Bulldogs Make Big Plays in key moments
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – UNIVERSITY STADIUM
Fresno State (2 – 1, 0 – 0) AT New Mexico (0 – 3, 0 – 0)
| 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno State | 8 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 38 |
| New Mexico | 3 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 21 |
| New Mexico | Fresno State | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Offense | ||
| Yards | 485 | 345 |
| Plays | 81 | 67 |
| Avg. Per Play | 6.0 | 5.1 |
| TDs | 2 | 4 |
Fresno State rode a solid first half and big plays to a 38-21 win over the New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque, handing UNM its fourth straight loss. The Bulldogs outpaced the Lobos in key moments, and while UNM showed flashes, penalties and missed opportunities kept them from mounting a true comeback.
Game Flow & Key Moments
- Fresno State struck early: after UNM forced an opening three-and-out, the Bulldogs recovered a fumble from a UNM third-down rush at the Lobo 39 and quickly scored on a 5-yard pass from Mikey Keene to Josiah Freeman. A successful two-point conversion gave Fresno State an 8–0 lead.
- New Mexico responded near the end of the first half with a Devon Dampier to Trace Bruckler touchdown pass that cut the deficit to 25-10 just before halftime.
- In the third quarter, UNM nearly closed the gap when a 58-yard scoring toss from Dampier to Nic Trujillo was nullified by a holding penalty. Shortly after, another holding call wiped out a short scramble by Dampier that had UNM inside the one yard line, forcing a field goal instead. Penalties proved costly.
- The Lobos attempted to fight back late with a run by Javen Jacobs and a two-point conversion run by backup QB James Laubstein, but a failed onside kick (called offside) dampened momentum. The Bulldogs sealed the win with a late field goal.
Standout Performers
- Devon Dampier (QB, New Mexico): Delivered a career-high 338 passing yards, his first 300-yard passing game, and completed 33 passes — tied for the second-most in a game in school history.
- Luke Wysong (WR): Set a new personal best with 10 receptions and 126 receiving yards. It was his first double-digit reception game since 2011 for UNM.
Significant Facts & Impacts
- The loss dropped UNM to 0-4 on the season, and 0-1 in Mountain West play. Fresno State improved to 3-1 overall.
- Penalties were a major issue: UNM was called for 17 penalties totaling 128 yards, tying a school record. Combined with the 16 penalties from their previous game, the Lobos have now committed 33 penalties in back-to-back games, the most in school history.
- UNM’s offense overall yardage (485) exceeded Fresno State’s (345), but turnovers, penalties, and failed red-zone chances squandered what might have been a tighter contest.
Takeaways & Looking Forward
While the final score wasn’t close, there is reason for optimism: Dampier and Wysong demonstrated promise, and the offense showed ability to move the ball. However, successful execution in key red-zone moments and discipline — especially avoiding penalties — must improve if the Lobos are going to turn their season around.
Next up, UNM faces rival New Mexico State on the road. A win there could be a springboard, but only if lessons from this Fresno State loss are learned and applied.
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