Broncos Pull Away in Second Half 31-14

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Boise State held New Mexico’s offense to just 123 yards and the Broncos blocked a punt for a touchdown for the third time in the last two meetings as the Broncos defeated the Lobos 31-14 at University Stadium.

The game was a defensive battle from the start, but a pair of long passes, one for 41 yards and one for 47 led to a pair of first half scores, one an 18-yard pass from Hank Bachmeier for Latrell Caples and the other a 48-yard Jonah Dalmas field goal.

That was all BSU got in the first half and UNM’s defense was all over the field, limiting the Broncos to just 139 yards of offense and five first downs.  The issue was BSU’s defense was equal to the task.  UNM drove into Boise State territory twice, once to the 41 that ended in a punt by Aaron Rodriguez and the other was a late drive to end the first half that ended in a 48-yard field goal that drifted just wide right.

Boise State coming out of the half couldn’t muster too much, but their opening punt pushed UNM back inside their own 20, and the Broncos forced a punt.  Rodriguez rolled right but BSU brought the house and got a piece of it and recovered the ball in the end zone to make it 17-0.

BSU made it 24-0 on the first play of the fourth quarter on a Bachmeier 3-yard screen pass to George Holani, but UNM got on the board on the next drive.  On the first play after a 31-yard kickoff return by true freshman Christian Washington, Miles Kendrick hit Geordon Porter in stride for a nice 69-yard scoring strike.  Luke Drzewiecki added the extra point and that made it 24-7.

UNM then stopped BSU when Ronald Wilson picked off Bachmeier at the 3-yard line, but UNM couldn’t gain a first down and punted the ball away.  Boise State took advantage of a short field and got another Bachmeier to Caples touchdown, this from four yards to make it 31-7.  UNM answered right back as Christian Washington took the ensuing kickoff five yards deep and raced right up the middle for a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

That was as close as UNM would get, although UNM’s defense got another stop and got the ball back with 4:09 to go at its own 26, but the Lobos went three-and-out, and the game was effectively over from there.

Postgame Notes

This was the 13th meeting between the two teams.

Boise State now leads 12-1

Boise State now leads 6-0 in Albuquerque

Boise State has now won five straight in the series and six straight in Albuquerque

Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep

Offense: Greg Brown II started at RT for DJ Wingfield; Trace Bruckler started as a second tight end in place of Geordan Porter.

Defense: None

*New Mexico’s captains were Jerrick Reed II, Miles Kendrick, Isaak Gutierrez and Reco Hannah.

*New Mexico’s Jaden Phillips carried the state flag of New Mexico onto the field and Bryce Santana carried the United States flag.

*Boise State won the toss and deferred and New Mexico elected to receive and defend the South goal. It marked the 20th time in 21 games under Danny Gonzales that UNM has received the opening kickoff.

TEAM NOTES:

*For the second straight week, the game was scoreless after the opening quarter.

*Boise State blocked a punt for a touchdown for the second straight year. Last year, the Broncos blocked a pair of punts for touchdowns last year in the first half against UNM.

*The Lobos allowed just 295 yards of total offense to BSU and held the Broncos to just 4-for-13 on third down.

*Conversely, UNM had just 119 yard of offense and went 1-for-13 on third down.

*Boise State had a 20:41 to 9:19 advantage in time of possession in the second half.

*UNM rushed for just 25 yards.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

*Aaron Rodriguez’ 63-yard second quarter punt was the longest of his career.

*George Steinkamp attempted UNM’s first field goal of the season, missing wide right from 48 yards to end the first half.

*Geordan Porter’s 69-yard touchdown catch was the longest of his career.  He had a 63-yarder at Arizona State.  It was also the longest completion for Miles Kendrick in his career, topping a 43-yarder for a touchdown as Kansas.

*Luke Drzewiecki kicked UNM’s lone extra point in his first career action.

*Jerrick Reed’s 12 tackles marked his fifth career double-digit tackle game.

*Christian Washington’s 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown was UNM’s ninth all-time 100-yard return and the first since Elijah Lilly went 100 against Texas A&M in College Station on November 11, 2017.  That was also UNM’s last kickoff return for a touchdown of any length.

*Ronald Wilson picked off his second pass of the season, equaling his total from a year ago.  He now has four career interceptions in just 12 career games.

*Donte Martin had three passes broken up, the second-most of his career.  He had four against San Jose State on October 4, 2019.  Martin now has 22 PBUs in his career, and he surpassed Brandon Payne and Billy Austin for eighth on the all-time list.  Next up are Walter Bernard and DeAndre Wright, who each had 25 in their career.

CAREER PASSES BROKEN UP

*Cody Moon turned in two tackles for loss.  He entered the game with 1.5 in his career.

*Tavian Combs registered his sixth career double-digit tackle game with 11.