Lobo Football Looks to Play Spoiler in Boise

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — It doesn’t get any easier for UNM.  A team depleted by injuries, yet staying positive and showing improvement in spots, takes on the behemoth that is Boise State on FS1 Saturday night at 7:10 p.m. in Boise at Albertsons Stadium.  Robert Portnoy and DonTrell Moore will have the call on the Lobo Radio Network as well.

Boise State has owned the series, winning four in a row and leading 10-1. But oh that one was magical, as the Lobos shocked the Broncos on the Blue 31-24 in 2015 on the same night that Holly Holm defeated Rhonda Rousey for the MMA title, making it potentially one of the greatest sports night’s in Albuquerque history.

However, that win in 2015 made UNM bowl eligible, and UNM was eliminated from any sort of bowl with its 34-7 loss to Fresno State, a game were UNM’s offense showed some life, despite a hobbled Isaiah Chavez at quarterback.  UNM, as Danny Gonzales says, plays “What If” football, and it was on display Saturday, as Aaron Dumas was caught from behind on a 63-yard run, and UNM missed a subsequent field goal.  Down 34-7, Chavez evaded a rush and overthrew a wide-open Keyonta Lanier for a certain 64-yard touchdown.  Those two plays cost UNM nearly 85 yards and would have changed the complexion of the game.

 

If you go by transitive properties, UNM is a decided underdog as Boise State beat Fresno State 40-14 and then Fresno State beat UNM 34-7.  Fresno State turned the ball over three times in terrible spots which helped the Broncos bolt to an early lead and allowed them to build confidence and play from ahead.  The Bronco defense was able to pin their ears back and get after Fresno State’s Jake Haener.  UNM is hoping to pressure Hank Bachmeier of Boise State, and the three sacks against the Bulldogs was a good sign.  Defensively UNM was hurt by another early turnover deep inside Lobo territory, and UNM can ill-afford to gift the Broncos field position, let alone points.

Danny Gonzales knows it’s a great opportunity to face the two teams fighting for a division title over the next two weeks.  “It’s great opportunity for us. They will have a great crowd, and they have everything to play for, and it will be a challenge.”  What Gonzales has on his side is a team that despite the hardships hasn’t quit, and never stops. “Fresno State was trying to score, and if we didn’t play hard and stay disciplined it could have been 70-7.  Our attitude, effort and want-to is still really good, and that is something we can build on for the future.”