With an opportunity to advance to their first Mountain West title game in school history, the University of New Mexico Lobos had their largest November home crowd since 2008, with over 30,000 fans in attendance — a game they won’t forget.
On Friday, Nov. 28, UNM pulled off a 23-17 win over the San Diego State University Aztecs to advance to 9-3 overall, and 6-2 in conference play.
From explosive touchdowns, turnovers and big defensive stops, the game had a little bit of everything in it.
Despite being tied for the best record in the conference, the Lobos will not be playing in the conference championship. The decision was made by computer metrics since not every team in the four way tie played each other. The Boise State University Broncos will host the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Rebels on Dec. 5 for the conference championship, the third consecutive meeting of the two teams.
Lobo quarterback Jack Layne and offense started the game at their own 25-yard line and were able to move the ball consistently through the air and on the ground. The drive eventually stalled after a failed trick-play attempt, resulting in an 11-yard loss. To cap off the drive, kicker Luke Drzewiecki nailed a 37-yard field goal attempt to put the Lobos up 3-0. The defense started the game on a heater, forcing a three-and-out on their opening possession, followed by a forced fumble by safety Tavian Combs on the Aztecs’ second drive of the game.
This capped off an encouraging first quarter of play for the Lobos, who totaled 89 yards, 66 of them being produced by the arm of Jack Layne and his pass catchers. Following the turnover forced by the defense, the Lobos’ offense took advantage of the opportunity by going on a five-play, 65-yard drive capped off by a fourth down quarterback keeper by James Laubstein, who went 40-yards for the score. Laubstein’s legs have been an effective piece in the run game for the offensive as of late.
The Aztecs fought back against an early game deficit with a heavy ground and pound attack, marching down the field and cutting the lead to 10-7 after a six-play, 55-yard drive capped off by a one-yard rushing touchdown by running back Lucky Sutton.
The Lobo offense, on the other hand, had quieted down after their early touchdown drive. Their following next two possessions would both result in three-and-outs. San Diego State’s defense had regained some momentum after giving up 10 points to start the half. With 5:13 left in quarter two, the Aztec’s offense kept their foot on the gas. An 8-play, 70-yard drive was capped off by a 46-yard touchdown strike from Aztec quarterback Jayden Denegal to wide receiver Donovan Brown, who got behind the defense on a go ball to give the Aztecs a 14-10 lead which remained going into the half.
The Lobos accumulated 147 total yards in the first half, with 73 yards on the ground and 74 through the air. The offense was one of six on third down, and the defense began to leak against the run, giving up 69 in the second quarter alone — two major factors in why the Lobos were facing a first half deficit.
The Lobo’s defense came out strong by forcing an Aztecs’ opening drive punt to start the second half of play. On the ensuing drive, Lobo head coach Jason Eck pulled a trick out of his bag on fourth-and-one from their own 46-yard line, giving running back D.J. McKinney an end-around hand-off in ‘tush push’ formation that went 54-yards for a touchdown.
San Diego State’s rushing attack was slowly starting to overwhelm the Lobos’ front seven late in the third quarter. The Aztecs tacked on another field goal to tie the game at 17 apiece before the start of the fourth quarter.
An issue the Lobo offense could not seem to avoid was San Diego State’s front sevens’ ability to get sacks. The Aztecs finished with seven sacks on the day. They were drive killers, whether it was Layne holding the ball too long, or the offensive line not holding up their end, an advantage that aided San Diego State, and hurt New Mexico mightily throughout the entire game.
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An early fourth quarter drive by the Aztecs resulted in a punt after defensive end Brett Karhu took over, recording a sack and a big-time tackle for a loss which took the Aztecs out of field goal range. The Lobos could not take advantage, going three and out and punting the ball right back to San Diego State on the ensuing drive.
With 5 minutes left in the fourth quarter, both teams tied at 17, and the Lobos would go three and out for the fifth time in the ball game, giving the Aztecs one last shot to potentially end the game. On third and six with 49 seconds to go, Lobo safety Austin Brawley got home for a sack to take the Aztecs out of field goal range and eventually send the game to overtime.
On the first play of overtime, Brawley made another big-time play, picking off Denegal to set up the Lobos with a prime opportunity to win the ball game, but just three plays into the drive, Laubstein fumbled the ball inside the five-yard line. This would start the second period of overtime.
The Aztecs elected to play defense to start the second overtime period, but that would end up backfiring. The Lobos would provide a one-play, 25-yard touchdown by tight end Cade Keith, and take a 23-17 lead after a failed two point attempt.
With the game on the line, the Lobo defense prevailed behind one of the most hostile crowds University Stadium has seen in a long time. Two big-time sacks by defensive end Keyshawn James-Newby and defensive end Darren Agu on second and third down eventually forced one last heave for the Aztecs on fourth down from the 30 yard-line that would fall incomplete.
“Very proud of our team, credit to the defense for hanging in there,” Eck said,
The Lobos officially finished the season 6-0 at home for the first time since 1938, a massive accomplishment by Eck and the Lobo football program. It was a true signature season for the Lobo faithful and city of Albuquerque and a strong finish to the season, winning six straight games.
Edge Garcia is a freelance reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @DailyLobo
