LOBOS RECAP
Flashback: The visiting New Mexico Lobos hang with Boise State into the fourth quarter, but offensive struggles and specialteams gaffes help the Broncos pull away for a 28-14 victory Thursday night in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.
What went right: The UNM defense, often with its back to its goal line, held the normally high-powered Boise State offense in check into the fourth quarter. Senior inside linebacker Austin Ocasio and redshirt freshman rush linebacker Rhashaun Epting led the way with a combined 15 tackles. After starting quarterback Lamar Jordan was knocked out of the game by a hard (and illegal) hit, junior QB Coltin Gerhart — actually a third-stringer — played well in his first action at quarterback since his senior year in high school. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Anselem Umeh’s first career catch was also his first touchdown, a 14-yarder from Gerhart. The UNM triple option showed some life early, generating 111 yards in the first quarter. What went wrong: The Lobos couldn’t sustain the running game after the first quarter, gaining just 87 more the rest of the way. A failure to fair-catch a punt, followed shortly thereafter by a 21-yard Boise State punt return, led to a 17-yard Broncos mini-drive that gave them a twotouchdown fourth-quarter lead.
Injury report: Jordan was knocked woozy by a vicious late hit from Boise State defensive end Chase Hatada, who was ejected for targeting. Jordan’s availability for UNM’s next game is unknown, as is the status of backup QB Tevaka Tuioti. The redshirt freshman is in concussion protocol after taking a helmet-to-helmet against New Mexico State last Saturday.
Quoting Davie: “We’ve got to get better at some things. We wasted too many plays when we just ran into a defense where we had no chance. We didn’t get certain things checked. But I thought Coltin Gerhart was pretty darn impressive to come out and do what he did up here in Boise against a really good defensive team.”
Next Up: The Tulsa Golden Hurricane (1-1 entering its game today at Toledo) run an extreme up-tempo offense that has been problematic for the Lobos (but not just the Lobos) in the past. But perhaps the UNM offense can get untracked against the Tulsa defense, which ranks 128th nationally in average points allowed.