Rio Grande Rivalry goes to Lobos
LAS CRUCES, NM – AGGIE MEMORIAL STADIUM
New Mexico (0 – 3, 0 – 0) AT New Mexico State (0 – 3, 0 – 0)
| 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 7 | 14 | 9 | 20 | 50 |
| New Mexico State | 7 | 3 | 7 | 23 | 40 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico State | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Offense | ||
| Yards | 579 | 474 |
| Plays | 77 | 64 |
| Avg. Per Play | 7.5 | 7.4 |
| TDs | 7 | 5 |
In a wild, offense-heavy showdown in the 114th installment of the Rio Grande Rivalry, the New Mexico Lobos outgunned New Mexico State 50-40, rushing for seven touchdowns and piling up 579 yards of total offense. The Lobos never trailed — only once tied — and put on arguably their biggest offensive performance of the season.
Offensive Explosion & Standout Performers
- NaQuari Rogers was the star of the night: he carried the ball 21 times for a career-best 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns, tying the team lead in rushing scores for the season.
- Devon Dampier also had a major impact: he rushed for three touchdowns, threw for one, and led driving finishes with key plays. Dampier finished 13 of 28 passing for 248 yards, overcoming a rough start to guide several long scoring drives.
- Javen Jacobs added a highlight play with a back-breaking 50-yard end-around touchdown, putting the game out of reach in the final moments.
Key Game Highlights & Stats
- The Lobos ran for 331 rushing yards, a season high, and avoided a single offensive play for a loss until Devon Dampier kneeled twice to end the game.
- The 50 points scored were the most by UNM at Aggie Memorial Stadium in 30 years.
- UNM’s 95-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter was the longest scoring drive of the season, slightly surpassing a 93-yard drive vs. Fresno State earlier in the year.
- The Lobos’ offensive line held strong: UNM did not allow a sack for the fifth straight game. They’re among only three FBS programs (including Georgia Tech and Army) with that kind of streak.
Rivalry & Program Notes
- This was the 114th meeting between UNM and NMSU. With the win, New Mexico leads the overall series 74-35-5.
- Series breakdowns:
• In Las Cruces, UNM now leads 30-19-3.
• In Albuquerque, UNM leads 44-16-2.
What It Means Moving Forward
The Lobos’ offensive showing suggests they can put up points in bunches when everything clicks: a balanced rushing attack, big plays in the passing game, and opportunistic scoring in the red and open fields. But even in victory, there were moments of concern — missed extra points, open-field mistakes, plus a high scoring opponent.
If UNM wants to build on this momentum, they’ll need consistency, especially in special teams and defense, to ensure that high‐octane offense can translate to wins in tighter matchups. Next week, they’ll get a chance to capitalize on confidence and maybe tighten up in those areas.
Leave a Reply