Lobos ground falcons for a 52-37 win
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – UNIVERSITY STADIUM
Air Force (1 – 5, 0 – 3) AT New Mexico (2 – 4, 1 – 1)
| 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 3 | 14 | 0 | 20 | 37 |
| New Mexico | 7 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 52 |
| Air Force | New Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Offense | ||
| Yards | 474 | 434 |
| Plays | 74 | 58 |
| Avg. Per Play | 6.41 | 7.48 |
| TDs | 5 | 7 |
New Mexico continued its offensive surge with a 52-37 home victory over Air Force, marking not only the Lobos’ first conference win at home under Bronco Mendenhall but also a historic back-to-back 50-point performance for the first time in 108 years. The Falcons, though productive themselves, couldn’t keep pace as UNM poured in rushing touchdowns and big plays.
Offensive Fireworks & Standout Performers
- The Lobos rushed for 255 yards total, powered by five separate rushing touchdowns:
• Eli Sanders logged two long runs (35 and 31 yards) en route to 80 yards on just 5 carries.
• Devon Dampier added two rushing TDs.
• Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters added one rushing touchdown. - Luke Wysong made a splash with his second career punt return touchdown: a 79-yard return, his first punt return of the season.
- From the passing game, Devon Dampier connected for a touchdown to Nic Trujillo and kept drives alive with precise passing when called upon.
Game Flow & Significant Facts
- After an opening three-and-out by UNM, the Lobos scored on every possession thereafter — seven straight scoring drives plus the punt return touchdown.
- The 52 points were part of back-to-back 50+ point games — a feat UNM hadn’t done in over a century.
- Defense had its moments: Christian Ellis and Bobby Arnold III combined for a key stop on third-and-5 in UNM’s territory late in the first quarter, forcing Air Force into a field goal.
- UNM avoided penalty-issue problems that had plagued recent games, committing only four penalties — a sharp contrast to previous outings.
Takeaways & What’s Next
New Mexico’s offense showed it can dominate games when the line holds up, the running backs break off big plays, and special teams adds explosiveness. Eli Sanders’ efficiency, Dampier’s dual threat, and Wysong’s game-changing return all underscore depth and playmakers on this roster. However, the defense will want to tighten up, especially against the red zone and in avoiding big momentum shifts by the opponent.
With this win, UNM improves its standing in the Mountain West and gains momentum heading into tougher conference matchups. If the offense keeps rolling like this, the Lobos could become dangerous for anyone on their schedule.
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