Lobos take win with record comeback
LOGAN, UT – MAVERIK STADIUM
New Mexico (3 – 4, 2 – 1) AT Utah St. (1 – 6, 0 – 3)
| 1st Quarter | 2nd Quarter | 3rd Quarter | 4th Quarter | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Mexico | 0 | 15 | 14 | 21 | 50 |
| Utah St. | 14 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 45 |
| New Mexico | Utah St. | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Offense | ||
| Yards | 552 | 503 |
| Plays | 78 | 81 |
| Avg. Per Play | 7.08 | 6.21 |
| TDs | 7 | 6 |
In a game for the ages, the New Mexico Lobos rallied from deficits of 17 points in the first half and 16 points in the second to stun Utah State 50-45. With two critical defensive plays in the final minutes, UNM claimed its third straight win — its longest in-season streak in eight years — improving to 3-4 overall and 2-1 in Mountain West play.
Key Moments & Game Flow
- Utah State built momentum early, leading 14-0 after one quarter and extending the lead to 17 early in the second. UNM didn’t score in the first quarter — a rarity this season.
- The Lobos chipped away before halftime and entered the second half still behind, but a massive 21-point fourth quarter sparked the comeback.
- With 2:18 left, UNM’s defense made a pivotal fourth-down stop, setting up a go-ahead touchdown run by Eli Sanders. Then, with 59 seconds remaining, Dimitri Johnson intercepted Spencer Petras to seal the win.
Standout Performers
- Devon Dampier (QB, New Mexico): Put up yet another dual-threat performance with 272 passing yards and 103 rushing yards, becoming the first Lobo in nearly a decade to have multiple games with 200+ passing and 100+ rushing yards in a season.
- Luke Wysong (WR): Had a career-high tying 10 receptions for a career-high 156 yards, continuing his streak as UNM’s leading receiver.
- Christian Ellis and Dimitri Johnson anchored the defense: Ellis logged 14 tackles (career high), Johnson added 10. Their late-game stop and interception respectively were key.
Significant Facts & Records
- UNM’s comeback from a 16-point second-half deficit was the largest second-half comeback in school history.
- The 17-point first half deficit tied for the sixth-largest comeback in Lobo history.
- UNM has now scored 50+ points in three straight games, a feat the program previously achieved only in 1916.
- The Lobos amassed 552 total yards of offense, second-most of the season. Their third-down execution down the stretch was near flawless — converting nine of their final ten third-downs (and one fourth-down) in the game‐winning drive.
Takeaways
This win showed a lot about the character of the 2024 Lobos. Facing what looked like a likely road loss, they stayed composed, leaned into their rushing attack, and trusted their defense when it mattered most. Everyone from the QB to the receivers to the defense made plays in crunch time.
As UNM heads forward, this kind of resilience could define their season. If they can clean up lapses early and maintain momentum in close games, they’ll become dangerous in the Mountain West’s latter half.
Leave a Reply