The BYU Cougars said goodbye to its seniors and the Mountain West Conference on Saturday by dismantling the UNM football team 40-7.
Head coach Mike Locksley said another loss hasn’t made it easier for the players or coaching staff.
“You never go into a game expecting to lose,” he said. “It was a good BYU team, and you can’t turn over the ball two times in your first two offensive possessions. I thought our freshman quarterback (Stump Godfrey) played like a freshman quarterback.”
Now 1-10 overall, the Lobos will close their season Saturday at home against nationally ranked TCU.
Godfrey, who made his first start two weeks ago in a victory against Wyoming, threw the first interception of his career in the game’s opening possession.
BYU’s Cody Hoffman later intercepted Godfrey’s pass in the end zone with 14:10 left in the game. Hoffman also caught two touchdown passes.
“It was a snowball effect,” Locksley said. “We prepare Stump for what we expect to see. Obviously, when you have a freshman, every team is going to come after you with as much pressure as they possibly can to unnerve a young quarterback. But as the game progresses, he usually settles down because we’re able to get adjusted.”
On the defensive side of the ball, BYU quarterback Jake Heaps tore the Lobos up. Heaps threw two touchdowns but received help from the Cougars’ running game.
BYU became the fourth straight UNM opponent to run for more than 200 yards.
Running backs Joshua Quezada and JJ Di Luigi shared carries, but Quezada did the most damage. He ran for 107 yards and one touchdown.
“I thought again we continued to struggle to stop the run on defense,” Locksley said. “Once again, all of those things played a major role in that.”
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