The freshman quarterback proved that by engineering the first game-winning drive of his career against in-state rival New Mexico State in Las Cruces.
Down 35-31 with 4:41 left in the game, Jordan drove the Lobos 65 yards in just seven plays for the game-clinching score. He finished the drive off with a 5-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Reece White with just 27 seconds remaining to give UNM a 38-35 victory over NMSU at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
“I just looked at the offense and said, ‘We have to get the job done. It’s for the state. It’s not just for our program, it’s not just for our University, it’s for our whole state to prove who has the best football team,’” Jordan said.
NMSU (2-2) did manage to drive to midfield, but ran out of time before it could attempt a long field goal or a Hail Mary pass.
UNM head coach Bob Davie said he was nervous when the Aggies still had 27 seconds left to win or tie the game.
“(It) means we were hanging off the cliff and maybe we climbed up enough to live another week to get better,” he said. “The great thing about winning one is that you have the chance to go win two. Obviously, it was going to be an uphill fight if we didn’t win this game.”
Davie had said all week that Jordan and senior backup quarterback Clayton Mitchem would see playing time because the health of junior starting signal-caller Cole Gautsche was questionable all week.
Gautsche ended up starting the game but didn’t play in the second half because he almost reaggravated his right hamstring, Davie said.
Mitchem began the second half but left early in the third quarter after taking a hit to the lower body. Jordan replaced Mitchem and played out the fourth quarter. Jordan completed all three of his passes for 16 yards and one score. He added 34 rushing yards on eight attempts.
“We have a lot of confidence (in Jordan). Our coaches talk about him. I talk about him,” senior running back Crusoe Gongbay said. “He comes in any time his name is called and he performs. He’s a great player.”
In the first half, the Lobos (1-2) pulled out a couple of tricks against their longtime rival.
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Tied 7-7 early in the second quarter, UNM lined up for a 40-yard field goal. Instead, redshirt junior holder Quinton McCown took the snap and ran 27-yards untouched for a touchdown, giving the Lobos a 14-7 lead.
NMSU answered on its next possession with a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tyler Rogers to wide receiver Joseph Matthews in the corner of the end zone, tying the game at 14.
The Lobos retook the lead when Gautsche pitched the ball to junior running back David Anaya, who then threw it 17 yards to a wide open Jeric Magnant in the end zone for a 21-14 halftime advantage.
“As much as the last drive, they had 48 plays on us in the first half. I don’t know what they ended up with in the second half, but they put the hammer down. They were going with a fast tempo,” Davie said.
The second half was a back-and-forth affair with four lead changes.
The Aggies took their first lead of the game after running back Xavier Hall scored from 17 yards out for a 28-24 lead in the third quarter.
After Gongbay rushed for a 17-yard touchdown to give UNM a 31-28 lead, NMSU retook the advantage with a 10-yard score to Joshua Bowen. The wide receiver jumped over redshirt freshman cornerback Markel Byrd for the touchdown for a 35-31 lead with 4:47 left in the fourth.
On the following possession Jordan threw the game-winning pass to White for the final score of 38-35.
UNM managed 499 yards to total offense, 432 of which came on the ground. Gongbay ran for a career-high 134 yards on 15 carries with one score. Redshirt junior running back Jhurell Pressley had five attempts for 78 yards and a score.
The Aggies had 507 total yards of offense. Rogers completed 32 of 47 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns.
“First of all, I can say it’s good for our state that there are two improving football programs in our state right now,” Davie said. “It’s a lot easier to say that after you come out of this game for a win. I have a lot of respect for them.”
Thomas Romero-Salas is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ThomasRomeroS.
