Wyoming Uses Big Plays to Edge UNM 35-26
LARAMIE, Wyo. — New Mexico allowed two long touchdowns in the third quarter, each of which looked to be stopped behind the line of scrimmage, and that was enough for Wyoming to hold off UNM in Laramie, as the Cowboys won 35-26. The Lobos now have a week off to get ready for a pair of home games, the first of which is on October 14 against San Jose State at 4 pm at University Stadium.
The game turned on UNM’s first drive of the second half. The Lobos quickly moved the ball near midfield, but on third down at six from the UNM 43, Hopkins threw behind Jeremiah Hixon, and Wrook Brown picked of the pass, returning it to the Lobo 46-yard line. On the next play, Harrison Waylee, who was pinned behind the line of scrimmage, somehow escaped, turned the corner and UNM missed two downfield sideline tackles, and the Cowboys had a touchdown and a 22-9 lead.
After Luke Drzewiecki hit a 26-yard field goal which followed a 48-yard scramble by Dylan Hopkins, the Lobos got a stop, but couldn’t capitalize, with Aaron Rodriguez hitting a 51-yard punt to the Cowboy 34. On the final play of the half, Andrew Peasley was running for his life when his dump-off pass to Ayir Asante turned into a host of cutbacks and missed tackles, ending in a back-breaking 66-yard touchdown and a 29-12 Cowboy lead at the end of three.
The Lobos made a game of it in the fourth quarter. After Dylan Hopkins was banged up, UNM used both DC Tabscott and Devon Dampier on the next drive, and it ended in a Dampier to Hixon 14-yard touchdown to cut the lead to 29-19. Another long run, this 66 yards by Waylee, set up Wyoming inside the Lobo 10-yard line, but the defense stiffened and forced a field goal to move the lead to 32-19. UNM then had Dampier race 58 yards on the first play of the next drive, but a downfield hold moved the ball back to the Wyoming 43, and UNM ended up punting, which hurt.
After a stop, UNM took over on its own 1-yard line and Dampier led the Lobos the entire length of the field with DJ Washington scoring on a fourth-and-5 play as Dampier hit him at the 2-yard line and it with Washington fighting for the goal line, DJ Wingfield gave a tush-push to get into the end zone to make it 32-26. UNM then had a shot on the onside kick, but Wyoming jumped on the loose ball and tacked on a field goal with 11 seconds left for the final margin.
New Mexico took the opening kickoff and went right down the field, mostly through the air. UNM never faced a third down on the drive as Hopkins was 6-for-6. He twice hit Ryan Davis for first downs on the drive, and he finished off the drive with a 17-yard pass to Jeremiah Hixon in which he toe-tapped just inside the pylon for touchdown. The issue was the extra point as DeVonne Harris knocked over UNM’s long snapper and blocked the kick, and it bounced perfectly to Jakorey Hawkins, who ran it in for a defensive two-point score.
Wyoming, now down 6-2, got the ball back after each team traded punts, and Andrew Peasley was able to run it in from two-yards out after a 22-yard pass to Treyton Welch set up Wyoming at first and goal. UNM was able to tie the game on a Drzewiecki field goal of 39 yards, but John Hoyland answered with a 34 yard field goal. An Aaron Rodriguez late punt to the 2-yard line gave UNM a shot at a tie before halftime as UNM was able to force a short punt after a failed third-and-short, but in field goal range, Hopkins was sacked and fumbled, and only a touchdown saving tackle by JC Davis kept Wyoming from tacking on at the half.
Head Coach Danny Gonzales
Quarterback Devon Dampier
Defensive Lineman Tyler Kiehne
Postgame Notes
This was the 76th meeting between the two teams.
Wyoming now leads 40-36 in the series
Wyoming now leads 20-16 in Laramie
Series tied 19-19 in Albuquerque
New Mexico leads 1-0 in Las Vegas
Wyoming has now two straight in the series, and one straight in Laramie.
Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep
Offense: Ryan Davis started for Jeremiah Hixon at WR and Wyatt McClour was the skill player that didn’t start.
Defense: None
*New Mexico’s captains were Dylan Hopkins, Alec Marenco, 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 Wyoming and deferred. UNM elected to receive and defend the South goal. It marked the 34th time in 36 games under Danny Gonzales that UNM has received the opening kickoff. New Mexico has lost the toss four straight games after winning the season opening toss against Texas A&M.
TEAM NOTES:
*Wyoming’s blocked extra point return for a safety was only the second defensive PAT against UNM. Milton Buggs III had the first on November 23, 2019 for Air Force.
*UNM held Wyoming to 0-4 on third down in the opening half and they finished 2-of-11 for the game.
*UNM allowed Harrison Waylee to record 180 yards rushing, and that was the first time allowing an opponent 150 or more since Brad Roberts of Air Force rushed for 163 last year on November 12.
*The game marked the first time that UNM and Wyoming combined for 50 points since UNM’s 56-38 win on November 26, 2016. The best since then was 45 points in 2017 (42-3 Wyoming).
*New Mexico broke the 400-yard mark for the third time this season.
*Wyoming had 255 yards on 53 and 178 yards on three other plays.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
*Jeremiah Hixon’s 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter was the 12th of his career, and his first as a Lobo. He recorded two on the day, and that tied his career-high as he had two touchdown catches for Alabama State against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on October 9, 2021.
*Hixon’s six catches tied his previous high of six, set in the opener against Texas A&M.
*Luke Drzewiecki’s blocked extra point was the first miss of his career.
*Tyler Kiehne had a sack, a pass breakup and a forced fumble as a part of his defensive day.
*Punter Aaron Rodriguez had his best game of the season, averaging 50.3 yards per punt and netting 46.3.
*Dylan Hopkins was 6-for-6 for 60 yards on UNM’s opening drive.
*Devon Dampier’s 14-yard touchdown pass to Jeremiah Hixon was his first career touchdown pass.
*Hopkins threw for 162 yards and now has 989 yards passing, which is the sixth-most by a Lobo quarterback in the last 14 seasons.
*Jacory Croskey-Merritt led UNM in rushing with 92 yards.
*Tavian Combs and Alec Marenco tied for the team lead with nine tackles each.