Croskey-Merritt’s OT TD Wins it 34-31 in Amherst
AMHERST, Mass. — New Mexico allowed a fluky late 65-yard touchdown pass with 45 seconds left to go to overtime, but UNM forced a field goal and Jacory Croskey-Merritt plunged in from two yards out to give New Mexico a heart-stopping 34-31 overtime win, ending UNM’s nine-game road losing streak. The win evened UNM’s record at 2-2 and gives a little momentum to the team as it opens conference play at the site of UNM’s last road win, Wyoming.
In overtime, won the toss and elected to play defense, and that worked to their advantage. UMass’ Ahmad Heston, who had a prayer answered in the final minute when his wobbly bomb that looked like a sure interception ended up in the arms of Anthony Simpson for a 65-yard touchdown, rushed three times in the overtime, the final time on third-and-four, and Destin Gainer and Tyler Kiehne made a huge stop to force a field goal attempt from Cameron Carson, which he hit from 34 yards out.
That gave UMass its only lead of the game, but it put UNM’s offense on the field. On third-and-8, Dylan Hopkins threw towards the end zone for Caleb Medford, but he was interfered with, giving UNM a first down at the 8-yard line. Hopkins bulled his way to inside the 1-yard line, and then UMass was called for a delay of game. That didn’t move the ball, but UMass head coach Don Brown was then given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which gave UNM an extra down.
On second-and-goal from the two, Croskey-Merritt buried his nose behind the left side of the line and he let the big fellas up front do the dirty work, and he scored from 2-yards out to give UNM the win.
Overtime was the furthest thing from UNM’s mind up 28-14 at the break as the Lobos scored touchdowns on four straight drives. Hopkins hit Medford from 12 yards out for the opening score of the game, and after UNM got a stop on fourth down in UMass territory, the Lobos needed just four plays to make it 14-0. Croskey-Merritt raced in from 21 yards out for a touchdown. UMass got a score back on a 2-yard Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams run, but UNM responded in kind.
Duece Jones made a wild one-handed catch to convert a long third down, and Hopkins kept the ball and scored from four yards out to put UNM back up 21-7.
UMass answered with a 24-yard touchdown pass, but Hopkins and company went back to work, and this time it was Sherod White who finished it off with a 7-yard run. That gave UNM a 28-14 lead at the break.
UNM struggled offensively in the second half, only gaining 50 yards, and UMass crept back into the game with two field goals from Carson, from 32 and 28 yards out. They then got the long pass with 45 seconds left, and the ensuing two-point conversion to tie the game.
While UNM didn’t score in the second half, UNM continually made big plays to end drives of force field goals on defense. Syaire Riley and Tavian Combs stopped a fourth-and-1 in UMass territory, and Christian Ellis made two key fourth down plays, knocking away a fourth-and-3 pass and a fourth quarter tackle two yards from a conversion.
The Lobos were outgained 495 to 328, but the Lobos forced three stops on fourth down, and that was the key in the game.
Postgame Notes
This was the first meeting between the two teams.
New Mexico now leads 1-0 in the series
New Mexico now leads 1-0 in Amherst
New Mexico has now one straight in the series, and one straight in Amherst.
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Dorian Lewis started at RB for Jacory Croskey-Merritt. Jeremiah Hixon was the WR that didn’t start.
Defense: None
*New Mexico’s captains were Dylan Hopkins, Donte Martin, Tavian Combs and CJ James.
*New Mexico’s Bryce Santana carried the state flag of New Mexico onto the field and Charles Steinkamp carried the United States flag.
*New Mexico lost the toss and UMass and deferred. UNM elected to receive and defend the South goal. It marked the 33rd time in 35 games under Danny Gonzales that UNM has received the opening kickoff.
TEAM NOTES:
*The field goal UNM allowed on the opening drive of the second half marked the first time this season UNM had allowed any points on the opening second half drive. The other three opening second half drives were all punts.
*The Lobos scored 28 points in the first half, marking the second time that UNM scored 28 in the opening half this season. It was the first time that UNM has scored 28 points twice in the first half since the 2018 season, when UNM scored 35 against Incarnate Word and 29 against UNLV.
*New Mexico improved to 2-11 all-time in the Eastern Time Zone and 1-11 in Eastern Time Zone road games. UNM’s only other Eastern Time Zone win was the Aviation Bowl, a 28-12 win over Western Michigan in Dayton, Ohio on December 9, 1961. No member of the Lobo staff was alive when that game happened.
*New Mexico improved to 5-5 in overtime, and it was UNM’s second straight overtime win, both on the road as UNM beat UTEP in 2013 42-35.
*The Lobos held UMass to 0-for-3 on fourth down, and are now just 1-for-6 this season on fourth down.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
*Caleb Medford’s 55-yard first quarter reception was the longest of his career. Medford on UNM’s opening touchdown drive had 82 yards receiving on UNM’s 79-yard scoring drive.
*The Medford touchdown to open the scoring was his first career touchdown.
*Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s 26-yard first quarter touchdown was his sixth of the season. He finished the game with two, giving him seven.
*Dylan Hopkins’ touchdown run was his first as a Lobo and his first since October 15, 2022 when he scored on a run against Charlotte while playing for UAB.
*Alec Marenco had a career-high 12 tackles, besting his previous high of eight against LSU last year. He surpassed that career-high with seven minutes left in the second quarter.
*Tavian Combs led the team with 14 tackles.
*Christian Ellis broke up a fourth-and-3 pass in the third quarter, and that was his first career pass breakup.