Silver Wins Spring Game 17-14 Behind McBean's Two Picks

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- The 2026 Lobo Football Spring Game came down to the very last play, with Grant Glasgow doing his best Luke Drzewiecki imitation with a picture-perfect 39-yard field goal with no time left to give Silver a 17-14 walk-off win in front of what was generally thought to be one of the largest Spring Game crowds in program history.

While Glasgow went into the books with his big kick to win it for Silver, the Silver squad was paced by the defense, which recorded four interceptions, including two by CJ McBean. McBean is coming off a true freshman season in which he started eight games at defensive back, and he is one of a host of starters (14 in all) for UNM, as the Lobos have the most starters back of any Mountain West team.

The game was played with 12-minute quarters, and the quarterbacks were not live; otherwise, it was a regular football game. Toa Fa'avae and Luke Moga quarterbacked the Cherry squad, and Gabe Motschenbacher and Cade Mitchell led Silver.

Being that it was a regular football game, most everyone in the crowd, most of whom came straight from the UNM Equipment Surplus Sale, sporting their new Lobo gear, were shaking their heads at the first quarter score of 4-0.

That's right, 4-0 in favor of Cherry. That happened not on a pair of two-run home runs, but back-to-back safeties. After a Charles Steinkamp punt pinned Silver inside the five, another true freshman from last year, Thomas Pettus, recorded a safety with a sack in the end zone.

Cherry, up 2-0, drove the field behind Luke Moga, but Frankie Edwards III picked off Moga at the goal line. A good return was shuttled back inside the five due to a penalty, and against the Cherry defense, they got on the board. This time, it was freshman Hayes Baum with the safety, making it 4-0.

Late in the quarter, the Silver defense came through with a score of their own as McBean picked off Fa'avae and scored from 57 yards out to give Silver a 7-4 lead.

 

The only score of the second quarter came off the legs of transfer Cameron Mathews, who dashed around and past the Silver squad for a 68-yard touchdown, showcasing his raw speed. The extra point made it 11-7 Cherry, and it stayed there until the second half.

That's when Silver's defense recorded a second pick-six, this time Nick Wheeler from 43 yards out, and it was 14-11. It looked like Cherry would answer, but Jahmir Torres snuffed out a trick play in the end zone with a dazzling, juggling interception.  McBean later picked off a second pass as Silver's defense recorded five on the day.

In the fourth quarter, with time running out and just over two minutes left, transfer kicker Nick Romero, who led the FCS at Wagner in field goal percentage a year ago, hit a 38-yard field goal to knot things up at 14-14, but Motschenbacher led Silver down the field, converting two third downs along the way to put Glasgow in position for the game-winner from 39-yards, and Glasgow hammered the winner home, giving Silver a 17-14 win.

Both McBean and Glasgow earned the daily Grit Hammer for top player of the day honors before the Lobos made their way after practice to a festive Louie Lane. There, the Lobos joined with the New Mexico United to sign autographs and meet the fans and take in a Low Rider car show, while the United put on a pet adoption event as a part of their "Pups on the Pitch" night before their game at 6:55 p.m. at Isotopes Park.

Members of The United's staff and front office were at the game, with owner Peter Trevasani interviewed at halftime on the video board. Head coach Jason Eck was also interviewed on the board at halftime by Robert Portnoy, and he also got interviews for the fans with Jaxton Eck, Jack Layne, Kaden Robnett, and Austin Brawley.

 

Between the Equipment Surplus sale, which started at 9 a.m., but had fans in line before 6 a.m., and the game with all of the in-game venue activations, including a special gift for fans over the age of 21 from Coach Eck, to the postgame Louie Lane tailgate, finishing off with the United game, it was easily the most festive and well-attended Spring Game that anyone could remember.

It certainly sets the stage for the 2026 season. Season tickets are on sale now, and fans can still order and get a RealOnes 26 package, which features a golden ticket for a Jason Eck Bobblehead, a bumper sticker, a fridge magnet, a hand-signed note from Coach Eck, and a RealOnes flag. The Lobo players even got the chance to present the RealOnes season ticket package in person to Valerie Flores, a super fan and season ticket holder who lives in Texas. Valerie, known on social media as LoyalLobo, is best known for ensuring that the New Mexico and Lobo flags are flown and seen at every ESPN College Football Game Day show.