Lobos Host Fresno State for Homecoming

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Last week, New Mexico outgained New Mexico State, it just didn’t outscore New Mexico State.  This week, sitting at 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the Mountain West, the goal is get more points than 2-4 Fresno State, no matter how. The Lobos and Fresno State kick it off in a key matchup that could set up a late season bowl run on Saturday afternoon at 4:35 pm in a game broadcast on FS2 and on the Lobo Radio Network.

The game should be a festive one with ticket sales already going well for the Homecoming matchup that will see the Lobos honoring cancer survivors in the annual Lobos Love Pink game.  The Homecoming court will be introduced at halftime of the game.

For the Lobos, they have lost four in a row, the last three in excrutiating fashion.  UNM lost 17-0 and 14-0 leads to UNLV and Wyoming respectively in losing 31-20 and 27-14.  In last week’s rivalry game, UNM controlled the clock and limited New Mexico State to barely over 200 yards and just 10 first downs, but some key penalties, and drives ending in field goals instead of touchdowns spelled doom. In trying to end a four-game losing streak, UNM just need to look across the field at Fresno State.  The Bulldogs, missing perhaps the league’s best quarterback in Jake Haener, just ended a four-game losing streak by beating perhaps the hottest team in the league in San Jose State, winning 17-10 to win the Valley Trophy.

That win means that Fresno State, despite a 2-4 record, is tied with Hawai’i, San Diego State and San Jose State in the conference loss column with just one loss, so Fresno State has all the goals in front of them, including a berth in the Mountain West title game.  While that’s still six weeks off, Fresno State still has the weapons that have always made it a tough Mountain West matchup.  Logan Fife most likely will make his fourth straight start, and in relief of Haener, he has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 661 yards.  Jalen Moreno-Cropper and Jordan Mims are one of the top receiver-running back combos not just in the Mountain West, but in the FBS, and defensive end David Perales is the reigning Mountain West Player of the Week.

For head coach Danny Gonzales, that all adds up to a tall task for his squad.

“Man, Logan Fife has gotten better every week,” said Gonzales.  “I thought they had a really good game plan against San Jose State, who I thought was playing the best football in our league.”

For UNM to have success, the squad will need to most likely overcome a few more injuries and get some takeaways.  The Lobos have started 42 players this season, the most in the FBS, and if CJ James is not able to go at center, it could be 43.  The loss of James and using guard Isaak Gutierrez at center helped contribute to seven procedural penalties on Saturday.  The other issue the last two games has been a lack of takeaways.  While UNM is still top 10 nationally in takeaways with 13, they have zero in the last two games, and UNM hasn’t won a game without a takeaway since October 15, 2015, so the defense needs to return to form of the first five games.

“I told our boys this morning, that’s all about playing hard and being physical.”

For fans coming to the game, or those looking to purchase tickets, the Lobos are hosting a Homecoming+ pack, in which you can get a ticket for Homecoming, plus the final game of the season against San Diego State for up to 40% off (link at the top of the page).  Fans can also visit the Howl Zone in the parking lots north of the stadium.  The Howl Zone is free and open to everyone.

“This should be like our other games, really close and fun.  I’m looking forward to it.  I liked the energy at practice and I like their approach,” said Gonzales.