No. 22 New Mexico Beats Nevada 31-3 in Its First Game as an AP-Ranked Team

No. 22 New Mexico handled its first game as a ranked team about as well as it could have hoped. The Lobos beat Nevada 31-3 on Friday night at Mackay Stadium in Reno, the Associated Press reported, winning in the first game in the AP poll in school history.

It was New Mexico’s sixth straight win, according to the Albuquerque Journal, and Nevada Sports Net reported it was the Lobos’ first-ever victory in Reno. New Mexico improved to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in the Mountain West, while Nevada fell to 3-6 and 2-3.

New Mexico vs. Nevada: final score

How did the Lobos win?

New Mexico scored on two of its first three drives. Scottre Humphrey capped the opening possession with a short touchdown run, and Kiefer Sibley bounced outside for a 31-yard touchdown to make it 14-0 in the first quarter, the AP and Albuquerque Journal reported.

The offense then stalled, punting on its final three possessions of the first half, the Journal said. Nevada’s best drive came late in the second quarter, when quarterback AJ Bianco hit Donnie Cheers for a 46-yard gain and the Wolf Pack converted a fourth down, Nevada Sports Net reported. The drive ended in a field goal by freshman Jacob Fernandez, who was kicking in place of injured starter Joe McFadden, making it 14-3 at halftime.

The turning point came in the third quarter. Defensive end Brett Karhu sacked Bianco and forced a fumble that Darren Agu recovered at the Nevada 5, and Humphrey scored from a yard out three plays later to make it 21-3, according to the AP and the Journal.

Quarterback Toa Fa’avae added a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cade Keith early in the fourth quarter, and Nick Romero closed the scoring with a 37-yard field goal.

Key numbers

• Minus-9: Nevada’s rushing total. The Wolf Pack also punted 10 times, and their average starting field position was their own 21, the AP reported.
• 374-97: New Mexico’s edge in total yards, per the Albuquerque Journal.
• 107 yards, 2 TDs: Humphrey’s line on 17 carries. The Journal said he now has 13 rushing touchdowns this season, tied for fourth nationally.
• 14 of 20, 150 yards, 1 TD: Fa’avae’s passing, along with 34 rushing yards. It was New Mexico’s first turnover-free game since Sept. 26, the Journal said, coming less than a week after he threw three interceptions.
• 9 of 16: New Mexico on third down against a Nevada defense that had led the Mountain West in third-down defense, according to the Journal.
• 4 sacks: the Lobos’ total against Bianco, who finished 14 of 31 for 106 yards.

Why does this game matter?

New Mexico entered the AP Top 25 for the first time this week, and coach Jason Eck’s team backed it up with a lopsided road win. The AP’s takeaway said the Lobos are inching closer to a potential College Football Playoff berth but face an uphill climb as a Group of Six team competing with the likes of No. 20 Boise State.

The Journal described it as the kind of game New Mexico wanted to play: a strong run game, a dominant defense and no giveaways. The paper noted that the passing game, a weakness in recent weeks, did not cost the Lobos this time.

What’s next?

• New Mexico: hosts UNLV next Saturday at 5:30 p.m., with the game on The CW, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
• Nevada: visits Northern Illinois on Saturday, Nov. 14, the AP reported.

FAQ