LOBO RECAP

Flashback: The New Mexico Lobos, selfvictimized by four lost fumbles and crucial penalties, drop their fourth straight game. The 24-10 loss to Utah State makes UNM’s chances for six wins and bowl eligibility remote, to say the least.

What went right: The UNM defense held Utah State to just 243 yards total offense and forced two turnovers. The offense generated 21 first downs and controlled the ball for almost 40 minutes.

What went wrong: All those first downs and all that possession time produced just 10 points and one touchdown, that in the fourth quarter with UNM already down by 21 points. All four of the lost fumbles occurred on the Utah State side of the field and killed promising scoring opportunities — one at the USU 4-yard line, another at the 10. The defense gave up a 65-yard touchdown run in the waning moments of the first half, giving the Aggies a two-score lead going into the locker room.

Injury report: No serious injuries were observed or reported. Offensive lineman Chris Estrella and wide receiver Anselem Umeh, who’d had lowerleg injuries, returned to action. Quoting Davie:

“You are what your record says you are. You are what those turnovers and penalties say you are. Again, it’s a different kind of cycle we’re in right now, and we’ve just got to fight through it. We’ve got to improve.”

Up next: The Lobos (3-6, 1-5 Mountain West) travel to play Texas A&M (5-4, 3-3 Southeastern Conference) in a game that will pay UNM $1.1 million. Even so, given the Lobos’ current circumstances, a road game in November against an SEC team must not seem like a really great idea.