Football - The Daily Lobo

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Competitive Lobos still struggle to clinch wins

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 17

New Mexico is starting to gain a reputation for being competitive, but that reputation isn’t backed up by many wins this season. That didn’t change Saturday against Utah State in Logan, Utah. UNM found itself back in the game when redshirt freshman quarterback Lamar Jordan hit wide senior receiver Tyler Duncan for a 59-yard touchdown, cutting Utah State’s lead to just 28-21 with 4:17 left in the game.

New Mexico head coach Bob Davie, right, speaks with defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove during the game against Boise State on Saturday. The Lobos must win its remaining three games in order to be bowl eligible.

Sports

Football: Team needs every win for shot at the bowl

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 14

New Mexico’s bowl game chances are slowly slipping away. The Lobos sit at 3-6 (1-4 Mountain West) on the season and must win its remaining three games in order to be bowl eligible for the first time in seven years. The last time UNM made a bowl game was in 2007 when it won the New Mexico Bowl 23-0 over Nevada. First, UNM must win at Utah State this Saturday in Logan, Utah. The Aggies are 7-3 (4-1 Mountain West) on the year despite losing their top three quarterbacks this season. Utah State is an 18-point favorite over UNM.

Sports

UNM falls short at home in 60-49 shootout

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 10

One more yard was all New Mexico needed to extend Saturday’s game. For the first time in the game, UNM found itself trailing Boise State 53-49. The Lobos were able to drive the ball to midfield on their next possession, but faced a critical fourth-and-2 situation at their own 48-yard line with 4:11 remaining. After a timeout, redshirt freshman quarterback Lamar Jordan tried to dive for the first down by keeping the ball on an option run. At first the referees signaled that Jordan had gained enough for a new set of downs. However, the play was reviewed and subsequently overturned as the replay official saw Jordan’s elbow hit the turf before he made it to the first-down marker.

New Mexico quarterback Lamar Jordan (13) attempts to avoid being tackled by a San Diego State defenseman during the Oct. 10 game. The Lobos host Boise State Saturday at 5 p.m.

Sports

Lobos start strong but stall in second half

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 7

New Mexico hasn’t had much of a home field advantage this season. The Lobos are 0-4 at home this season and have lost by an average of 15 points per game.

New Mexico redshirt freshman quarterback Lamar Jordan (13) celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the Sept. 6 game against Arizona State. Jordan will replace junior quarterback Cole Gautsche, who may miss the rest of the season with a significant foot injury, as New Mexico’s starting quarterback.

Sports

Freshman Jordan on deck after Gautsche's injury

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 5

The injury bug has once again infected Cole Gautsche. New Mexico’s starting quarterback may miss the rest of the season with a significant foot injury, head coach Bob Davie announced on Monday.

Sports

Lobos quell Rebels in close-fought contest

Thomas Romero-Salas | November 3

It took one play and one drive for New Mexico to escape UNLV with a 31-28 victory. UNM had just blown a 17-point lead in the third quarter when cornerback Isiah Brown took the field in the fourth quarter against UNLV.

Three New Mexico defensive linemen tackle San Diego State running back Donnel Pumphrey during the Oct. 10 game. The Lobos, who have struggled to win Mountain West games in recent years, resumes conference play Saturday at UNLV.

Sports

MW games a tough task for Lobos

Thomas Romero-Salas | October 31

The Mountain West has proven to be a tough run for New Mexico during Bob Davie’s tenure. In 19 games against the conference, UNM is 2-17 (.105 winning percentage), including 0-3 this season, and has been outscored by an average of eight points per game. UNM has been outscored by 169 points in its 17 losses.

UNM quarterback Cole Gautsche (8) attempts to rush past the San Diego State Aztecs at University Stadium on Friday, Oct. 10. Gautsche and Lamar Jordan, another Lobo quarterback, have spent the last three games splitting playing time on the field.

Sports

Football games crippled by inconsistency

Thomas Romero-Salas | October 22

Don’t count on New Mexico’s quarterback situation changing much after its bye week.Signal-callers Cole Gautsche and Lamar Jordan have split most of the playing time the past three games and that trend will likely continue. Gautsche has started all three contests but has been pulled for Jordan at some point during each game.

Sports

Football: Last -minute plays not enough to top Falcons

Thomas Romero-Salas | October 20

Lamar Jordan didn’t display any late-game magic against Air Force. The freshman quarterback led New Mexico on its final three drives, but came away with zero points as the Lobos lost 35-31 to the Falcons in Colorado Springs on Saturday.UNM’s last three possessions amounted to just 26 yards on 11 plays.

New Mexico defensive back Jadon Boatright hangs his head after the game against San Diego State at University Stadium on Friday. The Lobos fell 24-14 to the Aztecs.

Sports

Lobos fall to Aztecs after putting up a fight

Thomas Romero-Salas | October 13

Redshirt freshman quarterback Lamar Jordan tried to reignite New Mexico’s offense when he scrambled to his right and found sophomore halfback Dameon Gamblin downfield for a 20-yard gain and a new set of downs. Down 24-14 in the fourth quarter, it finally looked like the Lobos had some life with fewer than nine minutes to play.One problem: A holding penalty was called on the play, so instead of a 1st down, UNM faced 2nd and 22 from its 8-yard line.It was that kind of night. UNM’s offense couldn’t get anything going; the Lobos gained just 263 total yards of offense in a 24-14 loss to San Diego State at University Stadium on Friday night.

Sports

Football: Big runs frustrate Lobo defense

Liam Cary-Eaves | October 13

llowing big plays on the ground plagued New Mexico’s defense in the 24-14 loss to San Diego State on Friday night. Each SDSU touchdown came off of a run of 25 yards or more. Head coach Bob Davie said allowing the big runs are exhausting to his team.“It really takes the wind out of everybody’s sails,” Davie said. “It takes you to your knees, giving up big plays like that. It really does.”

New Mexico running back Crusoe Gongbay charges down the field on Sept. 26 during the Fresno State game. Gongbay suffered a severe foot injury against UTSA and might be out for the rest of the season.

Sports

After victory, Davie warns against overconfidence

Thomas Romero-Salas | October 8

Apparently Bob Davie is a big believer in momentum.The head coach said New Mexico’s 21-9 win over UTSA was one of the biggest wins for the program since he took over.

Sports

Football: Strong second half wins against UTSA

Thomas Romero-Salas | October 6

Bob Davie didn’t mince words when speaking to his team at halftime, which was down 3-0 to the University of Texas San Antonio. “I said, ‘Let’s stop all this (talk of adjustments),’” the head coach said. “I said, ‘let’s look each kid in the eye and ask, “Do you really believe you can win this game?’“We challenged them. We said ‘Enough. Enough. We are either going to step up and win this game, or we are going to be what we are and we are never going to turn this program around.’”

New Mexico defensive back Jadon Boatright (17) confronts Fresno State's wide receiver Josh Harper (3) during Friday’s game. The Bulldogs dominated the Lobos in both total offensive plays and yards, 593 total yards to the Lobos’ 382 total yards.

Sports

Lobos fighting fast offenses

Thomas Romero-Salas | October 1

Up-tempo, no-huddle offenses have become the norm in college football. New Mexico knows that as well as any other team after facing three straight teams (Arizona State, New Mexico State and Fresno State) who utilize up-tempo offenses to their advantage.

News

Homecoming incoming

Staff Report | September 25

Due to the ongoing construction on Avenida Cesar Chavez Avenue, UNM fans attending Friday night’s football game against Fresno State are advised to take different routes to University Stadium.UNM’s T Lot, located on University and Lomas Boulevards, will be used for shuttle transportation, according to a release from the Athletics Department.

Sports

Freshman quarterback seals victory over Aggies

Thomas Romero-Salas | September 22

Confidence isn’t something Lamar Jordan lacks. The freshmen quarterback proved that by engineering the first game-winning drive of his career against in-state rival New Mexico State in Las Cruces.

UNM quarterback Lamar Jordan (13) drives through the Aggies’ defensive line leading to a UNM fourth-quarter comeback, the first of Jordan’s career, during the Rio Grande Rivalry game against NMSU Saturday night at Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces.

Sports

Lobos use four passers in rivalry victory

Liam Cary-Eaves | September 22

New Mexico defeated in-state rival New Mexico State in a wild and unconventional game that featured four different passers. In the first half, UNM head coach Bob Davie added a little trickery to UNM’s normal run-heavy offense that included a 27-yard fake field goal run and an 18-yard halfback toss, both resulting in touchdowns.Two separate players threw touchdown passes. However, the first two quarterbacks of the game did not assist in the touchdowns. Davie said the assurance to run the offense successfully allowed him to put some tweaks in his team’s play call.

New Mexico redshirt freshman quarterback Lamar Jordan attempts to rush toward the end field during the Lobo football game against Arizona State at University Stadium on Saturday night. The Lobos lost 23-58.

Sports

Football: Despite fumbles, new quarterback promising

Liam Cary-Eaves | September 7

A new offensive dynamic presented itself during New Mexico’s 58-23 loss to No. 17 Arizona State. Redshirt freshman Lamar Jordan not only fit well with UNM’s run-heavy offensive scheme, but the quarterback showed poise on several occasions when dropping back to pass. “Lamar Jordan came in for the first time playing and at least showed you guys a little bit about what we’ve seen from him,” head coach Bob Davie said. “He’s got four years of football left. I think he can be a good player.”

New Mexico linebacker Daquan Baker glances at the scoreboard towards the end of the New Mexico vs. Arizona State game on Sept. 6. The Lobos lost to the No. 17 Sun Devils 58-23.

Sports

Talent on the field not enough to stop ASU

Thomas Romero-Salas | September 7

Missed assignments and tackles will always happen in football. However, under head coach Bob Davie, New Mexico has failed game after game to execute its defensive tasks and the key fundamentals that have led to big plays for opposing offenses. That was the case for UNM’s defense once again in a lopsided 58-23 loss to No. 17 Arizona State at University Stadium Saturday night.

The UNM defense lines up against UTEP during the season opening game at University Stadium on Saturday night. The Lobos will host No. 17 Arizona State at 5 p.m. Saturday

Sports

Lobos could make football history

Thomas Romero-Salas | September 4

Upsets don’t occur too often in Lobo Land. UNM will not only be facing 17th ranked Arizona State on Saturday, it’ll be trying to beat history as well. Historically, the Lobos have been putrid against the AP Top 25 with just a 5-50 overall record.