ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Toa Fa’avae had a coming-out party, and UNM scored in all three phases, including on a blocked punt, UNM’s first in 17 years, as the Lobos dominated UTEP from start to finish in a 51-7 thrashing in the Mountain West opener for both teams.
The win was UNM’s 10th straight at home, tying for the second-longest home winning streak in school history and matching the mark set 91 years ago.
Both teams opened the game by missing on fourth-down opportunities at midfield. For UNM, which got the ball first, James Laubstein was stopped just short on a fourth-and-2. UTEP took the ball and looked to have a 45-yard touchdown pass on a trick play, but the Miners were whistled for illegal touching as Judah Ezinwa was covered up on the line.
From there it was all UNM as the Lobos rolled to their largest Mountain West margin of victory since 2008. Massiah Mingo caught a pass for a first down on the ensuing drive in his return from injury, and on third-and-1, Laubstein got the first down and more, bulling his way in for a 14-yard touchdown.
After a 71-yard punt by UTEP’s Brady Braun, UNM again went right down the field, this time covering 82 yards in 10 plays. Fa’avae hit DJ Darling for a 36-yard gain, then finished it with a 12-yard pass to Cade Keith in the end zone on the first play of the second quarter for a 14-0 lead.
Ormaine Arnold picked off E.J. Colson on the next drive, UNM’s first takeaway of the day, and the Lobos turned it into a touchdown when, on third-and-1, he hit Bailen George for a 52-yard touchdown to make it 21-0.
UNM had a chance for more points, but Fa’avae threw a red zone pick, the first turnover of the season against UNM. Up 21-0 at the break, UNM tried a surprise onside kick, but the Miners recovered. Backup quarterback Raymond Moore III came in and was picked off by Austin Brawley, who weaved his way for a 65-yard touchdown to make it 28-0. On the next drive, Brawley blocked a Braun punt, and it bounced out of the end zone to make it 30-0. UNM has entered the game with the nation's longest streak of consecutive games without a blocked punt, lasting exactly 200 games and 6,182 days.
After the blocked punt, Fa’avae and George hooked up again, this time from 10 yards out for another touchdown to make it 37-0. Two plays into the fourth quarter, after a Jahmir Torres interception, Scottre Humphrey bulldozed in from a yard out to make it 44-0. UTEP broke up UNM’s shutout attempt as Moore broke containment for an 86-yard touchdown run, the longest ever by a UTEP quarterback.
The Lobos answered quickly when Cameron Mathews scored from 54 yards out to take a 51-7 lead. On the next drive, Mercury Swaim sacked Moore, and Jake Devos recovered, which UNM converted into a short Grant Glasgow field goal. UNM’s final points came when Brett Karhu sacked Braeson Leon, and Devos scooped up his second fumble recovery of the game, running it back 53 yards to make it 61-7.