Following the widely anticipated tradition of the burning of the Lobo and Aggie mascots, the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University kicked off the 115th edition of the Rio Grande Rivalry football game Sept. 27.
With palpable energy buzzing throughout the crowd, the Aggies took beginning possession of the ball with a catch by tight end Gavin Harris, taking them nearly to midfield.
Two penalties for UNM and one for NMSU tanked the game off to a rocky start – but UNM got a successful sack, stabilizing the Lobo’s brawn and hinted at the same skills that led them to defeat UCLA the previous week.
Despite that, New Mexico State struck first, with an effective 49-yard trick play touchdown by wide receiver TJ Pride resulting from a pass by quarterback Logan Fife, pinning up the first points at 0-7.
A wide-open touchdown caught in the end zone by Lobos tight end Cade Keith evened out the score to 7-7, and despite UNM already having three sacks so far, a spectacularly long catch by Donovan Faupel showed that the Aggies remain a serious threat – but the first quarter’s score held true.
NMSU kicked off the second quarter with a 47-yard field goal, getting the Aggies back in front at 7-10.
A fumble by the Lobos then caused an unexpected twist; a “scoop and score” touchdown run by Aggie Bernock Iya, which sat under review but was ruled satisfactory, launching NMSU up to 7-17.
A 31-yard dart thrown by UNM quarterback Jack Layne, caught and scored by Shawn Miller, answered the Aggie’s 10-point lead and closed in the score to 14-17.
“They gave us every opportunity to pull away,” NMSU head coach Tony Sanchez said. “We had a good game plan; we were well prepared… [we] needed to stretch that lead. We failed to do that.”
Another sack, the third one for Lobo Keyshawn James-Newby, and the fourth so far for UNM, turned over possession – furthering tensions as offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties were issued out, and a delay of game penalty backed up the Lobos.
A sideline catch by Jackson Owens gave the Aggies their confidence back, and little by little crept back down the field. Yet, after a quick interception, the Lobos left the score as-is for the second quarter.
“As coaches, we have to do a better job of explaining the situation and when you can go ahead and throw [the ball] away,” Sanchez said post-game. “We end up running out of bounds, and we don’t convert. It’s just those things cannot happen.”
Unlocking the third quarter, gains on both sides were slow – and a penalty on NMSU for pass interference gave the second half a rough start, but a 43-yard kick by Lobo Luke Drzewiecki gave UNM the nudge they needed to tie the Aggies at 17-17.
Nothing else but penalties surfaced for either team, and frustrations increased as both teams earned twin holding penalties, and with an additional unnecessary roughness on NMSU, the score remained deadlocked.
“Our guys played hard and they competed hard, it’s just again, we really struggled mentally,” Sanchez said.
Reigniting the game and crowd alike, UNM drudged away to score another touchdown by tight end Dorian Thomas, waking up the score to 24-17.
As the final 15 minutes started, the Aggies were fighting to get back and regain their lead in the fourth quarter, with NMSU kicker Ryan Hawk locking in 3 points with a 39-yard field goal.
A retaliating 41-yard-long pass touchdown scored by Lobo wide receiver Keagan Johnson yet again boosted UNM further away from the Aggies, leaving them 11 points behind at 31-20.
In the final five minutes, the Lobos inched closer and closer to the end zone, swiping another short but agile touchdown scored by Scottre Humphrey.
As the clock loomed over the Aggies’ 38-20 losing score, NMSU used their remaining energy to work toward finishing the game on a high note, but ultimately met another loss as the score stayed still, and the Lobos took home the chile roaster trophy, “The Roaster,” once again.
“We’re sitting here two and two now, and we play in five days,” Sanchez said. “We’re going to find out a whole lot about ourselves five days from now.”
NMSU football will return at home against Sam Houston State University on Thursday, Oct. 2.
