ALBUQUERQUE, NM — The New Mexico Lobos (7-3, 4-2) defeated the Colorado State Rams (2-8, 1-5) at University Stadium to secure their first winning football season since 2016, and their first win against the Rams since 2009. The final: UNM 20, CSU 17.
“Credit to Colorado State, I think Coach Summers really did a good job of having those guys ready to play,” UNM head coach Jason Eck said. “I thought they did a great job of creating some turnovers.”
New Mexico Football: Lobos Defeat Rams in Week 12
It wasn’t the prettiest win for UNM. However, Coach Eck’s squad found a way to win, getting a ton of help from the Lobos’ stout defense.
The Lobos defense only allowed 13 rushing yards, and forced four turnovers. A key cog for UNM was the return of safety Austin Brawley who snagged two interceptions, and nearly had a pick-six.
“I was just reading the quarterback’s eyes, just trying to make a play, saw the ball go up in the air, knew I could get to it …wish I would’ve cut it back for a touchdown but I was a little tired,” Brawley jokingly said of the second interception. Brawley had missed the past eight games with an injury, and is already leading the team in interceptions (2).
Other players creating turnovers for the Lobos was defensive back Caleb Coleman (one interception), and defensive back Jon Johnson (one fumble recovery).
Defense Stands Tall While Offense Sputters
As usual, the New Mexico pass rushers made their presence known early in the football game. They recorded four sacks, nine tackles for loss, and logged four quarterback hurries.
Lobos star EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby continued his stellar season, KJN had one sack, two TFLs, and one pass breakup. Opposite of KJN was Brett Karhu who had a sack, a TFL, and a pass breakup.
The struggles for UNM began on the offensive side of the ball. The offense had four turnovers, and all four were fumbles.
“Offensively, we got to protect the ball better. Glass half full, we showed we could find a way to win when we don’t play our best, and that’s what good football teams do,” Coach Eck said after the contest.
Fumbling the ball for New Mexico was D.J. McKinney, Scottre Humphrey, and Damon Bankston, who had two.
“I actually thought we moved the ball okay, we just got to freakin’ hang onto it,” UNM quarterback Jack Layne said. “We got to give ourselves a chance. They stop us, they got to stop us on third down, and we got to punt.”
A positive for the Lobos offense was quarterback Jack Layne who played a clean game. He threw for 226 yards, ran for 23 and “waltzed” into the endzone on a 12-yard touchdown run.
Another bright spot for the Lobos was kicker Luke Drzewiecki who was perfect on PATs and on both field goal attempts (one from 45 yards).
Recovering three of the fumbles for the Rams was defensive tackle Andrew Laurich, and recovering the fourth fumble was linebacker Owen Long.
Fortunately for New Mexico, however, is that the turnovers only resulted in one touchdown. Scoring for the Rams was tight end Rocky Beers who caught a pass from quarterback Darius Curry, and took it three-yards into the endzone. Curry took the lion’s share of quarterback snaps as starter Jackson Brousseau left midgame with a injury, and did not return.
Despite the fumbling woes from the running back room, McKinney was able to put up 114 all-purpose yards, was the team’s leading rusher (52), and scored on a one-yard redzone punch.
The game also featured two of the nation’s leading tacklers, UNM linebacker Jaxton Eck, and CSU linebacker Owen Long. Both led their team in tackles, and both were the only two players to reach double digits: Eck had 11, and Long had 12.
With the fourth quarter clock winding down, the Lobos sat tight with a comfortable 20-10 lead.
Lobos Close Out the Contest
CSU running back Lloyd Avant provided some life support for the Rams, and took a Curry pass 41 yards for a late-game touchdown. Avant finished the game with 80 scrimmage yards, and the score.
Nonetheless, the Lobos offense would eat some clock, and gave CSU 13 seconds to get in field goal range (ball spotted at their own 19). The Rams attempted a lateral miracle which failed, and the loose ball was recovered by UNM as time expired. The Lobos are now 5-0 at home.
On another note, Lobo Nation broke some records at University Stadium. The game’s attendance was 27,526 which is the most for a New Mexico November football game since 2008.
And in the corner of the stadium, one man took off his shirt, and began waving his shirt in the air. The group quickly grew to hundreds, and they began numerous chants in support of the Lobos.
“The mentality? Go Bos, and shirts off boys!” said one shirtless Lobo fan who wished to remain anonymous.
Spirits are high in Albuquerque, and Coach Eck has the Lobos in serious contention for a Mountain West title.
What’s Next?
The Lobos will head to Colorado Springs, Colorado for another Mountain West matchup Nov. 22 against the Air Force Falcons (3-7, 2-4).
The Rams will be on the road again. This time, they will square off against the Boise State Broncos (6-3, 4-1) at Albertson’s Stadium Nov. 22.
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