It takes more than one big win to change a team’s perception. Even after a big upset of Utah State last weekend, New Mexico is still considered a heavy underdog at Boise State on Saturday. The Broncos are a 30-point favorites over the Lobos in Boise, Idaho.
However unlikely it seemed at the beginning of the season, New Mexico is just three wins away from earning a spot in the Mountain West Championship game. All UNM has to do is win its remaining three games of the season against Boise State, Colorado State and Air Force – the latter two are at home – to secure a spot. The Broncos are 30-point favorites over the Lobos when the teams match up this Saturday in Boise, Idaho.
Sometimes it takes more than skill to garner a victory. New Mexico’s defense kept UNM in Saturday’s game against Utah State, but Head Coach Bob Davie said the Lobos were due for some good fortune during the squad’s 14-13 victory. The game was by no means a fluke, Davie said. But if it weren’t for some favorable bounces, a missed field goal and timely penalties, things could have been different for New Mexico late in the contest.
New Mexico’s defense has finally reached its potential. After weeks of inconsistent play, the Lobos’ defense shut down Utah State in a 14-13 win at University Stadium on Saturday. UNM made several big plays and held USU to just 294 total yards of offense. USU had a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter, but kicker Brock Warren missed a 41-yard field goal to give UNM (5-4, 3-2 Mountain West) the win.
For the first time in nearly a decade, New Mexico has a legitimate shot at making a bowl game. The Lobos head into the final four games of the season with a 4-4 (2-2 Mountain West) record, meaning they’re just two wins away from bowl eligibility.
New Mexico will rely on both of its main quarterbacks down the stretch. Head coach Bob Davie has decided that both Lamar Jordan and Austin Apodaca will split playing time with just four games remaining on the schedule. The Lobos' next opponent is Utah State, who they play this Saturday at University Stadium.
After weeks of internal debate, head coach Bob Davie finally decided to start quarterback Austin Apodaca. The move worked out early as New Mexico took a 14-7 lead midway through the first quarter against San Jose State after a 4-yard score by tailback Diquon Woodhouse. However, UNM’s lead didn’t last long, as SJSU outscored the Lobos 24-7 for the rest of the game, resulting in a 31-21 loss in San Jose, California on Saturday.
New Mexico finally has a chance to change the way it's perceived. For years, ever since the Rocky Long era, the Lobos have been seen as underdogs by their competition. That will likely remain true this year, with only five games left in the season, but UNM has a chance to change that with a win or two.
The Mountain West announced on Monday wide receiver Carlos Wiggins received MW Special Teams Player of the Week recognition. Wiggins ran a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in UNM’s 28-27 comeback victory over Hawaii on Saturday. It's Wiggins' first such honor of his career.
Quarterback Austin Apodaca proved he’s ready for any situation. After sitting on the bench the entire game, Apodaca was inserted to construct an 80-yard drive with just 2:14 left in the game and trailing Hawaii 27-21. The Lobos had the opportunity to win the game after Hawaii missed a short field goal attempt that would have sealed the victory. Apodaca came through when he hit wide receiver Dameon Gamblin for a 28-yard touchdown off a double-move for a 28-27 win over Hawaii at University Stadium on Saturday. The quarterback finished the drive 6 of 10 for 70 yards.
For the second consecutive home game, New Mexico’s defense stepped up in the second half, eventually earning the team a late victory. Head coach Bob Davie said the game was a lot like the New Mexico State game on Oct. 3, where the Lobos didn’t come out with enough fire in the first 30 minutes of play.
At the halfway point of the season, New Mexico is still trying to work out the kinks in its offense. UNM's’ triple-option attack hasn’t been as precise as it has in the past. Good teams have figured out how to snuff out the Lobos' threat on the edge and stop them from gaining yards up the middle.
Head coach Bob Davie announced Wednesday night the suspensions of defensive backs Isaiah Brown and Markel Bryd for violating the team’s class attendance policy. Both will miss Saturday’s game against Hawaii.
New Mexico had its fair share of chances at Nevada. However, the Lobos weren’t able to take advantage of those opportunities in a 35-17 loss to the Wolf Pack in Reno, Nevada on Saturday. The missed opportunity that ended any chance of a Lobo comeback came when wide receiver Dameon Gamblin fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line as he was fighting for a touchdown. Nevada recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback, making the score 28-17 going into the fourth quarter.
New Mexico’s run defense had no answer for Nevada’s pistol offense, allowing the Wolf Pack to rush for 351 yards in a 35-17 rout in Reno, Nevada on Saturday.
It’s time for New Mexico to see if it can handle the rest of the Mountain West. The Lobos are already 1-0 in the conference after winning 38-28 at Wyoming two weeks ago. UNM heads into the rest of the Mountain West slate with a two-game winning streak, something it hasn’t done in a single season since 2012.
After a shaky start, New Mexico’s defense shut down NMSU in the second half, propelling the Lobos to a 38-29 victory. Larry Rose III was on pace for a career night. The Aggies running back showcased his big play ability in the first half on three separate touchdown runs of over 50 yards. “I have to give the credit to the O-line up front: All I had to do was run straight,” Rose III said. “They opened holes up, and I just ran. I give all the credit to them. The first half was fun, it was amazing.
It didn’t look promising for New Mexico at the start of the second half. The Lobos were trailing in-state rival New Mexico State 26-14, and wide receiver Carlos Wiggins fumbled the opening kickoff, giving the Aggies prime field position. However, UNM rallied and dominated the second half against NMSU, outscoring the Aggies 24-3 for a 38-29 victory at University Stadium, the team's fourth-straight win in the Rio Grande Rivalry.
Winning streaks have been few and far between for New Mexico football. The Lobos (2-2) have won a maximum of just two games in a row twice since head coach Bob Davie took over the program in 2012. UNM will have a chance to add a third two-game winning streak this Saturday when it hosts in-state rival New Mexico State at University Stadium.
Leadership, poise, charisma and a positive attitude are all desirable traits when recruiting a student-athlete. Marcus “Goodie” Goodloe brought these traits to the University of New Mexico football field along with a calling to facilitate change in the community. Goodloe, a product of South Central Los Angeles, said he chose to attend UNM in the early 1990s for several of reasons: he would get to see playing time right away for a struggling program, he would get to experience a new culture with plenty of sunshine, and he would get a fresh start to tackle issues dear to him.
Solutions by The State News
