ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico had plenty of chances, but three red zone trips produced three field goals, and Fresno State blew open a close game with a big play in the third quarter as the Bulldogs raced past UNM 41-9, handing the Lobos a fifth consecutive loss. The win moved Fresno State to 2-1 in the Mountain West’s West division, while UNM dropped to 2-6 and 0-4, and must now win the last four in order to become bowl eligible.
The Lobos started Justin Holaday at quarterback, a change from Miles Kendrick, who started the first seven games. While UNM was able to extend the defense with long pass attempts, the Lobos never quite clicked on them, having two long balls go just off outstretched fingertips.
However, it was a case of UNM getting a few good opportunities and not being able to cash in with touchdowns. Down 3-0 in the first quarter, the Lobos were set up with great field position as Christian Washington returned a kickoff 63 yards to the Fresno State 20. It took UNM one play to get a first down as Holaday ran to the 19-yard line, but after a completion to Luke Wysong, a 5-yard loss meant a Luke Drzewiecki field goal attempt from 33 yards, which was good for a 3-3 tie.
Fresno State took the lead for good with a 75-yard drive that ended in a 2-yard Logan Fife touchdown run. After some punts, Unm got the ball back at midfield after a 38-yard punt return by Wysong. Washington opened with an 11-yard run, and he then converted a third-and-1 to move the chains. Holaday scrambled out of danger and raced 35 yards, diving for the pylonbut going out at the 2-yard line. With a chance to tie the game late in the first half, the offense fizzled. Washington was stopped for no gain, and then a designed run for Holaday saw him lose four yards. A sack on third down meant another Drzewiecki field goal, this from 24 yards.
Fresno State drove to end the half with a field goal and at the break, the Bulldogs led 13-6. UNM go the ball to open the half and immediately moved the ball on a 14-yard Nate Jones run. However, a third-and-9 became third-and-24 after a penalty, and UNM punted. On the first play after the punt, Fife hit Jalen Moreno-Cropper for a 75-yard touchdown, and it was 20-6.
The Bulldogs made it 27-6 on the next series with Fife faked everyone out on a keeper around the left side on third-and-2 for a 30-yard touchdown run.
UNM had another chance to get back in it when A.J. Haulcy, who had a career-best 24 tackles in the game, picked off Fife near midfield, returning the ball to the Fresno State 19. UNM couldn’t get a first down, and Drzewiecki hit his third field goal, this from 29 yards, to make it 27-9. The Bulldogs tacked on two fourth quarter touchdowns as the Lobos never got anything going in the second half with just three first downs and 52 yards of offense.