Boise State Pulls Away Late to Top New Mexico 41-25

BOISE, Idaho. — For three quarters, New Mexico hung within striking distance of Boise State, but the Broncos scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to hand the Lobos a 41–25 loss Saturday night at Albertsons Stadium in front of a sell-out crowd.

The defeat dropped New Mexico to 3–3 overall and 0–2 in Mountain West play, while Boise State improved to 4–2 and 2–0 in conference action.

Boise State dominated time of possession in the game, holding the ball for more than 40 minutes to New Mexico’s 19. The Broncos ran 86 plays to the Lobos’ 54 and finished with a 397–231 edge in total offense. Still, New Mexico managed to keep things tight until the final quarter thanks to opportunistic plays and timely scores.

After falling behind 10–0 in the opening period, the Lobos struck quickly to start the second. Damon Bankston returned the kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, tying a school record. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by a Lobo since September 9, 2022, when Christian Washington turned the trick against Boise State, and overall, it was the 10^th 100-yard kickoff return in school history.

New Mexico took its only lead minutes later when Jack Layne capped an eight-play, 58-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Dorian Thomas, making it 14–10. Boise State responded with a 75-yard march that ended in a Maddux Madsen-to-Ben Ford touchdown connection to reclaim a 17–14 halftime advantage.

Both teams traded field goals in the third quarter — Luke Drzewiecki connected from 29 yards for UNM — and Boise State clung to a narrow 20–17 lead heading into the final 15 minutes. From there, the Broncos took advantage with the help of a lucky break.

Boise State scored on three straight drives in the fourth quarter. Sire Gaines punched in his second rushing touchdown from four yards out to make it 27-17.  UNM’s defense then held and forced a field goal, and that’s when fortune favored the Broncos. Holder Oscar Doyle bobbled the snap, and it looked like UNM was going to get a blocked kick. Instead, he rose up, scrambled, and threw a wobbly pass that Troy Grizzle caught for a back-breaking touchdown and a 34-17 lead. After a turnover on downs, Madsen hit Ford again — this time from 25 yards — to put the game out of reach at 41–17 with just over five minutes left.

Backup quarterback James Laubstein came on in relief late and led a 15-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass to Keagan Johnson with 1:16 remaining. Laubstein ran in the two-point conversion for the final margin. It was Laubstein’s first career touchdown pass.

Bankston finished with 188 all-purpose yards, including 118 on kick returns, while Johnson caught five passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. Thomas added four receptions for 61 yards and his second touchdown in as many games. Layne went 7-of-17 for 115 yards and one score, while Laubstein completed 8-of-11 for 67 yards in relief.

Boise State leaned on its run game and ball control. Dylan Riley ran for 101 yards on 18 carries, and Gaines added 65 yards and two scores. Madsen completed 21 of 31 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns, spreading the ball among seven receivers.

Defensively, Jaxton Eck led New Mexico with a career-high 18 tackles, and Keyshawn James-Newby recorded two sacks among the team’s four. But the Lobos couldn’t get off the field often enough — Boise State converted 6-of-7 fourth-down attempts and went 7-of-18 on third down.

Boise State had seven possessions of nine plays or more and controlled the ball for over 12 minutes in the first quarter alone.

New Mexico will look to regroup next Saturday when it hosts Nevada in its Mountain West home opener at University Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:45 p.m. with the game broadcast on FS1.