FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State threw a second quarter touchdown pass, and that was basically all it needed as the Rams shutout New Mexico 17-0 in the final game of the season for both teams.  The Lobos ended the season 2-10 with nine straight losses to end the season, while Colorado State finished at 3-9.

The game stayed scoreless through the first quarter as neither offense was able to penetrate the others’ defense, but CSU broke through first.  The key play was a scramble by quarterback Clay Millen, who somehow found Trey Horton for a first down inside UNM territory.  Three plays later, Miller hit Justus Ross-Simmons for a 21-yard touchdown over pretty good coverage from Donte Martin for a 7-0 lead.

UNM had a chance to cut into that lead at the end of the half, as UNM drove to the CSU 29-yard line, but Luke Drzewiecki’s 46-yard field goal attempt went wide left, keeping the score at 7-0.

UNM got a stop to open the half when OJ Bartley, who played both offense and defense in the game, forced a fumble that Cody Moon recovered for a turnover.  UNM gained 19 yards quickly, but a personal foul pushed UNM back into its own territory, and the Lobos punted.  That punt went to the 2-yard line, and after an exchange on punts, UNM turned it over with C.J. Montes was strip-sacked, leading to a 23-yard field goal by Michael Boyle in the dying moments of the third quarter.

UNM was not able to mount a fourth quarter comeback, as UNM had just three first downs in the second half along with 39 total yards.  The Rams added a late touchdown on a 41-yard pass from Millen to Horton to complete the scoring.

 

Postgame Notes

This was the 69th meeting between the two teams.

 

Colorado State now leads the series 44-25

Colorado State now leads the series 20-11 in Fort Collins

Colorado State leads the series 22-14 in Albuquerque

Colorado State leads the series 1-0 in Las Vegas

Colorado State leads the series 1-0 in Denver

Colorado State has won 12 straight in the series and seven straight in Fort Collins.

 

 

Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep

Offense: Elijah Queen started at TE for Radson Jang; Trae Hall started at receiver for Duece Jones, Adam Gay started at right guard for Shancco Matautia.

Defense: Omar Darame started at MLB for Dion Hunter, who started instead at outside LB for Reco Hannah.

 

*New Mexico’s captains were Reco Hannah, Adam Gay, Jerrick Reed II and Radson Jang.

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

*Colorado State won toss and elected to defer. It marked the 29th time in Danny Gonzales’ 31 games that UNM received the opening kickoff.

 

TEAM NOTES:

*The temperature at kickoff was 56 degrees.

*New Mexico was shutout in the first half for the second time in three games (Air Force) and for the fourth time this season.

*The Lobos were shutout for the second time this season.

*Overall, UNM ended the season averaging 13.1 points per game.

*UNM ended the season without a second half touchdown over its last nine games, and in those nine games, UNM managed just 12 points on four field goals.

*UNM had a season-high 10.0 TFLs for a season-best 37 yards, including a season-high tying 4.0 sacks.

 

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

*Adam Gay became the 51^st player to start a game for UNM when he started at right guard.  UNM leads the nation with that total (Texas A&M entered the week second with 49).

*Luke Drzewiecki missed a 46-yard field goal to end the first half, and it ended a streak of nine straight made field goals from inside of 50 yards.  It would have been a career-long make for him (his career long is 44 yards).

*Cody Moon became the first Lobo to hit 100 tackles in a season since Dakota Cox had 116 in 2014.  He finished with 105 for the season.  In the game he led UNM with eight tackles, 2.0 TFLs, 1.0 sacks, a pass breakup, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

*OJ Bartley recorded his first career forced fumble in the third quarter, and it was recovered by Cody Moon.

*Christian Washington rushed for a career-high 88 yards.

*Aaron Rodriguez punted nine times for a 48.8-yard average.