A fun trip
On and off the field, Lobos had some fun
A flight delay did not dampen the New Mexico Lobos’ good and victorious time in Vegas
LAS VEGAS , Nev. — What’s there to do with a five-hour flight delay in Las Vegas for New Mexico’s football team?
Well, for starters, the Lobos could not be that bothered by their schedule being bogged down, especially after a 50-14 win over UNLV in a Mountain West Conference opener on Saturday.
They savored the victory and also had some fun on social media.
The hilarious highlight came from Saga Tuitele, UNM’s offensive line coach, who posted a photo on Twitter of his big guys, standing shirtless, as if to mimic a billboard in the background of a promotion for the men from Australia’s “Thunder from Down Under.”
“Charter flight got delayed in Las Vegas...we entertain ourselves!!! Love these guys! Great win. #OLP #golobos #6pack,” Tuitele wrote with the photo.
The Lobos had good reason to be happy with their offensive line. UNM’s big guys up front paved the way for a balanced offense in the victory with 252 yards rushing and 250 yards passing.
Unfortunately for the Lobos, they did suffer an injury along the offensive line. Left tackle Chris Estrella took a hard shot to the rib cage, UNM coach Bob Davie said. Estrella stayed overnight at a hospital in Las Vegas, Davie said. Estrella’s status will be updated today.
Junior transfer quarterback Sheriron Jones had a game. He threw for 250 yards and four touchdowns on 13-of-20 passing with no interceptions. He also led the Lobos (3-2, 1-0 in conference) with 72 yards rushing on nine carries. He should be a strong candidate for MWC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
UNM’s defense also stepped up with a sparkling performance, easily the unit’s best of the season. The Lobos held the Rebels (2-3, 0-1) to 166 yards of total offense, including 23 in the first half. UNM used the wind to its advantage when UNLV was playing into it. Also, quarterback Max Gilliam was making his first start for the Rebels, who were without Armani Rogers (toe).
UNLV did not pick up its first first down until just under two minutes left in the first half. By that time, the Rebels were trailing 22-0. Not too many things went wrong for the Lobos, save for kicker Andrew Shelley and wide receiver Patrick Reed. And even that duo had moments of redemption.
Shelley failed on his first two PAT kicks, with one being blocked and the other sailing wide right. However, Shelley connected on a 43-yard field goal that gave the Lobos a 15-0 lead in the second quarter.
Reed, a redshirt senior who came to UNM as a quarterback, occasionally spelled Jones at QB against the Rebels. He fumbled twice, having one go out of bounds and recovering the other himself. He ran for 10 yards on five carries.
The Lobos might continue to use Reed as their optionrun quarterback because they don’t want Jones to run often and be susceptible to hits.
NOTABLE: After UNM’s victory, senior right guard Aaron Jenkins, a team captain, walked up into the stands to hug his mother Lisa, who sat in a wheelchair. Lisa has been battling breast cancer and is recovering from recent surgeries. The two were featured in the Journal last month.
Jenkins also posed for photos with Lisa, who is not able to attend many of Jenkins’ games because of her health and money spent for care.
Lisa said she is planning to attend UNM’s final regular-season game, Nov. 24, against Wyoming at Dreamstyle Stadium.
If Jenkins plays in every game this season, he will have played in 52, breaking the Lobos’ record of 50. He will also have 50 starts, which would be a UNM record and would tie the program’s record of 50 consecutive games played.
HE SAID IT: “We knew what we wanted to do and we came out and did that. We came out and conquered. We took the field like it was ours and we made plays when it most counted. I wish (Rogers) played just to play against a better quarterback, but that’s all they had and we came out there and conquered. We made plays.” — Evahelotu Tohi, UNM senior linebacker.