by Daniel S. Archuleta
Daily Lobo
The Air Force Academy spoiled Senior Day for the UNM football team Saturday.
The Falcons beat the Lobos 42-24 in UNM's last game of the season, ruining the last game at University Stadium for 21 seniors.
The Lobos finished the year 2-3 at home and 4-2 on the road.
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Head coach Rocky Long said his team did not play up to its potential.
"We played poorly and we didn't deserve to win," he said. "If you can't play better than that, you're not going to win."
A sure bowl bid was snatched from the Lobos, who are still bowl eligible but need a little help from a couple of Big 12 teams to assure a fourth-straight bowl game.
UNM needs Kansas and Texas A&M to lose to possibly earn a trip to the Fort Worth Bowl on Dec. 23.
If both Big 12 teams lose, neither would be bowl eligible and one of the Big 12 conferences bowl tie-in games would open up for the Lobos to compete in.
Air Force flipped the script on the Lobos.
Despite having the worst defense in the Mountain West Conference, the Falcons held the Lobos to 367 total yards.
UNM received a valiant effort from senior running back DonTrell Moore, who had 143 yards on 28 carries and one touchdown.
The Lobos' offense suffered a blow as starting quarterback Chris Nelson was injured while running the ball.
Sophomore Bryan Clampitt replaced Nelson and saw the first action of his career.
Although it was the first time he took a snap in a game, Clampitt said the Lobos still should have won.
"I feel like we had every opportunity in the world to come back and win the game," he said. "We just didn't get it done today."
Clampitt finished the day 8-of-12 for 107 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Long said the Falcons' offense changed its formation and also ran a no-huddle offense that forced the Lobos' blitz scheme to be determined before the snap.
The Lobos' defense allowed 464 yards of offense from Air Force.
Quarterback Shaun Carney ran the show for the Falcons through the air and on the ground.
He was 11-of-14 for 186 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed 19 times for 94 yards and one touchdown.
Senior linebacker Mike Mohoric had a career day with 20 tackles, but it wasn't enough to stop the Falcons' triple-option offense.
"I played against them for four years," he said. "I knew what to expect. It wasn't any surprise."
Mohoric said this loss hurts the worst.
"You hate possibly ending your career like this," he said.
