A familiar face returned to the University Stadium sidelines on Saturday, Oct. 26, when the University of New Mexico Lobos football team took on the Utah State University Aggies.
This face was none other than former Lobo Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall, who was hired in December 2023, but after just one season with the Lobos he left and headed to Logan, Utah, to become the head coach of the Aggies.
Mendenhall’s departure left a bad taste in fans’ mouths, leading to this game being one of the most anticipated for the Lobos this year. The Lobos came in laser-focused and did not disappoint as they picked apart Utah State, sending Mendenhall’s Aggies back to Utah with a 33-14 loss, and fans home with the sweet feeling of revenge.
The Lobos had a dominant first half, clicking in all three phases of the game. Lobo running back D.J. McKinney got things started, as he took a punt 49 yards to the house for the first score of the game.
On the following Utah State drive, they moved their way down the field looking to tie it up, but an endzone shot by Aggies quarterback Bryson Barnes ended up being intercepted by Lobo safety CJ McBean. The Lobos drive following the pick bled into the second quarter and was capped off by McKinney as he found the endzone once again, this time on a one-yard run.
After back to back punts by both teams, the Aggies would get the ball close to their own goal line due to Lobo punter Daniel Hughes pinning them back. This terrible starting field position would hurt the Aggies, as just one play into the drive, Lobo linebacker Jaxton Eck was able to blow up a play in the backfield, resulting in a safety.
The Lobos would follow up the safety with a 41-yard field goal by kicker Luke Drzewiecki, giving the Lobos a 19-0 lead. Utah State would finally get on the board on their following possession as running back Miles Davis ran in a touchdown from 64 yards out.
The Lobo offense responded immediately following the Utah State touchdown as they moved their way down the field; the drive would end when Lobo quarterback Jack Layne found tight end Cade Keith for a 40-yard touchdown.
Keith had himself a game, being targeted seven times, catching all seven for 104 yards and a touchdown. The Lobos would enter the half leading the Aggies 26-7.
Lobo Head Coach Jason Eck credited the team’s gameplan for the offensive dominance in the first half.
“I thought we had a really good plan, we thought 12 personnel was a weakness for them, we kept them off balance and executed our plan fairly nicely,” Eck said.
In the second half of the game, the Lobos offensive production slowed down but the defense kept their composure and continued to dominate. No points were scored by either team in the third.
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Utah State did find the endzone in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead down to 12. On the ensuing Lobo drive, running back Damon Bankston would score the finishing blow on a 41-yard touchdown run, icing the game and giving the Lobos a 33-14 victory.
The Lobos now move to 5-3 on the year, 2-2 in conference play, and are one win away from being bowl game eligible. On Saturday, Nov. 1, the Lobos will head to Las Vegas, playing with house money as they take on the University of Nevada Las Vegas Rebels.
Rodney Prunty is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @rprunty05
