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by Frank Mercogliano

Lobos’ Winning Streak Ends, 35-28, at San Jose State

New Mexico rallied with 11 fourth quarter points but it wasn't enough as UNM lost 35-28 at San Jose State in the conference opener for both teams.

Lobos’ Winning Streak Ends, 35-28, at San Jose StateLobos’ Winning Streak Ends, 35-28, at San Jose State
UNM Creative Services

SAN JOSE, Calif. --- The University of New Mexico football team’s three-game winning streak came to an end Friday night in a 35-28 loss at San Jose State in a game that UNM never led but had another strong fourth quarter that came up a little short. Receiver Keagan Johnson had a career night with 11 receptions for 145 yards.

Johnson’s 11 receptions tied for the 11th-most receptions in a single game in UNM history. The junior repeatedly gave quarterback Jack Layne a reliable target, moving the chains on crucial downs and keeping the Lobos within striking distance. Through just four games played this season, Johnson now has 26 receptions for 326 yards, solidifying himself as one of the top receiving threats in the Mountain West.

The Lobos (3-2, 0-1 Mountain West) entered the matchup riding momentum from three straight victories, including a commanding rivalry win over rival New Mexico State. But San Jose State struck quickly, building a 14-0 lead in the second quarter as the Spartans tallied touchdowns on their first three drives. UNM responded behind its ground game, as Damon Bankston scored from four yards out and Scottre Humphrey added a one-yard touchdown to pull within 21-14. A Luke Drzewiecki 25-yard field goal on the final play of the half sent the Lobos into the locker room down just 21-17.

The third quarter proved costly for New Mexico.  UNM opened with the ball and a chance to take the lead, but two third down attempts were wiped out by penalties. One was a hold that offset a pass interference call, and the other was a hold that negatved a 21-yard catch and run for a first down by Shawn Miller. Instead, UNM punted and the Spartans eventually scored two touchdowns to stretch the margin to 35-17. Still, the Lobos mounted a fourth-quarter comeback. Layne engineered a fourth-quarter drive capped by his own three-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion pass to Shawn Miller, cutting the deficit to 35-25 with 11:02 to go. After forcing a punt, the Lobos drove from their own 6-yard line to the San Jose State 14. Michael Buckley nearly pulled in a third-down conversion for a touchdown. Instead, that pass was broken up, and he suffered an injury on the play. Drzewiecki drilled a 31-yard field goal with 3:41 to play, making it a one-score game at 35-28.

UNM squib-kicked with 3:41 to go, but the Spartans were able to run out the clock, sealing the narrow victory with three first downs.

Offensively, the Lobos finished with 420 total yards, including 344 passing yards from Layne, who completed 28-of-40 attempts. The 344 yards were a career-high for Layne. New Mexico outgained San Jose State in first downs (29-24) and matched them stride for stride in total offense, showing its balance with three rushing touchdowns and Johnson’s record-setting performance through the air. Frankie Edwards III led the way with seven tackles.

The loss marked New Mexico’s first setback since the season opener at Michigan and its first defeat in Mountain West play. New Mexico heads right back out on the road next weekend for another key Mountain West matchup, as the Lobos will face off with the preseason pick for the conference title, Boise State. That game will kick off at 7:45 p.m. Mountain Time on FS1.

POSTGAME NOTES

This was the 22nd meeting between the two teams.

The San Jose State now leads 16-5-1

San Jose State now leads the series in San Jose 8-2-1
San Jose State leads the series in Albuquerque 8-3-0

San Jose State now has a three-game winning streak in the series.

San Jose State now has a seven-game winning streak in the series in San Jose. New Mexico’s last win in San Jose was in 1969.


Starting lineup changes for UNM from the published two-deep

Offense: Damon Bankston started at RB for Scottre Humphrey.

Defense: Mercury Swain started at LB for Dimitri Johnson; Drew Speech started at dime for DT Brian Booker.


*New Mexico’s captains were Richard Pearce, Gabe Lopez, Keyshawn James-Newby, and Austin Brawley.

*New Mexico’s Landon Williams carried the state flag of New Mexico onto the field, and Albert Junes carried the United States flag.

*New Mexico won the toss and elected to defer. San Jose State elected the ball, and UNM defended the north goal.


TEAM NOTES

*UNM failed to score on its opening drive for the fifth straight game. Counting the opening drive of the second half, the Lobos have scored once on 10 opening half drives. The lone score is a field goal against Idaho State.

*New Mexico allowed back-to-back-to-back touchdown drives for the first time this season. It was the first back-to-back touchdown drives against UNM since the season opener against Michigan.

*The 70-yard pass from Walker Eget to Danny Scudero was the longest play against UNM this season.

*Jack Layne threw three interceptions in the game, marking the fourth time in five games that UNM has suffered multiple giveaways. Additionally, UNM has not won the turnover battle for 11 straight games.

*New Mexico is now 0-2 this season when throwing an interception and 3-0 when not throwing one.

*New Mexico failed to gain 100 yards rushing for the second time this season. The other time was against Michigan.

*New Mexico’s 344 yards passing marked the second straight game with exactly 344.

*UNM’s nine players with a reception were a season-high.

*New Mexico’s 29 first downs were a season-high.

*San Jose State’s 334 yards passing were the most allowed by UNM this year, and it was the first 300-yard game against UNM as well.


INDIVIDUAL NOTES

*Jack Layne’s first-quarter interception on a double-reverse flea flicker ended a string of 82 straight pass attempts without an interception. Layne suffered his second three-interception game of the season, and his six for the season are one more than over his first three seasons, spanning 18 games.

*Shawn Miller’s 42-yard reception in the second quarter was a career-long.

*Keagan Johnson’s 11 receptions for 145 yards were both career-highs. The 11 receptions were the most since October 1, 2011, when Ty Kirk had 11 catches for 90 yards against New Mexico State. Johnson’s 11 catches tied for the 11th-most in school history, and it was the first game of 11 catches and 145 yards for a Lobo receiver since Marcus Smith had 11 catches for 164 yards on September 15, 2007, against Arizona.

*Luke Drzewiecki moved into second place on the career extra point list at UNM with his 101st, made in the second quarter. Overall, has scored eight points and now has 216 points, moving within two points of sixth place on the career list, but currently remaining in eighth place. With a seven-point game against Boise State, he would move into a tie for fourth place on the career chart at UNM.

*Daniel Hughes’ first and only punt of the game came in the third quarter and was a career-long of 64 yards. He is now averaging 46.8 yards per punt, which would rank second on the single-season list behind current Cleveland Browns punter Corey Bojorquez.

*Jack Layne became the first Lobo to have two games of 28 or more completions in a season since Donovan Porterie did it three times in 2009.

 

Head Coach Jason Eck

Receiver Keagan Johnson

Linebacker Jaxton Eck