ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — UNLV scored twice in the fourth quarter on two long plays to stun No. 23/25 New Mexico in front of a sold-out crowd and effectively end UNM’s CFP hopes, winning 21-17. The Rebels became the first team in over a year to score more than 20 points against UNM, since UNM did it in a 40-35 UNM win on November 1.
While the loss dampened UNM’s hopes of a CFP bid, the Lobos still control their own destiny, as the Lobos will host the Mountain West title game with a pair of wins. The Lobos
The Lobos led 14-7 at the break and 17-7 after Nicholas Romero connected on a 36-yard field goal with 5:36 to go in the third quarter. Things looked even better when Frankie Edwards III picked off Jackson Arnold after C.J. McBean got in his face and tipped the pass. UNM couldn’t do anything on that drive, and when Michael Kern’s punt sailed out of bounds at the Rebel 5-yard line, the capacity crowd of 37,440 was at full throttle.
However, UNLV went 95 yards for a touchdown. They escaped a safety when Arnold got off a tackle in the end zone and hit Matt Byrnes on third down for a diving catch, giving the Rebels a first down. Arnold then got a first down with his legs, converting a fourth-and-1 at the UNLV 30.
On third-and-9, he found Peyton Zachary for 22 yards, just over the outstretched arms of Tavian Combs; on the next play, he found Kayden McGee for a 43-yard touchdown, making it 17-14.
UNM went three-and-out, but the Rebels took the lead when Arnold scrambled for a 44-yard touchdown. The Lobos got a big kick return from Marco Beltran, Jr., and Scottre Humphrey pushed UNM into Rebel territory. Facing a fourth-and-3 at the UNLV 42, Fa’avae tried to hit Cade Keith, but the pass was just beyond his outstretched arm, and UNM turned the ball over on downs.
UNM got the ball back at its own three after Beltran was tackled at the 8-yard line on a punt return, but Fa’avae intercepted it, effectively ending any chance for a UNM comeback.
The Lobos led 14-0 after Humphrey scored from three yards out. A trick play set it up as Bailen George hit D.J. Darling for a 65-yard gain. UNM made it 14-0 in the second quarter when Kiefer Sibley rushed for 22 yards on a third-and-21, and then a hands-to-face penalty tacked on a few more. Fa’avae hit Keith for a 9-yard score.
The Rebels cut it to 14-7 before halftime when Arnold hit Keyan Burnett for a 16-yard touchdown. UNM had a chance for points before the half ended, but UNM’s drive ended at the 49-yard line.