BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU was able to hold UNM’s offense at bay, and the Tigers were able to move the ball as LSU picked up a 38-0 win over New Mexico in Baton Rouge.  The Tigers moved to 3-1 on the year and New Mexico fell to 2-2.  UNM has a short week to get ready for UNLV in Las Vegas on Friday night in a game on CBS Sports Network.

The game stayed close in the opening half as LSU led just 10-0 for most of the half until a last-minute touchdown gave LSU a 17-0 lead at the break.

The Lobos had a few near misses on offense in the opening half, twice nearly converting third-and-longs, falling a yard short.  LSU opened the game with a short field after a punt, going 57 yards in eight plays with Armoni Goodwin scoring from five yards out.  Damian Ramos added a 31-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.

UNM had a chance to cut into the lead when Jaden Hullaby and Miles Kendrick connected for a 38-yard pass play down to the LSU 43-yard line, but UNM couldn’t get a first down and punted from the 38-yard line.

LSU made it 17-0 right before the half when it converted a fourth-and-inches from its own 37-yard line.  The Tigers drove down the field and scored on third-and-goal from the 1-yard line when Armoni got his second to make it 17-0 at the break.

UNM got a stop to open the second half, getting a third and fourth down stop, giving the Lobos to ball near midfield, but UNM couldn’t capitalize, punting the ball away.  LSU got a pair of Noah Cain touchdowns on its next two drives to effectively put the game away, the last from 49 yards.  UNM went three-and-out on all five of its second half drives.

While LSU outgained UNM 633-99, UNM ran just 33 offensive plays to LSU’s 80, and UNM’s defense wore down late in the game in combination with the 90-degree temperature.

Reco Hannah and AJ Haulcy each had double-digit tackles.

Postgame Notes

This was the 1st meeting between the two teams.

LSU now leads the series 1-0

LSU now leads 1-0 in Baton Rouge

LSU has now won one straight in the series, and one straight in Baton Rouge

Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep

Offense: Trae Hall started at WER for Austin Erickson. Jaden Hullaby started at RB for Luke Wysong (WR)

Defense: Cody Moon started at LB for Syaire Riley, Alec Marenco started at MLB for Ray Leutele, A.J. Haulcy started at Lobo for Tavian Combs

*New Mexico’s captains were Donte Martin, Miles Kendrick, Radson Jang and Jake Saltonstall.

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

*UNM won the toss and elected to receive and defend the West goal. It marked the 22nd time in 23 games under Danny Gonzales that UNM has received the opening kickoff.

TEAM NOTES:

*UNM’s two first downs were the fewest ever in a game.  The previous low was three against BYU on November 3, 1962, a 27-0 loss.

*The touchdown scored by LSU at the 9:52 mark of the first quarter marked the first time this season that UNM allowed a first quarter touchdown.

*Attendance was 100,501.  It’s the second-largest crowd that UNM has ever played in front of.  UNM played in front of was 100,990 on September 8, 2012, a 45-0 loss at Texas.

*LSU became just the second team to rush for 100 yards on UNM, and LSU became the first team to break the 330-yard mark of offense against the Lobos this season. Overall LSU rushed for 219 and passed for 414.

*UNM recorded a season-high four sacks (two by Harris, one by Dion Hunter and one by Bryce Santana).

*The last time UNM was shutout and also shutout an opponent in the same season was in 2007 when UNM lost to TCU 37-0 during the regular season but defeated Nevada and Colin Kaepernick 23-0 in the New Mexico Bowl.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

*Justin Harris recorded a career-high two sacks.  He entered the game with 4.5 career sacks over his first three seasons.

*Jaden Hullaby’s 38-yard catch in the second quarter was a career-long gain, run or reception.

*Reco Hannah had 11 tackles in the game.  He entered with just nine for the entire season.  His previous career-high was seven on December 5, 2020 against Wyoming in a game played in Las Vegas.