ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico Lobos head to the United States Air Force Academy for a key Mountain West matchup on Saturday afternoon as the Lobos look to end a six-game losing streak and get back in the win column while Air Force, sitting at 6-3 and coming off a Commander in Chief Trophy clinching 13-7 win over Army, looks to move to .500 in conference play.
The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network, kicking off in Colorado Springs at 1:32 p.m. with Chris Lewis and Ross Tucker on the call. Robert Portnoy and DonTrell Moore will have the radio call on 770 AM/96.3 FM KKOB, starting with the pregame show at 12:30 p.m.
For the Lobos, UNM will be trying to overcome a very efficiient offense, and some bad juju with history as UNM all-time in Colorado Springs is just 13-2 against the Falcons. The Lobos haven’t won in Falcon Stadium since October 21, 2000 when the Lobos won 29-23 over Air Force that is more notable for the bizarre circumstances around that game.
A 10 a.m. kickoff meant an early breakfast for pregame for the Lobos, but to say the day didn’t start off right was an understatement as the cooks at the hotel never showed up. So, members of the staff, including current head coach Danny Gonzales cooked pancakes, and only pancakes, as quickly as possible for the pregame meal.
Once the game started, it was all Lobos early as UNM jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the second quarter on a Holmon Wiggins run and a blocked punt return. UNM led 23-7 at the break and 29-7 in the fourth, and had Air Force so stymied in the option game (it had just 145 yards on 38 carries) that AFA went to the air. Air Force, throwing 27 times, scored 16 fourth quarter points, but UNM held on in the end for a 29-23 win.
Since then? It hasn’t been great, as UNM is 0-9 in Colorado Springs. The last meeting was certainly just as confounding for UNM and Gonzales. On November 20, 2020, UN was shutout 28-0 despite crossing into Air Force territory 11 times on 13 drives. UNM was shutout despite attempting four field goals in the game, and is still the only team since 2000 to get shutout despite attempting four field goals in a game.
Air Force in that one scoring on its first three drives before UNM’s defense held firm for the reminder of the game.
However, it’s 2022, and UNM’s defense, much better than in 2020, will have to slow down an offense that has scored a touchdown on exactly 33.3% of its drives (32 of 96). The Falcons lead the nation in rushing at 324.4 yards per game, and Air Force will happily go for it on fourth down, going 10-for-13. UNM’s offense has moved the ball since switching to interim offensive coordinator Heath Ridenour, and it finally got in the end zone to break a 12-quarter drought, but UNM is averaging just 16.0 points per game and 10.3 over its six-game losing streak.
Still there’s been good signs. Justin Holaday has played well since taking over the reins at quarterback, and Nate Jones is coming off a career-high 146 yards rushing. UNM’s defense is ranked 31st nationally, and while it will be challenged, it is allowing just 135.1 yards per game on the ground. UNM’s kicking game has also sorted itself out with Luke Drzewiecki hitting seven straight field goals until his 53-yard attempt at the end of the half just missed with right. That would have tied the school record for the longest road field goal, which both Andrew Shelley and Jason Sanders have at 53 yards.