Arizona Pulls Away in Second Half, Beats New Mexico 61-39

Terairoa McMillan Has record day against lobos

TUCSON, AZ – UNM FOOTBALL

New Mexico came into Arizona Stadium ready to make noise, and for much of the first half, the Lobos did just that. But two quick touchdowns early in the second half put Arizona ahead for good in a 61-39 win over UNM, spoiling what had been the Lobos’ most promising offensive outing of the season.

Offensive Spark, But Not Enough

The Lobos’ offense showed its potential. Quarterback Devon Dampier threw for a career-high 260 yards and rushed for 130 more, making him just the seventh UNM QB ever to record 200+ passing and 100+ rushing yards in the same game.

Freshman wide receiver Luke Wysong had a breakout performance as well, hauling in eight catches for 129 yards — including two spectacular early first-half receptions that helped UNM keep pace.

Photo courtesy: UNM Football

On Arizona’s side, Terairoa McMillan had a record-setting night. He caught 10 passes for an Arizona school-record 304 yards and four touchdowns, setting new benchmarks for big plays against UNM.

Turning Points: Second Half Surge

Arizona swung momentum early in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns inside the first three minutes after halftime to pull away. A long 78-yard scoring strike to McMillan tied the game at 24-24 just before halftime, but the Wildcats’ explosiveness and ability to capitalize on key plays in the second half widened the gap.

The Lobos continued to fight back — including a spirited drive that ended in a short touchdown followed by a successful two-point conversion — but Arizona’s offense made too many big plays downfield. UNM was also hurt by turnovers at critical moments.

Key Facts & Records

Arizona’s 304 receiving yards by McMillan were the most ever allowed by UNM, breaking the previous mark (281 by Marshall Sperbeck in 2015).
Dampier’s dual threat (260 passing, 130 rushing) was a rare feat in Lobo history — the first such 100/100 game since 2005.
UNM generated four tackles for loss in the first half, matching a stat they had struggled with in prior games.
Combined, both teams scored 100 points — one of the highest-scoring games in school history.

Looking Ahead

Despite the loss, there’s plenty to build on for the Lobos. Their offense showed glimpses of consistency and explosiveness. Dampier and Wysong have now established themselves as key pieces going forward. But to compete down the stretch, UNM will need to tighten up in the second half, reduce big mistakes, and find ways to slow down explosive receivers.