by Daniel S. Archuleta
Daily Lobo
The UNM football team failed to hold a double-digit lead for the second time this season at home Friday night as it lost to the Colorado State Rams 35-25.
The Lobos gave up an 11-point lead to Brigham Young University in their Homecoming game on Oct. 8.
This time, UNM squandered a 13-point lead and proceeded to melt down on both sides of the ball.
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Head coach Rocky Long said he was not pleased with the Lobos' offensive performance.
"That's as bad as you can play on offense," he said. "You can't play any worse. That's as bad of offensive football as I've seen in a long time."
The Rams' defense held the Lobos' offense to 47 yards in the second half and only three first downs - all of which came in the fourth quarter.
The Rams caused four turnovers in the second half, all of which left their offense in scoring position.
When the Lobos went into halftime, they held the lead 25-12.
Colorado State's offense came out of the locker room at halftime with guns blazing.
Led by the No. 1 quarterback in the Mountain West Conference in pass efficiency, Justin Holland, the Rams were able to score 23 unanswered points.
Holland finished the game 20-of-26 for 312 yards and two touchdowns.
It was Holland's 15-yard pass to David Anderson in the fourth quarter that made the score 32-25 and put the Rams on top for good.
Rams' running back Kyle Bell rushed for 95 yards and had one touchdown that tied the game at 25.
Long said the defense hung in for a little longer than the offense in the second half.
"I thought the defense did a nice job in the third quarter," he said. "I thought they collapsed in the fourth quarter."
UNM's loss cast a dark shadow on what was a historic night for senior running back DonTrell Moore.
Moore became the sixth player in NCAA history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.
"Obviously I was excited, but we didn't get the win, so it's all irrelevant now," Moore said.
Moore rushed 19 times for 117 yards and two touchdowns.
Moore did have a costly fumble in the fourth quarter that led to the go-ahead touchdown for the Rams.
The entire UNM football team sat with a look of utter disbelief after the game. No one was able to explain what happened in the second half.
UNM wide receiver Hank Baskett went as far to say he would be famous if he could pinpoint the Lobos' collapse.
"If I could explain it, I would make a lot of money," Baskett said. "I would patent it and put my name on it. It's football. You never know what's going to happen."
Baskett caught five passes for 91 yards and one touchdown.
UNM quarterback Kole McKamey was also at a loss of words.
"I have no clue," is all McKamey said.
McKamey was 14-for-23 for 160 yards and one touchdown. He also had two interceptions that both came in the second half.
Linebacker Mike Mohoric led the Lobos with 12 tackles - eight of those being solo - and two sacks.
Mohoric praised the Rams for being able to come back.
"You've got to give your hats off to Colorado State," he said. "They did what they had to do to win."
