New Mexico has been competitive for almost every game this season but has failed to beat quality teams and is now 3-7 on the year, 1-5 Mountain West. With its 28-21 loss to Utah State on Saturday, the Lobos are ineligible for a bowl game, a marker of success for most programs, for the seventh straight season.
UNM is showing improvement though. The Lobos lost by an average of 18.6 points per game in 2012 and 19.6 points per game in 2013. This season their average margin of defeat has dropped to just 12.1 points per loss.
Still, through 10 games this year, the Lobos are 0-6 against teams with a .500 record or better. The last time the Lobos beat an opponent that finished with a winning record was in 2008 when they beat Arizona 36-28.
However, Davie said the rebuilding process is on schedule.
“Right now is probably not a good time to ask,” he said. “I’m extremely frustrated — as all of us are — that we haven’t been able to win more games. (But) I’m proud of how we’ve overcome some obstacles and (how) we continue to compete.”
UNM’s offense is one of the highlights of the team’s improvement. Take for example last year’s 45-10 loss to Utah State. In that game, UNM rushed for a season-low 160 yards and were dominated for the entire game.
This season the Lobos never trailed by more than 14 points and ran for 246 rushing yards, the most yards Utah State has allowed this season.
“We’re right there. Every game we’re right there. It’s just one mental error and the other team capitalizes,” quarterback Lamar Jordan said. “It’s going to come sooner than people expect it to be. We’re working hard and we’re working our butts off on the field. Our time is coming and I can’t wait.”
UNM’s defense is still an area of concern. Time and time again the Lobos have allowed big plays to let other teams get right back into the game.
This past weekend against Utah State, UNM allowed runs of 59, 47, 48 and 26 yards. The Lobos also allowed a 30 yard pass. UNM ranks 116th in total defense, allowing 498 yards per game.
“Obviously, the first thing is on defense. We all see it. We have to play defense to win here,” Davie said.
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Under Davie, UNM has gone 10-25 and 3-19 in Mountain West play. The four years before Davie arrived, the Lobos went 7-41 and 5-27 in conference, including three straight 1-11 seasons.
Injury Report
Running back Jhurell Pressley (ankle) should be able to play more against Colorado State on Saturday, Davie said Tuesday.
Pressley rushed the ball on the first play of the game against Utah State but didn’t play another snap after that.
Defensive end Randy Williams and cornerback Devonta Tabannah were both out last week with concussion symptoms but are expected to play this weekend.
Cornerback Isaiah Brown is expected to be out with a hamstring. Defensive tackle Cole Juarez is out with a knee. Wide receiver Carlos Wiggins is still dealing with an ankle issue that has kept him out the last three games. Wiggins will likely miss the game.
Thomas Romero-Salas is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ThomasRomeroS.
