FRESNO, Calif. — New Mexico played a brilliant second half with career days from Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Caleb Medford, and UNM’s defense allowed just four yards until the final drive of the second half as the Lobos won in Fresno for the first time since 1994 and only the second time ever, winning 25-17 to move to 4-7 on the season.
The Lobos completely dominated Fresno State after halftime, outscoring the Bulldogs 13-3. UNM outgained Fresno State 262-63 in the second half and allowed -8 yards rushing in the half. UNM’s defense consistently came up big in the second half, including on a wild sequence that for most of the year seemed to somehow go wrong for the Lobos.
Dylan Hopkins was looking downfield for Jeremiah Hixon but the pass was picked off by Lavelle Bailey, and he returned it inside the Lobo 20, but Andrew Erickson worked his way back and forced a fumble which UNM’s DJ Washington recovered at the Lobo 14. Hopkins again threw an interception at midfield, but the defense after a pass interference penalty held firm at the 36-yard line, forcing a punt.
UNM took that punt and drove 93 yards on 10 plays with every play on the ground. Jacory Croskey-Merritt had runs of seven and 24 yards to start it before Andrew Henry took over for runs of eight, 22 and four. A couple of penalties made it first-and-20, and Dylan Hopkins raced 12 yards around the end, but suffered an arm injury on the play. Devon Dampier came in and finished the drive off, running for eight yards and a first down before Croskey-Merritt scored his second touchdown of the day from 10 yards out to make it 18-14 after UNM missed a second two-point conversion.
Fresno State against couldn’t move the ball much and punted, giving UNM another long field, starting at the three-yard line. That was no issue for UNM as Dampier led UNM on a 10-play drive, twice completing passes. The first was for 26 yards to a diving Jeremiah Hixon, and the second finished it off. He bobbled the snap, picked it up and heaved it long to the end zone for Caleb Medford, who leapt and snagged it for a 33-yard touchdown and a 100-yard game.
Fresno State turned to the injured Mikey Keene but it didn’t really work as Fresno State punted on his first drive and then the Bulldogs could only muster a field goal after a 15-play drive to make it 25-17. Dimitri Johnson recovered the onside kick and Dampier rushed three times for 10 yards and a game clinching first down to give UNM the win.
New Mexico opened the scoring with a 38-yard Luke Drzewiecki field goal on its opening drive, but it felt like a Fresno State win as UNM had first and goal at the 5-yard line. Dylan Hopkins hit Trace Bruckler for a 4-yard touchdown but an offensive pass interference call negated that. UNM instead settled for Drzewiecki’s field goal.
Fresno State responded on its opening drive with a Logan Fife 1-yard scoring run around the end for a 7-3 lead, a touchdown that capped a 77-yard drive. UNM’s defense faced a little adversity after a 39-yard punt return set up the Bulldogs at the UNM 24-yard line, but the defense allowed just a yard, and Dylan Lynch saw his 42-yard field goal pull left.
The Bulldogs did make it 14-3 when Malik Sherrod capped off a seven-play, 78-yard run with a 6-yard score, but UNM responded to end the half.
Drzewiecki hit another 38-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-6, and then Jacory Croskey-Merritt went over from 50 yards out, helped by a ridiculous block by Andrew Erickson where he wiped out two would-be tacklers downfield with one hit, springing Croskey-Merritt for the final few yards. UNM elected to go for two and the tie, but Hopkins’ pass was broken up.