The chili roaster will stay in Albuquerque.
New Mexico renewed their state bragging rights after running over the New Mexico State Aggies 42-18, behind — you guessed it — another dominant defensive performance, paired behind the legs of running backs Scottre Humphrey and Kiefer Sibley.
Saturday’s victory earned New Mexico their 76th all-time win over the Aggies in the Rio Grande Rivalry, while quarterback Toa Fa’avae earned himself the title of QB1 after the signal-caller took all but five offensive snaps.
“It’s always good to win on the road,” Head Coach Jason Eck said post-game. “Winning a rivalry game on the road is not easy. I like how we started fast. I really like how we ran the ball today.”
What wasn’t there to like about UNM’s ground game? Humphrey and Sibley combined for 167 yards and 3 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per carry. Quarterback James Laubstein found the end zone twice, both from inside the 10-yard line, and Fa’avae utilized his escape ability to create explosives once again. The Lobos grounded and pounded 253 of their 430 total yards.
Other than defensive end Brett Karhu catching a touchdown pass, nothing was more surprising than New Mexico’s approach at quarterback. Fa’avae outsnapped quarterback Luke Moga during last weekend’s defeat to Oklahoma. Fast-forward one week later, and Fa’avae was the only quarterback to take any meaningful snaps outside of Laubstein’s usual designed runs.
“I was hoping that giving Toa all of the reps in practice would help his development,” Eck said. “I thought he took a step forward, which is what we needed him to do.”
Fa’avae put together New Mexico’s first opening drive score of the season behind a 37-yard pass to Bailen George on third-and-nine.
New Mexico State Head Coach Tony Sanchez said they prepared for both Moga and Fa’avae ahead of this weekend’s matchup, but felt as if Fa’avae was — or would eventually be — the one to take over as the full-time starter.
Fa’avae completed 10 of 17 passes for 177 yards and 1 touchdown, while contributing an additional 57 yards on the ground. The passing game as a whole still leaves much to be desired, but with a true starter in place, Eck believes it will benefit the team’s progression offensively going forward.
“We thought we were doing a disservice to the team because I thought both quarterbacks needed to be better in the passing game,” Eck said regarding the quarterback situation. “Toa, I thought, added such an element running the football in that Oklahoma game…that’s what kinda tipped in his favor.”
Fa’avae took the majority of the reps with the first-team offense during practice last week. Eck emphasized post-game that they wanted to speed up Fa’avae’s development by doing so.
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“Toa’s our guy going forward,” Eck said.
New Mexico has forced multiple turnovers in eight of their last nine games dating back to last season. Safeties Tavian Combs and Austin Brawley both notched interceptions, while Jalen McIver’s third-quarter strip-sack essentially put the nail in the Aggies’ coffin. The Lobos scored 14 points off turnovers.
UNM currently holds a +14 turnover margin. They’ve committed zero turnovers on offense, and forced 14 takeaways between defense and special teams, good for the title of best in the nation.
TK King, NMSU’s best threat at wide receiver, was held to 24 yards on 4 catches, and his first grab didn’t come until the first play of the second half. Quarterback Trey Hedden was held in check too, delivering 106 yards on 7-of-19 passing and 2 interceptions. The Lobos red zone defense was stout as well, forcing two field goals inside the 10-yard line, one of which the Aggies missed from 27 yards.
Linebacker Jaxton Eck and defensive tackle Xavier Slayton lived in the backfield, combining for 13 total tackles, 2 sacks, and 4.5 tackles for loss. Cornerback Ormanie Arnold was also a standout in coverage. Consider it just another well-executed day from Defensive Coordinator Spence Nowinsky and the Mutts.
New Mexico’s 42-18 throttling of New Mexico State is the largest margin of victory in Las Cruces since defeating the Aggies 38-3 in 2004. The Lobos have now outscored the Aggies 130-78 in their last three matchups, all of which UNM has won.
The Lobos begin conference play next Saturday at home against the UTEP Miners (1-3) on Oct. 3 at 2:00 p.m.
Edge Garcia is a beat reporter for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @ByEdgeGarcia
