The Lobos couldn't overcome a late Navy drive that lasted almost an entire quarter's worth of play in their 34-19 loss at the Emerald Bowl on Thursday.
Navy (10-2) brought not only their "A" game but what seemed like the entire Naval Academy. Of the 30,563 people at SBC Park, fans decked in cherry and silver were vastly outnumbered by those wearing navy and gold.
The Navy offense sealed up the game with a devastating 26-play, 94-yard final drive that lasted more than 14 minutes. The drive began after the Navy defense stopped the Lobos on fourth down at the Navy one-yard line.
It started at the end of the third quarter with 1:31 left on the clock and continued until Navy kicker Geoff Blumenfeld hit a 22-yard field goal with 2:15 left in the fourth quarter.
Coach Rocky Long said he was amazed.
"I have never seen a fourteen-minute drive," he said.
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Navy also took away the Lobos' biggest weapon - running back DonTrell Moore. Moore was receiving a pitch from quarterback Kole McKamey and was upended by a Navy defender. The injury to Moore's knee kept him out of the rest of the game.
Navy quarterback Aaron Polanco was dominant on his way to the Most Valuable Player award as he rushed for three touchdowns and passed for one. He finished the game with 136 yards on 26 carries and was 3-for-6 passing for 101 yards.
Navy was able to keep UNM's defense off balance by running reverses and executing two halfback passes, both for huge first downs.
The Lobos started the game with a touchdown drive and dominated the Navy defense early.
The Lobos' first drive was capped by a touchdown from McKamey to tight end Logan Hall for a 17-yard score. The touchdown was the first of Hall's college career.
McKamey had all the highlights for the Lobos. He was able to elude defenders and scramble for huge gains. He became only the 11th player in Lobo history to rush for more than 100 yards and pass for more than 100 yards in the same game. He finished 15-for-24 for 207 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed 19 times for 138 yards and one touchdown.
Still, McKamey said he was not satisfied.
"A quarterback is judged on whether they win or lose," he said. "I don't look at how I did. I look at it as a team thing. We didn't get the win, so I'm not satisfied."
The Lobos' nine penalties for 85 yards also hurt their cause.
UNM had the chance to stop the long drive that took up the fourth quarter but was called offsides and gave Navy a fresh set of downs. The Lobos also had a long kickoff return by Kevin Walton called back by a holding call. The ball would have been at Navy's 48-yard line.
Turnovers ended the Lobos' chances. Navy scored 14 points off UNM's turnovers in the first half.
The Lobos finished the season 7-5 and 5-2 in the Mountain West Conference.
