HONOLULU, Haw. — For a third time this season, a freshman quarterback making his first start led a Lobo opponent to a victory, and this one came against a Lobo defense that was hanging on by a thread as the season wore down.  Micah Alejado was 37-for-57 passing for 469 yards and five touchdowns as Hawai’i outlasted New Mexico 38-30 and ended UNM’s bowl hopes as the Lobos finished the season at 5-7 overall, and 3-4 in the conference.

UNM seemingly was playing from behind the entire game, and down 31-16 in the fourth quarter, Devon Dampier scampered in for his third rushing touchdown of the game and 19^th of the season, tying DonTrell Moore’s school record, to make it a 31-23 game with 13:53 remaining.  The Lobos needed a three and out, and seemingly got it.  On a third-and-1 pass, Alejado hit Tamatoa Mokiao-Atimalala for a first down, but the play was reviewed and while the ball pretty clearly hit the turf with rubber pellets flying everywhere, the play stood after review.

Instead of a punt, the Rainbow Warriors got a first down, and they made the most of the break.  With the drive continuing, UNM had a second chance to get off the field as UNM forced a third-and-16, but Alajedo and Jonah Panoke hooked up for a diving 45-yard catch to the three-yard line, and Hawai’i punched it in from there for a 38-23 lead.

Once again, UNM responded with a third straight touchdown drive as Na’Quari Rogers darted in from a yard out with 2:34 left. UNM nearly go the onside kick as quarterback Isaiah Chavez knocked the ball loose but it bounced right into the arms of Spencer Curtis.  The Rainbow Warriors than had to convert two first downs, and they got the first on an Alejado scramble in which he hit Curtis for 11 yards.  Hawai’I got one more first down and took knees from there.

New Mexico had several missed opportunities in the opening half.  After a Hawai’i touchdown made it 7-0, Luke Drzewiecki missed a 42-yard field goal.  UNM got a stop and moved down the field with Dampier finishing off the drive from 3-yards out.  The Lobos went for two and James Laubstein was stopped just short of the goal line, missing a wide-open Hyrum Hatch in the end zone.  That meant UNM trailed 7-6.

Hawai’i answered right back as Alejado hit Dekel Crowdus for a 52-yard touchdown just 40 seconds later and it was 14-6 Rainbow Warriors.  Drzewiecki connected on a 36-yard field goal but Alejado threw his third touchdown pass of the half, hitting Mokiao-Atimalala from 16 yards out for a 21-9 lead.

UNM drove the length of the field, but on Dampier run to the 24-yard line for a first down, he was hit and fumbled, snuffing out the drive.  That drive ended with a missed Kansei Matsuzawa 33-yard field goal attempt, making it 21-9 at the break for the Rainbow Warriors.

Postgame Notes

This was 28th meeting between the two teams.

Hawai’i now leads the series 17-11

Hawai’i now leads the series 13-6 in Honolulu

Hawai’i has now won one straight in the series and Hawai’i has won two straight in Honolulu.

Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep

Offense: Malik Aliane started at center moving McKenzie Agnello who started at right tackle for Wallace Unamba

Defense: Skylar Cook started as an extra linebacker for DT Bryce Santana. Cam Watts started at corner for Noa Pola-Gates. Drew Speech started at corner for Bryson Taylor.

*New Mexico’s captains were Luke Wysong, Richard Pearce, Gabe Lopez and Noah Avinger.

*New Mexico’s Okiki Olorunfunmi carried the New Mexico flag and Travis Gray carried the United States flag.

*New Mexico won the toss and elected to receive.  Hawai’i kicked off while defending the South goal.

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TEAM NOTES:

*The Lobos wore its retro logo on its white helmet for the second straight game.

*The Lobos finished the season with 5,811 yards of total offense for the season, the second-=most in school history.  UNM’s 484.3 yards per game is the new school record for average.

*UNM improved its win total for the season straight season.

*New Mexico finished with a scoring average of 33.50 points per game, the third-best average in school history, and the 402 points was the second-most in school history.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

*Dampier moved ahead of Donald Sellers for sixth on the career TDs responsible list with 41.  He also finished tied for third on the single-season list with 31.

*Dampier tied DonTrell Moore’s record for rushing touchdowns in a season with 19, and it’s the most by a Lobo quarterback.

*Dampier and Eli Sanders both topped the 100-yard mark for a fourth consecutive game, and Dampier had his sixth game of triple digits rushing and passing.  Dampier finished ninth on the single season rushing list and Eli Sanders finished tied for 19^th.  They are the second Lobo teammates to rush for 1,000 yards in the same season, joining Teriyon Gipson and Tyrone Owens in 2016.

*Luke Drzewiecki’s 36-yard field goal was the 33^rd of his career, and it tied him with Kenny Byrd for fifth on the UNM all-time list.

*One game after using center Malik Aliane on the defensive line due to a rash of injuries, UNM was forced to use wide receiver Elijah Brody on defense.

*Luke Wysong finished the season tied for seventh with 69 receptions on the season and Ryan Davis finished with 54 to tie for 13^th.

*Luke Wysong also moved to ninth place on the career list with 135.

*Dampier’s 3,934 yards of total offense was the Lobo single-season record but it is also was the second-most in Mountain West history by a sophomore.