Lobo Spring Game Sees Offense and Defense Shine

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — For those fans who are worried about the Lobo defense which lost six of its top seven tacklers and eight of nine interceptions, Dmitri Johnson and the rest of the crew showed that the 2023 Lobo defense should be juuuuuuust fine.  Johnson picked off the opening pass of UNM’s SPring Showcase and raced 38 yards for a touchdown to highlight a defensive effort that turned in three interceptions and several sacks.

The Lobos also two other interceptions, one from David Murphy and one from Blaine Smith.  The defense also had a second quarter fourth-and-one stop when Zach Vigil was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage.  However, the offense had its moments too.  The revamped passing game looked good with Andrew Erickson, Elijah Queen, and DJ Washington each catching touchdowns, with Washington’s grab a highlight reel back in the back corner of the end zone.

The showcase was played as an actual game featuring the one offense against the one defense, and two versus two, and threes versus threes, with scores alternating between Cherry and Silver.  The scrimmage lasted just over 100 plays, and than the Lobos worked through two overtime periods.

Christian Washington, Andrew Henry and Sherod White all turned in big runs on the day, and Jeremiah Hixson showed that he is going to be an issue for other teams with a few wild catches.  UNM used all five quarterbacks, with Dylan Hopkins getting the most reps.  He and DC Tabscott threw touchdown passes, along with true freshman Devon Dampier, who is only 17 years old but already looks the part.  His wild scramble that included an PS5-type juke that left an oncoming pass rusher in the dust that turned into a catch for tight end Magnus Geers had the crowd oohing and aahing.

Dion Hunter didn’t get a ton of reps, but he made his count, constantly getting into the backfield and Christian Ellis, Marvin Covington and D’Arco Perkins-McAllister all had lockdown moments as UNM’s safety crew.  The Lobos played defensively without at least three presumptive starters in Tavian Combs, Ray Leutele and Alec Morenco, who are still out rehabbing injuries, although all are expected back shortly.

NOTES:  The team stayed on the field after the game for a huge autograph session as UNM gave out commemorative posters to all fans.  Several players were interviewed live on the stadium’s Video Board during the game after big plays, with Voice of the Lobos Robert Portnoy handling the interviews.