fourth quarter. UNM racked up 299 yards on the ground that day. That was also just the third time in the last nine seasons that a true freshman, walk-on quarterback won his starting debut in the FBS, earning Isaiah Chavez Mountain West Player of the Week honors. Chavez is coming back from an injury suffered against UNLV that knocked him out one play into the second quarter.
That win in 2020 ended a seven-game, 26-year losing skid to the Bulldogs as UNM’s last win over Fresno State was the programs’ only win in Fresno. UNM’s last trip was a 38-0 defeat in 2017. UNM will have to get past the game being senior night as well.
“It’s going to be their senior night, so they will go out and celebrate those guys, so it is a great, great task and challenge ahead of us.”
The the Lobos, they will need a healthy Chavez along with a great game plan and solid defense. UNM was able to move the ball effectively on ground against UNLV, rushing for 260 yards. The Lobos only threw for 36 yards on the night, and that will have to improve if UNM is to make it two in a row against Fresno State. “You can’t win championships if you are a one-dimensional football team. You just can’t.” said Gonzales.
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