ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — UNM suffered through a host of mistakes in the opening half, including allowed three big plays on special teams as the visiting UNLV Rebels handed New Mexico its worst margin of defeat this season as UNM lost 56-14. The litany of mistakes in the game included three long punt returns, a fumbled snap on a punt and a fumble return inside the 10-yard line.
Overall, the Rebels (7-2, 4-1) took advantage of starting at the Lobo 32, 30, 21, 9 and 5-yard lines, scoring touchdowns on all of those possessions. UNLV won the turnover battle 2-0, and scored 14 points off those two turnovers.
The 42-point margin of defeat was UNM’s worst in a conference game since October 27, 2018 when UNM lost 61-19 at Utah State. The 56 points was the most allowed in a home game by UNM since 60-49 loss to Boise State at University Stadium November 8, 2014. The last time UNM lost by 42 at home was October 22, 2011 as Air Force beat UNM 42-0.
Nothing seemingly went right early for UNM. After a quick first down on a pair of Jacory Croskey-Merritt runs, UNM was forced to punt, and Jacob DeJesus returned Aaron Rodriguez’ 50-yard punt 59 yards to the Lobo 30. One play later, Ricky White III caught a 30-yard pass from Jayden Maiava and that made it 7-0. On its next drive UNM moved into UNLV territory, but an illegal block sent the drive back into UNM territory, and when UNM lined up to punt, Brendan Durkin’s snap hit an upman and UNLV pounced on the football.
UNLV took four plays to score, getting a 5-yard run from Vincent Davis to make it 14-0. From there, UNM went on its first sustained drive of the game. Croskey-Merritt had an 11-yard run and Dylan Hopkins converted a third-and-6 on a 9-yard pass to Jeremiah Hixon.
Andrew Henry finished off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7. UNLV answered with 10-play, 75-yard drive capped by a second 5-yard Davis touchdown. UNM then went right down the field before disaster struck. Hopkins opened the drive with a 41-yard bomb into the bread-basket of Medford, but Jacory Croskey-Merritt was stripped of the ball at the UNLV 30 and the ball was returned to UNM’s 5-yard line, where Donavyn Lester pounded it home.
UNLV added one more score before the break, and UNM got a chance to end the half with points but a career-long attempt of 52 yards by Luke Drzewiecki went just wide to the left.
In the second half, UNLV got two long touchdown passes by Maiava. The first was 43 yards to Dominic Gicinto and the second 58 yards to Ricky White III. UNLV made it 56-7 after another long punt return before UNM finally got back on the board when Devon Dampier led a 75-yard touchdown drive, throwing a 1-yard touchdown to Croskey-Merritt, somehow avoiding a sack.