sports@dailylobo.com
@ThomasRomeroS
New Mexico’s sophomore quarterback Cole Gautsche had one of the best passing days of his career, but an untimely interception cost him and his team a chance at a comeback victory Saturday at Wyoming.
Trailing 24-31 with less than 10 minutes left in the game, Gautsche forced a pass down field and was intercepted by Cowboy junior safety Jesse Sampson, who returned it 6 yards to UNM’s 48-yard line. On the ensuing play, Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith ran down the right sideline untouched for a game-sealing 48-yard touchdown run, leading to the Cowboys’ 38-31 victory at War Memorial Stadium.
“The way they competed, the way they fought, the way they got themselves back in the game, I’m pretty proud (of the team),” UNM head coach Bob Davie said of the Lobos. “We kind of weathered the storm a little bit and we started to play as the first half went on. I leave here pretty encouraged.”
The pick highlighted an up-and-down day for Gautsche as he completed 11 of 21 passes for 153 yards and one score. He also ran for a team-high 113 yards on 14 carries with one touchdown.
Gautsche made some spectacular throws, including a 43-yard dart to a well-covered wide receiver Jeric Magnant. But he also missed open receivers, like when he threw short of a wide-open Andrew Aho to miss a touchdown chance at the end of the first half.
Gautsche was unable to finish the game after suffering a right-knee injury in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter.
Davie said the Lobos (2-4, 0-2 Mountain West Conference) threw the ball more against the Cowboys (4-2, 2-0 MWC) because they saw some match-ups that could be exploited.
“We threw it more because of the flow of the game, not coming in here because we wanted to throw it more,” Davie said. “Cole had a good game, but he missed some throws.”
The Cowboys built an early 21-0 lead thanks to two critical fumbles by the Lobos. The first fumble came on UNM’s opening possession when freshman wideout Teriyon Gipson fumbled at Wyoming’s 12-yard line as he tried to cut inside.
On the Lobos’ next possession, the ball was fumbled once again when Gautsche tried to make a pitch but was stripped while doing so. Wyoming recovered and drove down the field in a 13-play, 56-yard drive capped by Cowboy Shaun Wick’s second touchdown run for a 14-0 lead.
“It’s disappointing, but I’m still pretty encouraged,” Davie said. “We’re just not able to execute with the margin of error we have.”
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Early in the second quarter, Smith found a wide-open receiver Jalen Claiborne for a 26-yard touchdown and a commanding 21-0 lead over UNM. The Lobos would tack on a field goal at the end of the half to go into halftime down 21-3.
The Lobos’ two third-quarter touchdowns subsequently cut the Cowboys’ lead to 21-17. The first came on a 49-yard run by Gautsche on UNM’s first drive of the half. The second happened when UNM sophomore running back Jhurell Pressley ran it in from 8 yards out after the Lobos recovered a Wyoming fumble on a punt return.
Senior running back Kasey Carrier tied the game at 24 when, on fourth-and-6, he caught a Gautsche pass and eluded three Cowboy defenders up the left sideline for a 24-yard score.
Wyoming quickly answered with a 9-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that Smith ended with a 3-yard touchdown run for a 31-24 lead.
Smith continuously beat the Lobos for big plays and finished the day with 385 yards of total offense (247 passing, 138 rushing) and three touchdowns — two rushing, one passing. Wick also ran for 116 yards on 17 attempts with two scores.
“They’ve got a good scheme and they’ve been in that scheme a long time,” Davie said. “They’re up-tempo and they keep coming at you. I think they got a perfect quarterback for their scheme. The things that come up are those busts. We just don’t play smart until the end — we crack.”
Gautsche’s critical interception on the Lobos’ ensuing possession set up Smith’s game-ending 49-yard score for a 38-21 advantage.
Without Gautsche in the lineup the Lobos still had a shot at forcing overtime with David Vega stepping in at quarterback. The Lobos’ primary backup, junior Clayton Mitchem, was out with concussion-like symptoms because of a hit he took last week against New Mexico State.
Vega came into the game with UNM at Wyoming’s 38-yard line. On second-and-10 from the Cowboys’ 23-yard line, Vega threw a dime to wideout Marquis Bundy in the back of the endzone to make the score 38-31 Wyoming. The Lobos attempted an onside kick but failed to recover, giving the Cowboys a 38-31 win.
